ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (October 4, 2018) — The United Soccer League regular season is down to crunch time as the Rowdies try to fight their win into the playoffs.
Tampa Bay still has a chance at getting into the postseason if they win their remaining two matches and get a little help from elsewhere.
Here are some of the biggest matches in the Eastern Conference this weekend…
Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. Charlotte Independence
Saturday, 7:30 p.m. | thisTV Tampa Bay, ESPN+
Tampa Bay has no margin for error if it wants to reach the postseason once again. Simply put, the Rowdies must beat Charlotte on Saturday night. If they come up short, they could be practically eliminated before the night is over.
Charlotte needs even more help than the Rowdies to make the playoffs, but they’re still mathematically alive.
Indy Eleven vs. Bethlehem Steel FC
Saturday, 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Bethlehem is one of the teams the Rowdies will need to leapfrog to get into the playoffs, so this match is huge. According to the path laid out in the latest Three Things here, the Rowdies need Indy to beat Bethlehem at Lucas Oil Stadium to get into the playoffs.
North Carolina FC vs. New York Red Bulls II
Saturday, 7 p.m. | ESPN+
According to that same path, Tampa Bay will need to finish ahead of one of these teams in the end. The best result would be for North Carolina to beat New York, but, in isolation, no result in this match could directly end the Rowdies’ chances.
