Joe Cole Powers Rowdies To Victory

Photo credit: Minnesota United

Minnesota lost its second straight match and missed another opportunity to pick up precious points as the English star Joe Cole led Tampa Bay to an emphatic 2-0 victory at the NSC Stadium in Blaine, Minn., on Saturday night.

Cole scored his first NASL goal in the 43rd minute when he powered a header past Minnesota (4W-1D-3L, 13 points) goalkeeper Sammy Ndjock from a nifty cross by Kalif Alhassan.

Cole created the Rowdies (3-3-2, 12) second goal only minutes into the second half. He carried the ball 20 yards before releasing a pass to Eric Avila on the right for a shot that beat Ndjock in the 47th minute.

For more on the game, visit mnunited.com and rowdiessoccer.com.