Scorpions Fall to Rowdies on Pair of Late Goals

Published on June 23, 2012 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
San Antonio Scorpions News Release


ST. PETERSBURG, FL (June 23, 2012) - The San Antonio Scorpions fell to the Tampa Bay Rowdies on the road by a score of 3-2. The loss ends a league best nine-game unbeaten streak for the Scorpions.

Jonathan Greenfield and Esteban Bayona were the goal scorers for the Scorpions.

San Antonio will look to get back in the win column when they return home for the Scorpions International Challenge on Saturday, June 30. The Scorpions will take on the Atlanta Silverbacks, which will be followed by an exhibition between two Mexican Primera Division teams: C.F. Monterrey Rayados and San Luis F.C. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at Heroes Stadium.

"We made some mistakes late and we beat ourselves tonight," Scorpions Head Coach Tim Hankinson.

In the first half, San Antonio was able to come up with most of the scoring chances, testing Rowdies goalkeeper Jeff Attinella with six shots on goal in the first 45 minutes of play.

The persistence paid off for Scorpions, who struck first in the 31st minute when forward Esteban Bayona fed Jonathan Greenfield a pass inside the box. After beating a defender inside the box and nearing the end line, the Scorpions defender fired a shot from a sharp angle that beat Rowdies goalkeeper Jeff Attinella.

Bayona almost gave the Scorpions a two-goal lead receiving a perfectly placed lead pass in the 35th minute, but his shot on goal was stopped by Attinella.

The Rowdies evened the score in the 39th minute when forward Tsuyoshi Yoshitake knocked in a header off a cross from midfielder Keith Savage that made its way past Scorpions goalkeeper Daryl Sattler.

It did not take long for the Scorpions to retake the lead in the second half, taking advantage of a poor clearance by the Rowdies backline. A shot from Bayona went off the post, but then he was able to knock in the loose ball in front of the net to earn his second goal of the season and give the Scorpions a 2-1 lead.

A dangerous moment for the Scorpions came in the 60th minute when Rowdies midfielder Luke Mulholland knocked a header off the post that nearly tied the game.

The Rowdies would continue attacking and forward Mike Ambersley was able to get a shot off in the 73rd minute, but it went wide.

Jonathan Greenfield had two back-to-back opportunities to pick up his second goal for the Scorpions, first after being on the receiving end of a pass in the 80th minute. He tried to chip it over the head of Attinella, but the Rowdies keeper made a leaping effort to make the stop. A minute later, he received a pass in the box from Pablo Campos, but was denied again by Attitnella.

Campos had his own opportunity in the 85th minute to give the Scorpions an insurance goal, but after trying to free himself of defenders in the box and getting a shot on goal, but Attinella made another save to keep it a one-goal match.

The Rowdies then tied the match in the 88th minute off a set piece by Luke Mulholland and Yoshitake picked up his second goal of the match in stoppage time to give Tampa Bay the lead and win.

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



North American Soccer League Stories from June 23, 2012


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.

OurSports Central