Welcome to the Classic Championship Game of the Day, where today we go back to a key game in the Eastern Conference playoff race in the 2017 season when Joe Cole, Marcel Shäfer and the Tampa Bay Rowdies played host to the New York Red Bulls II at Al Lang Stadium.
The Rowdies had fared well in their first season in the Championship and were sitting with the chance to move into second place with a victory on home turf in this midweek clash with three games to go in the regular season. The side had been given a major boost by Shäfer throughout the year, with the former German international proving he had lost none of the class and competitiveness that marked his years competing for Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga.
Coming off a title the season prior, the Red Bulls II has seen major changes to the lineup and that had left the side in eighth place and in the middle of a battle for a place in the postseason as it arrived at Al Lang Stadium. New York had taken a 4-2 victory against the Rowdies a month prior on its home turf, however, with Junior Flemmings, Florian Valot and Vincent Bezecourt leading the way for Head Coach John Wolyniec’s side.
The scene is set, so sit back, relax and enjoy a classic clash from the Championship’s history.