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San Antonio Scorpions Draw 2-2 with Ft. Lauderdale

June 7, 2014 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
San Antonio Scorpions News Release


San Antonio, TX - The San Antonio Scorpions played to a 2-2 tie with the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers while playing a man down for much of the match in front of 6,484 fans at Toyota Field.

After scoring in the dying seconds of their last two league matches to snatch road victories, the Scorpions were the ones stung by a late goal in their final match of the NASL Spring Season. The Scorpions led for most of the second half, but San Antonio's man disadvantage finally caught up to them in the 90' minute when Ft. Lauderdale substitute Fafa Picault headed a cross underneath Scorpions goalie Jeremy Vuolo to knot the score at 2. Late in stoppage time, Walter Restrepo was just inches wide of giving the red and black another improbable three points, but this time it wasn't meant to be.

In the 10', Strikers forward Marius Ebbers caught the Scorpions defense flat-footed as he beat the offside trap and went in on San Antonio 'keeper Jeremy Vuolo 1-on-1. Vuolo got to the ground quickly to save Ebbers' shot, but the rebound fell right to the feet of Shawn Chin, who side-footed the ball into the open half of the net to give the visitors the 1-0 lead.

The Scorpions chances were all coming from outside the box until the 24' minute. Eric Hassli received the ball just outside the top of the center circle. The big Frenchman showed a very deft touch by flicking the ball forward with a backheel. The pass was perfectly placed as it found the space between Ft. Lauderdale's defensive line and goalie Lionel Brown. Touray gazzelled to the ball, took a couple touches and then calmly shot low right before Brown could get down to tie the match at 1 goal apiece.

The match took a dramatic turn twelve minutes later as the Scorpions found themselves down a man at home for the second time this season. Eric Hassli was shown a straight red card by referee Armando Villareal for a challenge he judged to be late and reckless. Hassli argued his case, but to no avail and San Antonio was left to finish the match with only 10 men.

In spite of being down a man, San Antonio stayed on the front foot to start the second half and were rewarded for their attacking mindset with a goal in the 57'. Josue Soto, who came on at halftime for Sainey Touray, hit a liner to give the Scorpions the 2-1 lead. Soto then went to work on the defensive end 10 minutes later when he made a chest save at the back post on a Ft. Lauderdale free kick.

Both teams now head into the NASL's break for the World Cup in Brazil with the Fall Season kicking off July 12. In the interim, the Scorpions will travel to Frisco, TX, to play FC Dallas in the fourth round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on June 17th and then will host international friendlies against Tigres (June 21), the Mexican U-21 National Team (June 28) and Monterrey (July 6).

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