News

MIAMI, Fla. (July 14, 2012) - The San Antonio Scorpions fought to a dramatic 2-2 road draw against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers on Saturday night and jumped back into sole possession of first place in the NASL standings.

Pablo Campos scored both San Antonio goals, including the tying score in stoppage time to help put the Scorpions back at the top of the league table. The Brazilian forward now has a league-high ten goals this season.

The Scorpions will return to San Antonio to face the Strikers again next Saturday, July 21 in San Antonio Thunder Flashback Night. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. CT at Heroes Stadium.

"We needed to play more energy in first half, but we came out attacking better in the second half," Scorpions Head Coach Tim Hankinson said. "Both goals by Pablo [Campos] were great individual efforts that helped us get an important point."

The Scorpions created the first scoring chance of the evening in the 3rd minute, when Walter Ramirez made some quick moves outside the box on the left side and crossed the ball in front of the net for Esteban Bayona, whose header sailed wide of the net.

Strikers forward Abe Thompson nearly put the Strikers ahead in the 15th minute when he received a perfectly placed pass from Walter Restrepo. Thompson had a look at the open net, but the ball got tangled under his feet and Scorpions keeper Daryl Sattler was able to jump on the ball to keep the game scoreless.

But Thompson was able to help put the Strikers ahead in the 28th minute, delivering a long cross into the box for Andy Herron, who knocked the ball into the back of the net to give Fort Lauderdale a 1-0 lead.

The Scorpions answered in the second half, when Pablo Campos picked up his ninth goal of the season in the 58th minute to tie the match at 1-1. Campos beat Strikers goalkeeper Matt Glaeser to a pass from Esteban Bayona into the box and knocking a shot into the back of the net.

But the Scorpions would go a man down in the 65th minute when defender Ryan Cochrane picked up his second yellow card of the match.

Daryl Sattler made a diving save in the 71st minute off a free kick attempt just outside the box and Motagalvan was sent off just moments later with his second yellow card of the match to even the playing field.

Now with both teams at even strength, the Scorpions went back on the attack and nearly took the lead when Pablo Campos found himself one-on-one against Gleaser in the 73rd minute. But Glaeser made a huge save to keep the game tied at 1-1.  

Sattler would make another crucial save in the 79th minute as the Strikers went on the attack and Mark Anderson fired a shot on target. But Sattler got a hand on the ball and deflected away from the net.   

Andy Herron appeared to ice the game for the Strikers with his second goal of the match, putting a free kick just outside the box into the back of the net to give the Strikers a 2-1 lead in the 90th minute.

But Campos was able to respond in stoppage time, taking a pass from Walter Ramirez inside the box and putting a shot past Glaeser into the back of the net for his tenth goal of the season to tie the game 2-2.

Mark Anderson had one final opportunity with a free kick in the waning moments of stoppage time, but Sattler denied his blistering kick with an outstretched save and the final whistle blew seconds afterwards to end the match.