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Look Back Part 3 FCTB @ Carolina on May 14

The following is part three of the “Best 10 of 2010” series, which is taking a look back at FC Tampa Bay’s best games of the 2010 inaugural season.

FC Tampa Bay won 2-1 over the Carolina RailHawks with the help of rookies Joe Donoho and Aaron Wheeler, who both scored their first professional goals that night. This was also the last game for Jeremy Christie before joining his fellow New Zealanders for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Perry Van Der Beck on the match:

“This was a game that came down to the wire with a great effort by forward Aaron Wheeler, scoring his first goal for the club to secure the win. It was evident that winning games on the road early in the season built confidence in our team.”

“Carolina Head Coach Martin Rennie was quoted as saying, ‘It’s the best performance my team has played this season. Tampa never gave up.’”

Game Recap

Joe Donoho and Aaron Wheeler reaped the rewards of a relentless second half performance as FC Tampa Bay (2-1-2) overcame a 1-0 halftime deficit to record a 2-1 win over the Carolina RailHawks (1-2-2) in Cary, North Carolina.

Two Tampa players, goalkeeper Josh Lambo and defender Joe Donoho, made their professional debuts in the match.

RailHawks striker Gregory Richardson opened the scoring with a 42nd minute penalty kick for the home team.  FC Tampa Bay defender Yendry Diaz conceded the penalty.  Out of the five goals Tampa has allowed in their first five matches, three have come via penalty kick.

FC Tampa Bay came out of the halftime break with a renewed energy and pushed for the equalizer.  A free kick in the 61st minute presented the opportunity.  2010 FIFA World Cup-bound midfielder Jeremy Christie sent in the free kick with his right foot where Donoho received the ball and scored the goal in his professional debut.

FC Tampa Bay has dominated the final 15 minutes of every match they’ve played so far this season.  The trend continued Friday night at WakeMed Soccer Park.

A strong run from second half substitute Kwame “JJ” Adjeman-Pamboe created a chance for Tampa to score the winning goal.  Aaron Wheeler, also a second half sub, completed the comeback with an 84th minute strike.

"It was an amazing feeling to finally score my first professional goal and it meant even more to me with my parents in the stands watching tonight," said Wheeler.  "It wasn't the prettiest goal but I'm glad it got us the win and those three points, as well as a good note to send Jeremy (Christie) off to the World Cup with."