Rowdies Win Big Over Rival Fort Lauderdale

Photo credit: Michael Nouri/Fort Lauderdale Strikers

The Tampa Bay Rowdies stormed past the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, 4-1, at Central Broward Stadium on Saturday night. Georgi Hristov, making his 100^th regular-season appearance – all for the Rowdies – scored the club’s first hat trick in the NASL Modern Era. The win moved Tampa Bay to within one point of fourth place in the Combined Standings.

Hristov competed his hat trick in the 83^rd minute. He first scored the equalizer for Tampa Bay (5W-4D-6L, 19 points Fall; 9-8-8, 35 Combined) when he tapped home a cross from Joe Cole in the 15^th minute. It was the English star’s sixth assist of the year. In the 43^rd minute, Hristov turned in a rebound after Darnell King’s effort on goal. Tom Heinemann had the Rowdies’ other goal as he latched onto a through ball from Justin Chavez in the 37^th minute.

Fort Lauderdale (4-5-6, 17 Fall; 8-8-9, 32 Combined) started out of the blocks quickly, opening the scoring on Ramón Núñez’s fourth minute goal off a Kléberson assist. The loss for the Strikers ended a seven-game unbeaten run and was also their first loss at Central Broward Stadium.

For more details on the game, head to strikers.com and rowdiessoccer.com.