RECAP | RailHawks 1, Rowdies 1

Tampa Bay Rowdies and the Carolina RailHawks drew 1-1 on Saturday night at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C. The home team got on the scoreboard early as forward Nacho Novo scored in the sixth minute, but they would not hold the lead for long as midfielder Martin Nuñez equalized for the Rowdies in the 19th minute. Tampa Bay played with 10 men for the last 14 minutes of the match, as midfielder Georgi Hristov was issued a red card in the second half. 

Things didn't start out great for the Rowdies, as they went down 1-0 early in the match. Midfielder Tiyi Shipalane beat Rowdies defender Ben Sweat on the right flank and crossed a low ball towards the far post. His cross found a wide open Novo, who tapped the ball in to give the RailHawks the lead.

Rowdies forward Maicon Santos would come close to equalizing the match in the 15th minute, but after chipping his shot past RailHawks goalkeeper Hunter Gilstrap, the ball hit the crossbar and went out of play. 

In the 19th minute Tampa Bay would level the match via a strike from Núñez at the far post. Hristov received a ball from defender Darnell King inside the 18-yard box and whipped in a low cross into the heart of the box. Núñez was on the end of it, striking the ball into the back of the net to make it 1-1. The Uruguayan forward has now scored two goals in his last two matches.

The Rowdies gained momentum after scoring, elevating their pressure on the RailHawks back line. Tampa Bay almost took the lead in the 33rd minute after a series of shots inside the 18-yard box. Forward Maicon Santos had the initial shot on goal, which was saved by Gilstrap. It was then followed by a shot by defender Stefan Antonijevic and Hristov, but both were saved on the line by RailHawks defenders. 

The second half started similar to the first, with the RailHawks controlling most of the possession. After not being able to create any dangerous chances in the first 10 minutes of the half, Carolina had three chances in the 55th, 58th, and 59th minute. Midfielder Mark Anderson had the first chance, but his shot trickled just wide of the net and minutes later it was midfielder Leo Osaki that had his goal robbed by Rowdies midfielder Marcelo Saragosa. Novo had the last of the three dangerous chances, smashing his volley into the side netting from six yards out. 

As the match progressed, the Rowdies were able to create chances in the RailHawks box, but they would be unable to capitalize on any of the opportunities. 

In the 76th minute, Hristov was sent off after fouling midfielder Wells Thompson around the center circle.

Despite being down to 10 men, the Rowdies had a clear chance to take the lead in the 80th minute. After defender Stefan Antonijevic flicked a header towards the far post, defender Wes Knight denied an incoming Núñez his second goal of the night.

In the second minute of added time, it was goalkeeper Matt Pickens, who once again came up big for the Rowdies. Thompson found space just outside the 18-yard box and curled his shot on goal. Pickens dove to his left and stretched his arm out to send the ball out for a corner kick.