RECAP | Eddies 1, Rowdies 0
FC Edmonton capped off its three-match road trip with a 1-0 win over the NASL combined standings leaders, the Tampa Bay Rowdies, at Al Lang Stadium.
Defender Mallan Roberts was instrumental in the Eddies goal, getting a head on the ball that would eventually be credited as a Rowdies own goal.
Both teams struggled to keep possession at the start of the match, as the pitch was extremely wet due to the heavy rain prior to kick-off.
The Eddies began to settle into the match 15 minutes in, when midfielder Cristian Raudales attempted to score from long-range, but his powerful shot went over Rowdies goalkeeper Matt Pickens’ net.
Tampa Bay Rowdies responded with an opportunity four minutes later. Former Eddies striker Corey Hertzog entered the right side of the area and cut inside to shoot on target before his attempt was blocked by Eddies captain Albert Watson.
The Rowdies accumulated a handful of chances before halftime, including a dangerous free kick by defender Ben Sweat that would go high.
Both sides would head into the half in a 0-0 deadlock.
After a pair of chances for both teams to open the second half, the Eddies took advantage of a corner kick opportunity in the 56th minute to take the 1-0 lead. Roberts got over the Rowdies defense and got a head to the ball that Pickens initially saved before deflecting off of Stefan Antonijevic into his own net.
The Rowdies responded with pressure after going down a goal, but the home side could not crack goalkeeper Matt VanOekel and the Eddies defense. VanOekel came up with a huge save on a one-on-one opportunity, and moments later defender Kareem Moses cleared a dangerous ball to preserve the Eddies’ one-goal lead.
The Eddies slowed down Tampa’s offensive storm during the final 10 minutes of the match and held onto their 1-0 score line to register their second clean sheet of the Fall Season.
“I’m so proud of this group of players,” Colin Miller said. “What a phenomenal effort in the third game in this heat and humidity in less than seven days.”
