Scorpions Crowned 2014 NASL Season Champions with 2-1 Victory

Published on November 15, 2014 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
San Antonio Scorpions News Release


SAN ANTONIO, TX - The San Antonio Scorpions won the first NASL Championship in team history Saturday evening with a 2-1 victory over the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers in front of 7,847 fans at Toyota Field. The boisterous crowd was a modern league record for attendance in the championship game.

Rafael Castillo was the unquestioned man of the match with a second half performance that will go down in Scorpions lore. In the 69' minute, Josue Soto sent a cross from the left side of the pitch towards the top of the Strikers' 18-yard-box where Castillo had run into space. Castillo's back was toward goal, but his eye was on the ball as he lept into the air, scissored his legs and then struck an overhead bicycle kick that he zipped towards the upper left of the Ft. Lauderdale goal. The crowd at Toyota Field absolutely erupted when Strikers' 'keeper Kamil Čontofalsk�1/2 was unable to reach the ball and it went into the net for a memorable golazo.

Eleven minutes later, Castillo turned creator when he sent rookie Billy Forbes in on Čontofalsk�1/2 all alone. The Turks and Caicos native rounded the goalie and neatly side-footed the eventual game winner into the goal.

Just as the crowd started to sense a title, Ft. Lauderdale drew one back to make the final 10 minutes stressful for the home crowd. Former Scorpion Walter Ramirez received the return pass of a one-two with Mark Anderson and finished passed Josh Saunders in the 79'.

Ft. Lauderdale had the opportunity to take the lead in the 64' when Elizondo was called for a foul in the penalty area and referee Ted Unkel called for a penalty kick to be taken. Martin Nu�=B1ez stepped up to the spot and hit the ball with power, but his attempt caromed off the crossbar and out of play.

The first half was fiercely contested in the midfield, but did not result in many chances created for either side. San Antonio led in corner kicks 6-0 and controlled possession 59% to 41%, but they generated only one shot on frame. It wasn't until the second half that the match opened up and the Alamo City Eleven found the goals that earned them the right to lift the Soccer Bowl as champions.

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