Tampa Bay Rowdies 1 FC Edmonton 1

The Tampa Bay Rowdies and visiting FC Edmonton split the points at Al Lang Stadium on Saturday night with a 1-1 draw.

Chad Burt scored for Edmonton in the 43rd minute to give the Eddies a road lead. Neil Hlavaty’s initial shot was saved by Rowdies goalkeeper Matt Pickens, but the rebound bounced directly to Burt, who kicked it home from about 10 yards out to give the Eddies a lead just before halftime. Georgi Hristov equalized from the penalty spot in the 68th minute to break a 268 minute scoreless streak.

Burt is a St. Petersburg native and played for the Rowdies in 2010 and 2011.

“Today was very important and we needed a three point result,” Rowdies coach Ricky Hill said. “To not get the three points is disappointing, first and foremost. To concede the first goal again is disappointing in the manner of how we conceded it. We’ve gotten into reasonable situations and we just haven’t been clinical enough or composed enough at times. I’m disappointed for our fans because we want to give them three points every time they come out to support us because they support us so well.”

The Rowdies started the match aggressively, dominated much of the first half with a forward-thinking 4-3-3 formation determined to put pressure on Eddies goalkeeper Lance Parker. New Rowdies forward Corey Hertzog led the attack, playing as the center forward in his Green and Gold debut, flanked on either side by Hristov and Casey Townsend, who swapped wings at will.

Tampa Bay midfielder Keith Savage nearly opened the scoring in the second minute, but his shot went just wide of Parker’s left-hand post.

Edmonton’s best early chance came off a throw-in in the 17th minute when Tomi Ameobi chested the ball up to set up for a shot, but Pickens left his line quickly to break up the play.

The Rowdies answered two minutes later with a chance of their own as Townsend cleverly turned on a ball and moved toward goal, but his shot from the outside of his boot was well over Parker’s crossbar.

In the 26th minute, a Hristov free kick from 23 yards out nearly gave the Rowdies a 1-0 advantage, but Parker dove to make the save at his near post to keep Tampa Bay off the scoreboard.

Edmonton’s goal came just before halftime, but the Rowdies again started aggressively in the second half.

Hill made a pair of aggressive substitutions in the 65th minute, with forward Brian Shriver and attacking midfielder Evans Frimpong both entering the match in search of a quick goal.

Two minutes later, a ball into the box saw Eddies defender Kareem Moses whistled for a foul on Willie Hunt to give the Rowdies a penalty kick. Hristov shot to the left for his seventh goal of the season to pull the Rowdies level in the 68th minute.

Forward Luciano Olguin entered the match for the Rowdies in the 83rd minute as the Rowdies continued to push for a match-winning goal.

Edmonton midfielder Eddie Edward was shown his second yellow card of the match in the 90th minute for a foul on Hristov, but the Rowdies didn’t have enough time to capitalize, with the match ending 1-1.

FC Edmonton coach Colin Miller commented after the game: “We dug in deep in the second half.  Our players gave it everything tonight and I thought it was a cracking game of football. I feel that both team’s played very well.”