ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – When Sebastian Guenzatti made his first start for the Tampa Bay Rowdies on Wednesday against Bethlehem Steel FC, it had been almost a year since his last official start in the professional ranks.

After making a strong impression in the draw between the sides at Goodman Stadium that opened the home-and-home series between the teams, Guenzatti didn’t get a second straight start, but he played a decisive role as his equalizer with 10 minutes to go earned Tampa Bay a 1-1 draw in front of a crowd of 6,611 at Al Lang Stadium.

“Every time he’s come on he’s impacted the game,” said Rowdies Head Coach Stuart Campbell. “I thought he did really well on Wednesday when he had his first start in well over a year. He was a little bit fatigued, and rightly so because I never envisioned him playing 90 minutes on Wednesday, but he looked so good. We had to be a little careful with him tonight, and he came on again and he impacted it with a great goal.”

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Guenzatti’s goal didn’t allow the Rowdies to clinch a place in the USL Cup Playoffs on the night in their penultimate home game of the season, but it did allow the side to claim a point from a tense battle against another playoff contender. Tampa Bay carried much of the play, but was unable to consistently find the target with its finishing until Guanzetti clipped home a fine chipped pass into the penalty area from Darnell King to level things.

“Amazing pass,” said Guanzetti. “In practice as well, me and Darnell, we also get along really well. I’ve been playing against him, this is the first time I’ve got to play with him, and he’s a great player, an amazing player. Strong, fast, and he has a lot of potential going forward.”

The Rowdies had been forced to rally after Steel FC got an excellent finish of its own from Seku Conneh early in the second half. A quick break forward from midfield saw the Liberian forward found 25 yards out by James Chambers, and his rifled finish to the bottom-left corner stunned the home crowd.

That was Bethlehem’s only shot on goal of the contest, but the visitors got what they were looking for in their own pursuit of a playoff place as they remained above the playoff line with three games to go in the regular season. Tampa Bay, meanwhile, stayed in fourth for the time being in the Eastern Conference, but with a game in hand on the second-place Charlotte Independence they trail by two points.

“I thought there was only one team trying to win the game tonight,” said Campbell. “Obviously we’re pressing and pressing and pressing and we couldn’t get that elusive second goal. We made it hard work, conceding early in the second half, that’s pretty much what they wanted, I can’t think that they really had any other shots or chances on goal. The first one they had, they took it, and it made it a bit more difficult for us, but credit to the guys, they kept pressing and pressing and pressing up until the very last minute.”

The Rowdies will get their next chance to clinch a playoff berth, and overtake the Independence in the process, on Wednesday night as they host their home finale against the New York Red Bulls II. A native New Yorker, Guenzatti will certainly be ready if called on to square off with the visitors.

“I think we had the better of them,” said Guenzatti, “but hopefully on Wednesday we can come out stronger in the first half and come away with the three points.”