Sports stats



Scorpions Win and Move into 1st Place in the NASL Fall Season Table

July 19, 2014 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
San Antonio Scorpions News Release


Rookie Billy Forbes continues to make his mark for the Scorpions as he struck for the opening goal of the match in only the 23rd minute. Walter Restrepo dribbled around the edge of the Ft. Lauderdale box from right to left, avoided two challenges from Strikers players and then he slid the ball towards the half-circle as the defense collapsed on him. This gave Forbes plenty of space to run onto the ball and hit a one-time shot with his left foot into the lower right corner for his second goal of the season in NASL play.

Forbes then added his NASL-leading 5th assist right before halftime to double the red-and-black's advantage. He fed Thomas Zahorski, who was posted up inside the 18-yard-box. The Polish striker made a nice turn on the Strikers' defender marking him and hit a low shot that goalie Kamil Čontofalsk�1/2 couldn't get to.

San Antonio almost had the opener just 14 minutes in when Čontofalsk�1/2 couldn't hold onto Restrepo's long-range blast. The ball fell straight to Zahorski's feet, but Čontofalsk�1/2 recovered enough to block the attempt. The linesman's flag for offside kept Zahorski and Forbes from adding to their stats in injury time as the Turks and Caicos international had sent in Zahorski.

In the second half, the Strikers were on the front foot offensively and put the Scorpions under immense pressure for most of the 45. Scorpions goalkeeper David Bingham - back this week from San Jose - was up to the task, however as he made save after save on clear Strikers chances. His best came in the 59' when Ft. Lauderdale midfielder Mark Anderson unleashed a wicked shot that was locked in on the far upper 90 like a guided missile. But Bingham took two steps, leapt and at a full reach was able to get just enough on the ball to push it wide and out for a corner kick that the Scorpions were able to clear.

It took a bit of luck, however, to maintain the shutout. Julius James was called for a tug in the box on a Strikers attacker and referee Luis Guardia immediately went to his shirt pocket for a red card and pointed to the spot for the penalty kick. Fafa Picault stepped up to take the kick, but he sent his effort straight into the left post and the rebound was immediately cleared by the Scorpions.

Next, San Antonio has a mid-week tilt on Wednesday night against the Carolina RailHawks at home while the Strikers will host the New York Cosmos at Lockhart Stadium.

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

North American Soccer League Stories from July 19, 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