HARRISON, N.J. – Sitting just one point outside a place in the USL Cup Playoffs, the New York Red Bulls II welcome a well-rested Tampa Bay Rowdies side, seeking a win to stay in touch with top spot in the USL Eastern Conference. The match, which is the first ever meeting between the two sides, is scheduled to kick off at MSU Soccer Park at 4 p.m. ET.

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New York Red Bulls II news and notes

Current record: 9-11-5, 32pts

• The Red Bulls II gave up a winning position in Canada last Saturday as they were forced to settle for a 2-2 draw against Ottawa Fury FC.

• After going behind NYRB II responded, and took a 2-1 lead in the match as Florian Valot scored before the assist-provider on that goal, Andrew Tinari, scored an apparent winner 11 minutes from time. But it wasn’t to be as Ottawa equalized in the fourth minute of stoppage time.

• NYRB II will be happy to return to MSU Soccer Park, as its road record at 1-5-5 has played a role in keeping the side out of the playoff places. At home the Red Bulls II have won three straight on home turf.

• The Red Bulls II will be strengthened in this match by the return of Arun Basuljevic, who comes back from his suspension. The creative midfielder leads the USL with 721 completed passes in the attacking half this season.

Tampa Bay Rowdies news and notes

Current record: 10-6-8, 38pts

• The Rowdies come in to this match after a week off, having not played since the August 19th, when they played Ottawa Fury FC in a 1-1 draw.

• Falling behind early in the match the Rowdies responded as Georgi Hristov scored the equalizer in the 11th minute. Despite controlling much of the rest of the match they couldn’t find a second and had to settle for a draw.

• Tampa Bay could have fallen back in the USL Eastern Conference standings last week but all three teams above it lost, keeping the Rowdies three points adrift of the Charleston Battery in third and six behind the top two.

• The Rowdies have won just one match away from home with a 1-5-5 record this season, with that lone victory coming against Toronto FC II on May 19.

• Following their last three 1-1 draws the Rowdies have bounced back quickly, winning 2-0 in the next match in all three cases.

Series Notes

• This will be the first meeting between the sides.

Squads

• New York – GK: Ryan Meara, Rafael Diaz, Evan Louro, Sam Ilin; D: Jordan Scarlett, David Najem, Tim Schmoll, Andrew Lombard, Hassan Ndam, David Abidor, Jordan Bailon, Noah Powder, Ethan Kutler; M: Dan Metzger, Derrick Etienne Jr., Arun Basuljevic, Florian Valot, Andrew Tinari, Ben Mines, Kazu Shigenobu, Junior Flemmings, Zaire Bartley, Vincent Bezecourt; F: Zeiko Lewis, Alex Muyl, Stefano Bonomo, Douglas Martinez

• Tampa Bay – GK: Matt Pickens, Akira Fitzgerald, Nico Campbell; D: Luke Boden, Neill Collins, Darnell King, Tam Mkandawire, Hunter Gorskie, Zac Portillos, Kyle Porter; M: Marcel Schafer, Darwin Jones, Walter Restrepo, Alex Morrell, Leo Fernandes, Justin Chavez, Sebastian Guenzatti, Keith Savage, Michael Nanchoff, Joe Cole, Martin Vingaard, Justin Chavez; F: Martin Paterson, Georgi Hristov

Discipline

• New York – Accumulation warning: David Abidor, Andrew Tinari

• Tampa Bay – Accumulation warning: Keith Savage

Officials

• REF: JOSE CARLOS RIVERO

• AR1: Ryan Dos Reis

• AR2: Zeno Cho

• 4TH: John Hartley

Game hashtag:

• #NYvTBR

Twitter social handles

• New York Red Bulls II - @NYRBII

• Tampa Bay Rowdies - @TampaBayRowdies