Sports stats



Scorpions Claim the NASL Fall Season Championship with a 1-0

November 1, 2014 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
San Antonio Scorpions News Release


SAN ANTONIO, TX - The San Antonio Scorpions won the NASL's Fall Season Championship in dramatic fashion with a goal by Adrian Cann in the last seconds of second half stoppage time. The victory over the New York Cosmos came in front of a raucous Toyota Field crowd of 8,205 fans - second most in stadium history.

San Antonio earned a free kick in the second minute of stoppage that led to a corner kick on the left side and then finally a corner kick on the right as time was winding quickly towards the final whistle. Set piece specialist Rafael Castillo curled an in-swinger with his left foot that Cosmos 'keeper Kyle Zobeck was unable to corral. Scorpions centerback Adrian Cann was knocked to the ground in the initial scramble. The ball continued to bounce around in the box and just as Cann stood up, the ball fell in front of him and he reacted instinctively to tap it into the open net for his first goal of the year. Just seconds after the restart from midfield, referee Marcos Deoliveira blew his whistle to end the match.

Alamo City's own had been on the front foot for the entire second half and on multiple occasions looked to be good for a goal - or more. Rafael Castillo and Billy Forbes had a nice 1-2 on the right side of the pitch that freed Forbes for an open run at goal, but the Cosmos defense was able to clear away the danger. Minutes later, Castillo scored what looked to be his eighth goal of the year off of a nice headed feed from Giuseppe Gentile, but the linesman's flag was raised.

The attacking push for the Scorpions in the second half was a reversal from the first, when New York put San Antonio under intense offensive pressure for much of the opening frame, with their best chances both coming through midfielder Diomar Diaz. In the 39', one of them sent Scorpions goalie Josh Saunders into a full stretch towards his left, where he was able to get just enough on the low, hard shot to direct it past the far post.

San Antonio's best opportunity in the opening frame also came through a set piece. In the 25', Billy Forbes took a shot in the box that was blocked over the end-line by the Cosmos defense for a corner kick. Castillo sent in a left-footed out-swinger from the attacking left that made it's way to Cann on the far side of the pitch. Cann collected the ball and drove towards the end-line before sending in a cross that found striker Tomasz Zahorski in the middle of the area. Zahorski snapped his head left and sent the ball towards the open side of goal, but ultimately just wide.

These two teams will meet at the same time and place next Saturday, November 8, but with much more at stake. The Scorpions and Cosmos will face off in the Championship Semifinal and will play for the right to move on to the Championship Final and a chance to lift the Soccer Bowl on November 15.

• Discuss this story on the North American Soccer League message board...

North American Soccer League Stories from November 1, 2014


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent San Antonio Scorpions Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central