News

ATLANTA, Ga. (April 21, 2012) - The Tampa Bay Rowdies and Atlanta Silverbacks played to a 1-1 tie Saturday night at Atlanta Silverbacks Park, with both teams scoring in the second half. The Rowdies remain unbeaten in their last three matches after a season-opening 1-0 loss at Puerto Rico on April 7.

Rowdies forward Daniel Antoniuk, who entered the game in the 67th minute, one-timed a perfect cross from forward Tsuyoshi Yoshitake to give the Rowdies a 1-0 lead in the 70th minute. Antoniuk ran onto the pass at the far post for his first goal as a member of the Rowdies since joining the team this offseason.

Atlanta rallied to earn a point when forward Reinaldo Navia scored the tying goal after a ball over the top from Lucas Paulini in the 87th minute. The goal was Navia's third of the season.

"We have a lot of disappointed players because we felt that we should have earned three points tonight," said Rowdies head coach Ricky Hill. "In the first half I felt that we took the game to them and played very well. I thought the second half was more even, but I still thought we were very much in control of the game."

"The game lasts 90 minutes and we were punished for the lapse that allowed the late goal to Atlanta," said Hill. "I am pleased overall with the effort, but disappointed that we didn't get the three points."

The Rowdies applied pressure on the Silverbacks throughout the match. Forward Matt Clare, making his first career start, sent a left-footed cross across the goal mouth in the 10th minute, but the feed was just out of the reach of forward Tsuyoshi Yoshitake.

In the 14th minute, Tampa Bay had a golden opportunity to get on the scoreboard following a great individual run by defender Takuya Yamada. Yamada dribbled deep into Silverbacks territory before finding Yoshitake alone in front of the net. Yoshitake beat Silverbacks goalkeeper Daniel Illyes, but was called offsides on the play.

Clare had his best chance in the 27th minute after a perfect feed from midfielder Keith Savage, but his shot missed just wide to the right of the goal. Clare had another opportunity in the 45th minute with a left-footed strike from inside the box but his shot was saved by Illyes.

Forward Mike Ambersley had two chances early in the second half. His shot in the 55th minute was deflected off the side of the net for a corner kick after a nice pass from Clare. Just a minute later, Ambersley hit a left-footed strike from the other side of the box but was saved by Illyes.

Savage took a left-footed shot from just outside the box in the 62nd minute, forcing Illyes to dive to his left for the save.

After Antoniuk gave the Rowdies the 1-0 lead in the 70th minute, Ambersley had a chance to add to it from in close in the 74th minute, but he missed just wide to the right after some great build up.

The Rowdies return to action this Saturday, April 28 when they resume their rivalry with the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers at 7:30 p.m. at Al Lang Stadium in downtown St. Petersburg. Tickets are available by calling 813-287-1539.

Scoring Summary
Tampa Bay Rowdies: Daniel Antoniuk - 70th minute (assisted by Tsuyoshi Yoshitake)
Atlanta: Reinaldo Navia - 87th minute (assisted by Lucas Paulini)

Caution Summary
Atlanta Silverbacks: Patrick Robertson - 73rd minute
Tampa Bay Rowdies: Luke Mulholland - 85th minute

Atlanta Silverbacks
GK Daniel Illyes, D Martyn Lancaster (Captain), D Patrick Robertson, D Jordan Davis (Danilo Turcios 77'), D Raphael Cox, M Tony McManus, M Lucas Paulini (Fernando Gonzalez 90'), M Shane Moroney, M Borfor Carr, M Ciaran O'Brien (David Santamaria 67'), F Reinaldo Navia

Tampa Bay Rowdies
GK Jeff Attinella, D Frankie Sanfilippo (Captain), D JP Rodrigues, D Andres Arango (Daniel Scott 74'), D Takuya Yamada, M Stuart Campbell, M Keith Savage, M Luke Mulholland (Dan O'Brien 87'), F Matt Clare (Daniel Antoniuk 67'), F Mike Ambersley, F Tsuyoshi Yoshitake

Final Statistics
Atlanta Silverbacks - 6 shots, 5 saves, 16 fouls, 4 corners, 5 offsides
Tampa Bay Rowdies - 11 shots, 2 saves, 13 fouls, 3 corners, 3 offsides

Attendance
3,261

Photo Credit: Ron Holt