Late goal secures victory for Tampa over FC Edmonton

FC Edmonton came into Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the NASL basement hoping to climb their way out in front of 1,688 fans at Commonwealth Stadium. Unfortunately, Tampa had other ideas. Squeaking out a 1-0 win with a late marker.

PHOTO CREDIT - FCEdmonton.com

Edmonton - July 15, 2012 - The Eddies came into Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the NASL basement hoping to climb their way out in front of 1,688 fans.

Coach Harry Sinkgraven made a few changes to the line-up bringing in the newest member of the squad, Bryan Arguez, in a holding central midfield position and dropping captain Chris Kooy back into the centre-back spot ahead of Paul Hamilton who started on the bench.

It was Yashir Pinto who got the best early chance of the half when he hit a crisp shot from within the 18-yard-box, but the Rowdies’ Jeff Attinella made a good save diving to his left.

The Rowdies ‘keeper was forced to make two more big saves just minutes later, stopping Shaun Saiko with an outstretched hand and taking away Michael Cox’s opportunity seconds later.

The Rowdies went down to 10-men just after the 30-minute mark when Tsuyoshi Yoshitake stomped on Kévin Hatchi and was shown a straight red. Hatchi was shown a yellow of his own minutes later and the defender will have to sit out the next game because of a suspension for five yellows so far this season.

The second half was hampered by a rain storm which threatened throughout the first half but started to come down in the second frame.

Matt Lam came in for Ilja van Leerdam in the 60th minute but was also shown a yellow and like Hatchi, will miss the next game.

Sinkgraven brought Kyle Porter on for Kenny Caceros in search of a go-ahead goal.

Pinto got his second best chance of the game in the 75th but the Chilean striker wasn’t able to get a lot on the ball and Attinella was able to make the easy save.

Former Eddie and current Rowdies attacker, Daniel Antoniuk, was unlucky not to give his team a late lead but the striker missed a wide-open net from close range in the 82nd.

Sinkgraven made one last change in the dying minutes bringing Sérisay Barthélémy on for Michael Cox.

But in the last two minutes of the game, it was the Rowdies who found their way past the Eddies back-line and Smits in net.

Mike Ambersley crossed it in for Luke Mulholland at the far post who slid it home from close range, handing FC Edmonton a 1-0 loss.