Scorpions Advance to the NASL Championship Final with 2-1 Win

Published on November 8, 2014 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
San Antonio Scorpions News Release


SAN ANTONIO, TX - The San Antonio Scorpions earned the first postseason win in team history by beating the New York Cosmos 2-1 in overtime Saturday night at Toyota Field. With the victory, the Scorpions move on to the Championship Final that will be played next Saturday, November 15, at Toyota Field against the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers.

For the second consecutive week, the Alamo City boys showed a flair for the dramatic by scoring in the waning minutes of the match to beat the Cosmos. This time, the winning goal came in the 110' after the teams ended regulation knotted at 1 goal apiece.

After few chances were created for either side in the first 15 minutes of extra time, Walter Restrepo singlehandedly created the winning goal with a deep run towards the New York goal on the south end of the pitch. Restrepo dribbled in and out of Cosmos defenders to create an opening for a shot from inside the six yard box. Cosmos 'keeper Jimmy Maurer was able to parry the ball, but unfortunately for the Cosmos it ricocheted straight back into the net off of defender and team captain Carlos Mendes for an own goal.

New York turned up the pressure for the final ten minutes and came very close to re-tying the match in the 120' when the Cosmos won a free kick about 25 yards from goal. Former Spanish national teamer and dead ball specialist Carlos Senna stepped up to take the kick and unleashed a shot that dipped fiercely at the end and looked as if it was headed for the back of the net. But Scorpions goalie Josh Saunders was up to the task as he made a world-class save to tip the ball back over the crossbar and preserve the 2-1 lead.

The visitors got the scoring started early with a tally in only the 17' minute of play, the second earliest concession by the San Antonio defense in 2014. Cosmos left fullback Ayoze made a deep run into the Scorpions' box and before crossing the endline, he sent a cross that went just over the out-stretched arm of Saunders. The ball came down near the back post where New York striker Mads Stokkelien met the ball with his head as he dived towards the goal and drove it firmly into the back of the net.

But far from being shell-shocked, the Scorpions responded immediately. Two minutes after the New York score, Stephen DeRoux showed Ayoze he wasn't the only fullback that could get involved in the offense as he ventured well into the NYC end of the field with the ball before he looked up and found midfielder Rafael Castillo unmarked in the box. Castillo immediately fired off a low shot that Maurer was able to quickly get down and block, but the rebound fell directly to the red and black's leading scorer, and he did not miss his second chance.

Next week the Soccer Bowl will be lifted at Toyota Field as the Scorpions and Strikers will clash for the right to be called 2014 NASL champions.

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North American Soccer League Stories from November 8, 2014


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