TAMPA BAY, FL (October 4, 2017) – New York Red Bulls II (12-13-5, 41 points) fell to the Tampa Bay Rowdies (13-7-10, 49 points) 3-2 at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg, Florida, Wednesday night.
NYRB II struck first in the 16th minute of play as Stefano Bonomo buried a pass from the foot of Vincent Bezecourt past a frozen Matt Pickens. The goal was Bonomo’s seventh on the year and the assist was Bezecourt’s tenth.
Tampa Bay struck back two minutes later with Joe Cole finding the equalizer.
The Rowdies would add two more before the end of the half, both scored by Marcel Schafer.
NYRB II pulled one back in the 54th as Junior Flemmings notched his team-leading ninth goal of the season finishing a long ball over the top from Arun Basuljevic.
Rafael Diaz kept the deficit at one in the 58th minute making a diving save on a 1v1 with Joe Cole.
Jordan Scarlett was issued his second yellow card of the evening in the 63rd minute forcing NYRB II to play down a man the rest of the way.
NYRB II could not find the equalizer on the night as Saturday’s match against Orlando City B becomes a crucial contest in the playoff race.
Despite the loss, NYRB II continue to hold the final playoff position in the Eastern Conference and are back at it Saturday at Orlando City Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET and can be livestreamed via the USL Match Center.
New York: Diaz; Kutler, Schmoll, Scarlett, Abidor, Shigenobu (Florian Valot, 84th minute), Basuljevic, Bezecourt, Lewis (David Najem, 68th minute), Flemmings, Bonomo (Ben Mines, 75th minute)
Tampa Bay: Pickens; King, Gorskie, Collins, Portillos, Vingaard, Cole (Keith Savage, 87th minute), Schafer, Morrell (Darwin Jones, 76th minute), Guenzatti (Walter Restrepo, 90th minute), Hristov
Scoring:
New York: Stefano Bonomo 16th minute, Junior Flemmings 54th minute
Tampa Bay: Joe Cole 18th minute, Marcel Schafer 25th and 45th minute
Discipline:
New York: Jordan Scarlett 50th minute & 63rd minute (ejected), Junior Flemmings 84th minute
Tampa Bay: Martin Vingaard 23rd minute
