Miami FC fell 2-0 in the third edition of the cross-state rivalry between Miami FC and the Tampa Bay Rowdies. Although the Blues controlled possession for most of the match, they could not come away with the road victory. Miami will return to action on the road this Saturday when they square off against the Austin Aztex. Game time is set for 8:30 p.m.

Miami created the first dangerous opportunity of the match when Paulo Jr received a long ball at the top of the Rowdies box. The Brazilian forward laid off a ball off for a streaking Christian Gomez, who unleashed a violent shot that sailed over the top box.

Ten minutes later, Long Tan settled a ball on the top of the box and rifled a shot that barley sailed over the cross bar.

Moments later, Paulo Jr found a loose ball deep in Rowdies territory. The Blues leading goal scorer got a clear look at the goal, but his shot was just wide of the mark.

In the 35th minute Tan got another look inside the box, forcing Patterson to make a great save but on the ensuing corner kick Julian Valentine beat his defender and put the Rowdies up 1-0.   

Towards the end of the first half, Paulo Jr. played a clever ball for local product Brain Shriver, who was left one on one on the right side of the box. The Blues midfielder couldn't finish and Miami went into the half down 1-0.

The Blues came out strong in the beginning of the second half when Shriver broke through the Rowdies defense and was left one on one with the goalie. Shriver got a good shot off but once again the ball sailed wide of the mark.

Moments later Miami seemed to level the match after a short corner when Shriver crossed a ball into the heart of the box and Abe Thompson cleanly headed the ball in for what seemed to be the equalizing goal. The referee quickly disallowed the goal and asked the Blues to re-take the corner kick.

Five minutes later, Cristiano Dias launched a cross from the left flack, Gomez the former MLS MVP did a great job of breaking the off-sides trap and was left one-on-one with the Rowdies goalkeeper Daryl Sattler, who came up with an amazing save and preserving the one-goal advantage for the Rowdies.

Only three minutes later, former Miami FC forward Aaron King beat a Miami defender and headed a goal past Caleb Patterson, putting the Rowdies up 2-0.

Towards the end of the second half, Miami pushed its lines up and tried to equalize the game. Sean Cameron launched a screamer of a shot that forced Sattler to make an acrobatic save and when the Blues regained control off the rebound, Euzebio crossed a ball across the box to Edward Santeliz, but he was unable to get a foot on it.