ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Tampa Bay Rowdies welcome Bethlehem Steel FC to Al Lang Stadium for the conclusion of their home-and-home series this week after the teams ended all square on Wednesday afternoon in the first ever meeting between the clubs. Kickoff on Saturday night is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.
Matchcenter: Click Here | Tickets: Click Here | Broadcast: ThisTV (TBR), TV2Sports (BST)
Tampa Bay Rowdies news and notes
Current record: 12-7-9, 45pts
The Rowdies twice led through goals by Georgi Hristov and Hunter Gorskie in the 2-2 draw against Steel FC on Wednesday afternoon but were unable to hold their lead and take home a third road win of the season.
Gorskie's goal was his third in four games since joining the Rowdies last month, while Hristov's was his team-leading 11th of the season.
The draw kept the Rowdies in fourth place in the USL Eastern Conference with three games to go in the regular season, and extended its undefeated streak to three games.
Tampa Bay has one of the best home records in the USL this season, with its 10 home wins the most in the Eastern Conference, and trailing only USL Western Conference-leader Real Monarchs SLC, which has 11.
Bethlehem Steel FC news and notes
Current record: 11-11-6, 39pts
Bethlehem Steel FC moved into seventh place in the USL Eastern Conference after its draw with the Rowdies on Wednesday, and remains in solid shape to earn its first trip to the USL Cup Playoffs.
Cory Burke and Seku Conneh scored for Steel FC, both in the second half, with Burke's goal his team-leading ninth of the season.
Burke has been on a great run of form in September, as the Jamaican international has scored six goals in Steel FC's past five games.
Steel FC is now undefeated in its last four outings, but has won only once in that span (1-0-3) as it opens a three-game road trip that sees it also visit Toronto FC II and the Rochester Rhinos.
Series Notes
Squads
Tampa Bay – GK: Nico Campbell, Matt Pickens, Akira Fitzgerald; D: Darnell King, Neill Collins, Luke Boden, Zac Portillos, Tamika Mkandawire, Hunter Gorskie, Kyle Porter; M: Marcel Schäfer, Darwin Jones, Walter Restrepo, Alex Morrell, Leo Fernandes, Justin Chavez, Sebastian Guenzatti, Keith Savage, Michael Nanchoff, Joe Cole, Martin Vingaard; F: Georgi Hristov, Martin Paterson
Bethlehem – GK: Jake McGuire, Kris Shakes, Tomas Romero; D: Josh Yaro, Aaron Jones, Hugh Roberts, Charlie Reymann, Matthew Real, Nyk Sessock, Maurice Edu; M: Fabian Herbers, Derrick Jones, Adam Najem, Josh Heard, James Chambers, Yosef Samuel, Issa Rayyan, Seth Kuhn, Brenden Aaronson, Mike Pellegrino; F: Marcus Epps, Seku Conneh, Chris Nanco, Santi Moar, Amoy Brown, Cory Burke
Discipline
Bethlehem – Suspended: Auston Trusty; Accumulation warning: James Chambers, Seku Conneh, Anthony Fontana, Giliano Wijnaldum
Tampa Bay – Suspended: Georgi Hristov; Accumulation warning: Keith Savage, Michael Nanchoff
Officials
REF: GUIDO GONZALES JR
AR1: Albert Escovar
AR2: Madzid Coric
4TH: Natalie Simon
Game hashtag:
Twitter social handles
Tampa Bay Rowdies – @TampaBayRowdies
Bethlehem Steel FC – @BSteelFC
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