The Basics
Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. Minnesota United FC
Saturday, June 7 at 7:30 p.m. ET
Al Lang Stadium, St. Petersburg, Florida
Follow us for live updates on Twitter at @RowdiesGameday.

2014 Records (W-T-L)
Tampa Bay: 2-3-3, 9 points
Minnesota: 6-1-1, 19 points

Series History
Tampa Bay and Minnesota have a very competitive history, with the Rowdies 7-4-8 all-time against Minnesota. The Rowdies are 4-2-4 at home against Minnesota, including an elimination-game loss in the 2011 playoffs and the 2012 NASL Soccer Bowl 2nd leg victory in 2012.

Rowdies Notes
The Rowdies are coming off a thrilling 2-0 loss on the road to Carolina which saw goalkeeper Cody Mizell save a penalty kick but the offense unable to score. It was only the second time this season the Rowdies were kept off the scoreboard in a match.

Midfielder/defender Kyle Clinton made his first appearance of the season, starting the match as centerback in just one of the tactical adjustments made to the Rowdies lineup. Willie Hunt and Frankie Sanfilippo swapped the positions they played in the last four matches with one another, with Hunt moving into central defense to pair with Clinton and Sanfilippo starting at right back for the first time since the April 26 match against Atlanta. Blake Wagner, who has started four matches at left back made his first start on the left side of midfield. Casey Townsend earned his second start of the season as a forward along Georgi Hristov.

Forward Brian Shriver played 27 minutes off the bench in Carolina, his first NASL appearance since spraining his ankle on May 3 in San Antonio.

Scouting Minnesota
The Loons arrive in Florida flying sky-high, needing only a draw to clinch the NASL Spring Season and their spot in The Championship. Minnesota opened the season with four wins in a row before a loss at New York in week 5. Since then, Minnesota has only dropped two points, a scoreless draw vs. Carolina, to regain control of the league.

Forward Christian Ramirez has proven to be one of the best signings of the season, leading the league in goals (5) and tied for the league lead in assists (3). Minnesota prefers a 4-5-1 system with Miguel Ibarra playing just behind Ramirez at the point of the midfield and Simone Bracalello playing on the left and occasionally moving to the front line.

Quotable
Head Coach Ricky Hill
"Any game against Minnesota is generally a close affair. It's been that way since I've been at the club and I don't expect Saturday to be any different. Last time they came, it was an end-of-season affair where neither of us were going to make the Soccer Bowl and it was an entertaining game for the fans. Whether they were neutrals of fanatics, they saw 10 goals in that game. We came out on the wrong end of those 10 goals, but we don't envisage having that same problem this week. Credit to Manny Lagos and his staff for the consistency they've showed so far this year. We need to play with that consistency. Saturday will give us an opportunity to finish the Spring on a high. Our aim is to get the three points, but we know they have a lot to play for. It'll be like a Cup Final for us."

Up Next
Following this match, the Rowdies enter the NASL summer break, returning to action July 4 in a friendly vs. the Fort Lauderdale Strikers. Prorated Fall season tickets are now available by calling (877) ROWDIES and include complimentary tickets to the July 4 match against Fort Lauderdale and the July 6 match against Orlando City SC.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Rowdies and Minnesota United FC finished the final game of the NASL Spring Season with a 3-3 draw in front of a lively crowd at Al Lang Stadium. With the draw, Minnesota United clinched the NASL Spring Season championship and a berth in The Championship. 

"It's mixed emotions (in the locker room) right now," Rowdies coach Ricky Hill said. "I think they should be quite happy with the overall matter of how they went about the work tonight in the game, but I'm still quite disappointed with the manner of how we conceded the goals. We're definitely disappointed to not get all three points, but we'll feel a little bit better because, as an offensive unit, we looked a little bit more like our old selves."

The two sides played an open game with each team creating several legitimate chances with plenty of those turned into goals.  The scoring was opened by Minnesota in the 12th minute when Justin Davis put the visitors ahead.  Jamie Watson played the ball to Davis in the box, who looped his shot over Rowdies goalkeeper Cody Mizell to give United the lead.

The home side managed to claw their way back into the tie through goals from Blake Wagner and Lucky Mkosana in the 33rd and 45th minutes, respectively. Wagner’s half-volley was the end product of a nice piece of play for the home side. Georgi Hristov was played down the right flank before lofting the ball to the far side of the box for Wagner to finish. Mkosana was not left with much to do after his captain, Frankie Sanfilippo, played him a through ball down the right flank. Mkosana coolly slid the ball under the United goalkeeper to give Tampa Bay the lead.

It did not take United too long to make things even once more as they leveled the score at 2-2 just 12 minutes into the second half. Watson notched his second assist of the night when he played a low cross to midfielder Daniel Mendes, who slotted the ball past a diving Mizell. Minnesota took the lead for a second time when Miguel Ibarra curled a shot with his left foot past Mizell in the 61st minute. The through ball behind the Rowdies defense narrowly escaped the foot of Rowdies defender Kyle Clinton and left Ibarra clear on goal.

Sanfilippo brought the two sides even again in the 74th minute. The skipper provided a headed finish for Wagner’s corner at the far post. United keeper Mitchell Hildebrandt managed to get a hand on it, but it was not enough to keep Sanfilippo’s effort out.

"We could have come away with a victory instead of a tie," Sanfilippo said. "There were times where we had more possession of the ball and more opportunities. We didn't lose, but we didn't win. We've got to be better in the fall season."

United withstood the late onslaught from Tampa Bay throught three minutes to secure the Spring Season title. United successfully dealt with two dangerous corners in stoppage time to maintain their place atop the table. The two sides shared the points, which is a result that was representative of how the game was played.

"The philosophy of our side tonight was a lot better than in recent times," Hill said. "We still have a penchant to concede very, very ordinary goals. I think that's two points dropped, but congratulations to Minnesota for clinching home field advantage on the road to the Soccer Bowl."

Now, the Rowdies will enjoy the midseason break before gearing back up the Fall season with a pair of blockbuster exhibition matches against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers on July 4 and Orlando City Soccer Club on July 6. 2-for-1 tickets for those matches are available using the promo code "BOGO" here, or by calling (877)ROWDIES.

Starting Lineups
Tampa Bay XI (4-4-2) : GK Cody Mizell; D Frankie Sanfilippo (c), Kyle Clinton, JP Rodrigues, Anthony Wallace; M Lucky Mkosana, Shane Hill, Darel Russell, Blake Wagner; F Georgi Hristov, Casey Townsend (Carl Cort 86')

Minnesota United FC XI (4-4-1-1) : GK Mitch Hildebrandt; D Brian Kallman, Tiago Calvano, Aaron Pitchkolan (c), Justin Davis; M Daniel Mendes (Omar Daley 75'), Juliano Vicentini, Greg Jordan, Jamie Watson (Cristiano Dias 81'); F Miguel Ibarra, Christian Ramirez (Richard Garcia 90')

Scoring Summary
Minnesota United FC: Justin Davis - 12th minute (Assisted by Jamie Watson)
Tampa Bay: Blake Wagner - 33rd minute (Assisted by Georgi Hristov)
Tampa Bay: Lucky Mkosana - 45th minute (Assisted by Frankie Sanfilippo)
Minnesota United FC: Daniel Mendes - 57th minute (Assisted by Jamie Watson) 
Minnesota United FC: Miguel Ibarra - 61st minute
Tampa Bay: Frankie Sanfilippo - 74th minute (Assisted by Blake Wagner)

Caution Summary
Minnesota United FC: Christian Ramirez - 9th minute
Tampa Bay: Anthony Wallace - 43rd minute