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The red-hot Tampa Bay Rowdies host FC Edmonton on Saturday, July 28, at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg, Florida. Both teams head into this match full of confidence after grabbing wins in their previous matches.

The Rowdies moved up to second place in the standings following a 2-0 victory over the then second place Puerto Rico Islanders on Saturday. The win was the Rowdies sixth in the last seven matches. Mike Ambersley set up team captain Frankie Sanfilippo, the NASL Defensive Player of the Week, for the opener, before capping the game off with a goal of his own in the 85^th minute.

FC Edmonton also moved up the table with a win on Saturday. The team occupied 8^th place in the standings for just a week, as a 2-1 victory over the Atlanta Silverbacks was enough to move the Eddies back into seventh. Edmonton went up 2-0 with a couple of goals in quick succession, but Ciaran O’Brien restored hope for the home side from the penalty spot after Jonathan Joesph-Augustin was sent off for a foul on Matt Horth. The Edmonton defense held firm for the final minutes of the match to preserve the one-goal lead to earn the team’s first victory since June 10.

The teams met just two weekends ago, at Clarke Stadium on July 15. FC Edmonton failed to capitalize on a man advantage after Tsuyoshi Yoshitake was controversially sent off after just a half hour played. Edmonton forced Rowdies’ goalkeeper Jeff Attinella into eight saves, but ultimately paid the price for not taking their chances when Luke Mulholland scored an 89^th minute winner for the visitors.

The Rowdies have won four consecutive home matches, and, with a chance to move into first place, would like to make it five against Edmonton. On the other end of the spectrum, the Eddies would like to keep distance between themselves and the Atlanta Silverbacks, and push for the sixth and final playoff spot.

Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. FC Edmonton

Saturday, July 28, 2012— 7:30 P.M. EDT

Al Lang Stadium

St. Petersburg, FL

Webcast: NASL on ustream

2012 Series:  Tampa Bay, 2-0-0, 6 points

2011 Series:  Tampa Bay, 2-1-1, 7 points

                                              Tampa Bay                        Edmonton

Head Coach                        Ricky Hill                            Harry Sinkgraven

2012 Records                    2^rd: 9-3-6, 30 points         7^th: 4-4-9, 16 points         

Last Five Games               W W L W W                         T L T L W

Goals Leader                     Tsuyoshi Yoshitake (6)     Shaun Saiko (5)

Assists Leader                  Mike Ambersley (6)           Shaun Saiko (5)

Tampa Bay

• 6-2-1 at home this season.
• Have won six of their last seven matches.
• Leading scorer Tsuyoshi Yoshitake returns from one-match suspension.

Edmonton

• 2-2-6 on the road this season.
• Have been kept scoreless in five of the last 10 games.
• Jonathan Joesph-Augustin misses the match through suspension.