San Antonio Scorpions Defeat New York Cosmos 1-0

April 26, 2014 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
San Antonio Scorpions News Release


Hempstead, NY (April 26, 2014) - The San Antonio Scorpions struck down numerous New York Cosmos streaks on their way to a 1-0 victory at Shuart Stadium on the campus of Hofstra University.

New York dominated possession and every statistical indicator of a team's offensive pressure in the match except the most important one - goals. San Antonio's defense absorbed wave after wave of Cosmos attacks, free kicks and corner kicks, but New York was never able to find the final pass or shot to get on the scoreboard. San Antonio, meanwhile, looked content to counter all evening and did so very effectively in just the '15 minute to take the lead that they would not relinquish.

Danny Barrera and Walter Restrepo executed a perfect 1-2 just inside the attacking third to start the play. Barrera received the return pass on the run off of a slick backheel from Restrepo and then dribbled the ball into the New York box, where he very deftly cut inside of Cosmos captain Carlos Mendes. This set the attacking midfielder up for a wide-open shot from about 12 yards away and he uncorked a well-struck hit with his right foot that New York 'keeper Jimmy Maurer tried to parry away to his right. But the ball instead ricocheted directly to Scorpions striker Eric Hassli, who headed the ball first-time into the open side of the net. The score was the big French forward's first goal in a San Antonio kit. The goal also ended a modern NASL league-record shutout streak for New York at 372 minutes. They had eclipsed the previous mark of 359 minutes - set by the Tampa Bay Rowdies in 2012 - earlier in the match.

New York's best chance came in the second half, when midfielder Danny Szetela found some space just outside the Scorpions' 18-yard-box and got all of a right-footed shot on goal. The ball took a slight deflection on its way towards San Antonio keeper David Bingham that almost fooled him, but Bingham was able to get just enough on the shot to his lower left to push it wide. Fullback jonathan Borrajo had almost doubled San Antonio's lead minutes earlier when he laid into a free kick from 22 yards away that dipped hard at the last second and fooled Maurer, but clanged off of the underside of the cross bar.

With the win, San Antonio ended New York's 14-match unbeaten streak and became the first NASL club to win at Shuart Stadium since their modern era began last season. New York is now 6-1-2 all time at home and it is also the Scorpions' first win overall against the Cosmos in three tries.

Next week the Scorpions will be back in the friendly confines of Toyota Field to take on the visiting Tampa Bay Rowdies while the Cosmos will hit the road to face the Carolina RailHawks.

The Scorpions' next home match at Toyota Field is May 3rd against the Tampa Bay Rowdies with a 7:30pm kickoff. Season tickets start at only $10 per game and can be purchased at Toyota Field Box Office or through Ticketmaster. Call 210.495.8686 for more information on season tickets or log onto SAScorpions.com.



North American Soccer League Stories from April 26, 2014


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