NASHVILLE, Tenn. (September 18, 2018) — The Tampa Bay Rowdies picked up an absolutely massive result on Tuesday night, downing Nashville SC at First Tennessee Park in dramatic fashion to post their second win in four days with a 2-1 victory.

Georgi Hristov opened the scoring early with a sixth-minute penalty kick and a Junior Flemmings cross was turned into Nashville’s own net in the 69th minute to put the Rowdies ahead for good.

"It was a fantastic win," Rowdies Head Coach Neill Collins said. "I can't be prouder of the boys coming off a fantastic effort Saturday night to go out there again and produce that performance against a team that didn't play (last weekend) says a lot about the character and determination in the squad."

This marks the first time since March 17 and 24 that the Rowdies (10-12-7, 37 points) have posted back-to-back wins. Tampa Bay has now won three of its last four matches heading into a home game against the Richmond Kickers this Saturday night.

With three more points in the bag, the Rowdies have moved up to 11th place and are now within four points of the playoff line.

The match got off to a great start for Tampa Bay when Hristov got on the end of a brilliant through ball from Kwadwo Poku only for former teammate Matt Pickens to drag him down, giving the Rowdies a penalty kick in the opening few minutes.

Hristov slotted the penalty right down the middle to give Tampa Bay a 1-0 lead in the sixth minute. It was Hristov’s first goal since July 21 against the Indy Eleven.

The home team started to impose itself after the goal, taking firm control of the proceedings as the Rowdies dropped back and absorbed pressure.

Nashville (10-9-9, 39 points) would find its equalizer in the 20th minute when Lebo Moloto tapped in a Kosuke Kimura cross to tie the match at 1-1.

The Rowdies had a few chances to take a lead before halftime on dynamic counter attacks, the best of which resulted in a Poku shot that was saved by Pickens.

The second half saw Nashville continue to put pressure on the Rowdies, but it was second-half substitute Junior Flemmings that broke the match in Tampa Bay’s favor in the 69th minute.

Flemmings fired a hard cross at chest height across the face of goal and Nashville defender London Woodberry headed it into his own net to put the Rowdies ahead.

Tampa Bay had to survive another nervous finish as Nashville scrapped foray possible way to get a point at home.

In the seventh minute of stoppage time, Nashville had a great chance on a Brandon Allen shot from point-blank range, but Rowdies goalkeeper Daniel Vega made the best of his four saves to preserve Tampa Bay’s lead in the final seconds of the match. 

Tampa Bay now returns home looking for a third-consecutive win as it hosts Richmond on Saturday night. The Kickers are in 15th place and have already been eliminated from playoff contention. For tickets, call (727) 222-2000 or click here.

Scoring Summary
Rowdies: Georgi Hristov - 6th minute (Penalty Kick)
Nashville: Lebo Moloto - 20th minute (Assisted by Kosuke Kimura)
Rowdies: Own goal - 69th minute

Caution Summary
Rowdies: Tarek Morad - 46th minute
Rowdies: Sebastian Guenzatti - 90+ minute
Rowdies: Daniel Vega - 90+ minute

Starting Lineups
Rowdies XI (3-5-2): GK Daniel Vega; D Hunter Gorskie, Papé Diakité, Tarek Morad; M Afrim Taku, Joe Cole (c) (Martin Vingaard 70'), Lance Rozeboom, Kwadwo Poku (Kyle Porter 82'), Zac Portillos; F Sebastian Guenzatti, Georgi Hristov (Junior Flemmings 61')

Nashville XI (3-5-2): GK Matt Pickens; D Bradley Bourgeois (London Woodberry 52'), Liam Doyle, Justin Davis; M Kosuke Kimura, Bolu Akinyode, Michael Reed (c), Matt LaGrassa, Alan Winn (Taylor Washington 73'); F Lebo Moloto, Tucker Hume (Brandon Allen 73')