Hristov Leads Rowdies To Victory Over Fury FC

Photo credit: Matt May/Tampa Bay Rowdies

Georgi Hristov scored goals in each half as Tampa Bay stayed alive in the Spring Season title race with a 2-1 victory over Ottawa at Al Lang Stadium on Saturday night. 

Hristov scored for a second straight game, finding the winner in Tampa Bay's win in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup midweek, using a skillful chip in the game’s 20th minute to beat Ottawa goalkeeper Romuald Peiser, finding the side netting to give Tampa Bay (4W-3D-2L, 15 points) the early lead. The play was started by Michael Nanchoff’s throw-in from the near side that went to Kalif Alhassan, who slid a pass to Hristov.

Fury FC (2-2-5, 8) tied the score four minutes into the second half on a goal by Carl Haworth, but the deadlock did not last long. The English star Joe Cole put a perfect lead pass into the path of a streaking Hristov who scored his second of the game, in the 52nd minute.

Ottawa now heads to Vancouver to take on Whitecaps FC of MLS in the second leg of the Amway Canadian Championship on Wednesday. Fury FC won the first leg, 2-0, and would face the winner of the Toronto-Montreal series should Ottawa advance to the final round.

For more on the game, head on over to rowdiessoccer.com and ottawafuryfc.com.