St. Petersburg, Florida (October 28, 2017) – New York Red Bulls II defeated the Tampa Bay Rowdies, 2-1, at Al Lang Stadium with Stefano Bonomo scoring a game-winning goal in the third minute of the first half of extra time. With the win, NYRB II returns to the Eastern Conference Finals for the second year in a row, facing the same opponent, Louisville City FC.
In a back and forth game that saw both teams have a litany of chances throughout the 120 minutes played, Evan Louro made six spectacular saves to keep New York in the game after falling behind 1-0 in the 26th minute.
NYRB II responded in the 58th minute with equalizer coming via a Bonomo penalty kick earned after Junior Flemmings was taken down in the box by Rowdies goalkeeper Matt Pickens.
The penalty go kept NYRB II perfect from the penalty spot this season going a perfect nine for nine. The brace for Bonomo was also his 13th goal in 15 appearances this season.
Next Saturday, NYRB II heads to Louisville, Kentucky to take on Lousiville City FC at Slugger Field for the Eastern Conference crown.
New York: Louro; Najem, Scarlett, Ndam, Kutler, Metzger, Basuljevic, Tinari, Valot, Flemmings, Bonomo
Tampa Bay: Pickens; King, Gorskie, Collins, Portillos, Vingaard, Schafer, Restrepo, Cole, Hrstov, Guenzatti
Scoring:
New York: Bonomo 58’, Bonomo 93’
Tampa Bay: Hristov 26’
Discipline:
New York: Flemmings 86’ yellow, Ndam 96’ yellow
Tampa Bay: Portillos 35’, Guenzatti 39’, Cole 42’, Pickens 57’, Vingaard 62’ Restrepo 66’, Paterson 116’
