Castillo’s Golazzo Gives San Antonio Scorpions The Soccer Bowl

When Rafael Castillo came to the San Antonio Scorpions this season it seemed like it was the end of the road. At 34 and having played for over 16 clubs, many were not sure what he would be able to bring to the table. The same could be said for many of the Scorpions players whose entire roster went through a face-lift. But through determination and hard work this season the Scorpions proved that they were one of the best teams in the NASL. Their tremendous season was capped off on Saturday night with a 2-1 victory over the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers in the NASL Soccer Bowl.

At the start of the first 45, it appeared that the Strikers might hit first. The club led by midfielder Shawn Chin focused on breaking down Scorpions right-back Jonathan Borrajo. Borrajo, who was starting for captain Adrian Cann due to Cann’s season-ending knee injury last week, struggled to keep up with Chin and Strikers defender Ivan Guerrero.

In the 4th minute Chin found some space at the top of the eighteen yard box but his shot went wide.

The Strikers would continue to press the Scorpions defense with Chin and fellow midfielder Chris Nurse consistently moving the ball north and south on the pitch. In the 5th minute Nurse would find midfielder Martin Nunez inside the Scorpions box. Although the Argentine looked to have a decent opportunity he was unable to capitalize.

Despite the Strikers having the best chances early on, the Scorpions would show why they are the highest-scoring team in the NASL. Midfielder Walter Restrepo would lead the attack, delivering several deadly passes into midfielder Rafael Castillo. The two would connect in the 20th minute with Castillo’s shot from 40 yards out going just wide.

In general both sides would struggle to find quality shots in the first half. Credit should go to their respective defenses pressing high and doing an expert job at tracking runs into the box.

While the first-half might have lacked the offensive firepower that San Antonio Scorpions and Ft. Lauderdale Strikers’ fans expected, they would not be disappointed in the second forty-five. Both teams looked emboldened as it became apparent that the two teams were fairly even.

It appeared that the Strikers might strike first when in the 62nd minute San Antonio Scorpions forward Cesar Elizondo would foul Ft. Lauderdale forward Fafa Picault in the box. On the ensuing penalty kick, midfielder Martin Nunez would nail the crossbar and keep the match at 0-0.

Football is very much a sport of karma where one mistake could completely change the flow of the match. Having avoided catastrophe, the Scorpions would capitalize on their opportunities. In the 70th minute, Castillo would finish off a cross by midfielder Josue Soto by delivering a world-class bicycle kick.

Video of the goal can be found below (credit to Dave Martinez of Empire of Soccer for the video:)

Even with the one goal advantage, the San Antonio Scorpions would continue to press with Castillo once again being the catalyst. On a counter-attack in the 74th minute Castillo’s pass into open space would find Forbes. Forbes, the Turks and Caicos international, would then proceed to sprint past the Strikers defenders and hit a low shot past Strikers goalkeeper Kamil Contofalsky.

With the two-goal advantage, it appeared that the title was as good as theirs. But the Strikers would not go quietly into the night. Strikers assistant coach Raoul Voss made a wise substitution in the  75th minute bringing in midfielder Walter Ramirez. The move paid off as Ramirez would bring the Strikers to within a goal in the 79th minute.

But with time running out the Strikers were desperate to get the second goal. Their best opportunity came in the 84th minute when Chin’s free kick looked like it would hit the inside far corner of the goal. But Scorpions goalkeeper Josh Saunders made the diving save to preserve the lead. With the Scorpions victory, Saunders has become the first-ever goalkeeper to win both the MLS Cup and the Soccer Bowl.