Indy Eleven hands Rowdies costly defeat

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Indy Eleven hands Rowdies costly defeat

Nico Castillo , WTSP 9:52 PM. EST October 19, 2016

ST. PETERSBURG — Joe Cole nearly sparked a comeback with a second-half rally, but the Tampa Bay Rowdies dropped a 3-2 decision to Indy Eleven Wednesday night at Al Lang Stadium.

With the game tied at 2, Tampa Bay nearly pulled ahead but Indy’s Nicki Paterson scored from the top of the box in the 85th minute.

“It’s absolutely devastating (to have lost this match,” Rowdies head coach Stuart Campbell said. “We had them penned in for longer than 30 minutes in that second half and I really thought we were going to go and get the third goal.”

. . .

Tampa Bay has a difficult task ahead to qualify for The Championship, the NASL’s four-team playoffs, but the door remains ajar. The Rowdies trail Minnesota United and Rayo OKC by four points in the NASL Combined Standings with two games remaining and six points on offer.

The Rowdies take on the Ottawa Fury FC this Saturday in the 2016 home finale.