ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Tampa Bay Rowdies defender Neill Collins scored with three minutes to go to earn a 1-1 draw against Saint Louis FC on Saturday night at Al Lang Stadium. Joe Cole almost gave Tampa Bay the lead in the 13th minute with a curling free kick to the top-right corner that Saint Louis goalkeeper Adam Grinwis tipped over. Saint Louis almost caught the hosts on a counterattack off a second corner, but Christian Volesky was squeezed out as Rowdies defender Darnell King made a crucial challenge. The Rowdies’ Michael Nanchoff flash a free kick just wide of the right post late in the first half, but Saint Louis’ Jose Angulo found the net from a similar position in the 59th minute to give the visitors the lead. Saint Louis almost doubled its lead with five minutes to go as Tyler Davis was denied, and that proved crucial as Tampa Bay’s Collins scored in the 87th minute with a powerful header from a corner kick to earn the Rowdies a late draw.

Scoring: 
59’ – STL – Jose Angulo
87’ – TBR – Neill Collins (Michael Nanchoff)

• #TBRvSTL: Full Match and Opta Box Score

Three Things That Matter:

• 1. Tampa Bay was looking set to experience a frustrating night against an opponent that defended stoutly, and at times physically, as it looked to try and hit on the counterattack. Thanks to Neill Collins’ goal with three minutes to go, though, the hosts were able to salvage a point that while not a win could prove important further down the line. The disruptiveness of Saint Louis’ defense showed in the attacking third, as half-chances fell the wrong way for much of the game, but after a tough road trip a point will likely do when the dust settles.

• 2. After limited action in the last few weeks, and coming in on a four-game winless streak, Saint Louis was looking for a reaction in a tough road contest. It got one in a belligerent performance that wasn’t always pretty, but that made life difficult for the Rowdies, particularly in the attacking third. As Tampa Bay at times lost its temper with the direction of the game, Saint Louis was able to pounce on a great set piece opportunity as Jose Angulo’s fourth goal of the season provided a moment of quality that earned the visitors a point.

• 3. After a busy two weeks that included two games on the road, including Wednesday’s game in Rochester, the Rowdies rotated their lineup with likely an eye on this upcoming Wednesday’s Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup contest against Miami FC. Neill Collins came through with a late goal to earn the Rowdies an important point, and a nice late confidence lift ahead of their trip to South Florida.

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match

Neill Collins, Tampa Bay Rowdies – Collins’ late equalizer was perfectly taken, and capped a performance that saw the center back perform well throughout.

Upcoming Games:
Tampa Bay Rowdies at Charlotte Independence – June 4, 7 p.m. ET, Eagle Field
Saint Louis FC vs. Toronto FC II – June 2, 8:30 p.m. ET, Toyota Stadium – Saint Louis