PREVIEW | Rowdies Set Sights On Gaining Ground In The Championship Race Against Indy

The Tampa Bay Rowdies were bumped into fifth place in the NASL Combined Standings on Sunday by FC Edmonton’s 2-1 win over the New York Cosmos. Edmonton leads Tampa Bay by one point, but the Rowdies have a game in hand, which will be played tonight. Fort Lauderdale sits in sixth, three points behind Edmonton and two points behind the Rowdies, but will have a match in hand following tonight’s Rowdies game.

Midfielder Freddy Adu returned to the field in Saturday’s loss to the Jacksonville Armada FC, playing 13 minutes off the bench. Adu had been sidelined since his only previous appearance on July 25 with an Achilles injury. He’s recorded one assist this season.

Rowdies forward Long Tan made his first Rowdies appearance since 2010 in the match against Jacksonville, replacing Corey Hertzog in the 63rd minute. Tan signed with Tampa Bay on loan from Arizona United SC on Tuesday, September 22. He played the 2010 season in Tampa Bay.

Indy arrives in St. Petersburg well rested, having had last weekend off. The Eleven hosted FC Edmonton in its last match on September 19, a 2-0 loss to the Eddies. Under interim head coach Tim Regan, who took over on June 2,  the Eleven have posted a record of 5W-3D-8L,  but are in last place in the Fall Season Standings.

Since beating Jacksonville, 3-0, on September 5, the Eleven have gone 180 minutes without scoring. Dylan Mares, Dane Richards, and Erick Norales are all tied for the team lead with three goals apiece, but none of them have scored since August 29. As a team, Indy’s 27 goals this season are tied for the fewest in the NASL with Jacksonville.