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Rowdies tie New York on Red Bulls own goal

Tampa Bay now is tied for the USL Championship points lead with Phoenix with three games left in the regular season.
Rowdies midfielder Sebastian Dalgaaard, seen here in a game against Charlotte in August, plays a role in giving the Rowdies a tie against New York on Friday night at Al Lang Stadium. [ SCOTT PURKS | Special to the Times ]

ST. PETERSBURG — The Rowdies were held to a 1-1 draw by New York on Friday night at Al Lang Stadium, a result that put Tampa Bay and Phoenix in a tie for most points in the USL Championship.

The Rowdies (20-7-21) and Rising (19-5-5) have 62 points apiece with three games remaining in the regular season.

New York took the lead in the 23rd minute on a goal by Luther Archimede. Omar Sowe played a through-ball into the left channel, and Archimede slipped a low shot past advancing Rowdies goalkeeper Evan Louro.

Tampa Bay, playing before an announced crowd of 6,882, tied it in the 45th minute on a New York own goal forced by a cross by Sebastian Dalgaard.

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The Rowdies were applying pressure as the first half wound down. In the final minute, a cross by Leo Fernandes found Steevan Dos Santos for a header that goalkeeper AJ Marcucci saved. But less than 30 seconds later, Fernandes slipped Dalgaard into the left channel with a pass that split two defenders, and Dalgaard’s ball into the top of the 6-yard area was turned into New York’s net by Red Bulls defender Juan Castillo as Dos Santos threatened to finish.

The Red Bulls were reduced to 10 men in second-half stoppage time as Jeremy Rafanello was sent off for a hard foul on Aaron Guillen, but the Rowdies were unable to take advantage in the limited time they had remaining as Marcucci made a pair of saves to deny Sebastian Guenzatti and Fernandes.

The Rowdies’ next game is Wednesday against Miami at Al Lang Stadium.

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