Fresh off a 1-1 draw with Minnesota Stars FC, hosts FC Edmonton welcome the league-leading San Antonio Scorpions to Clarke Stadium on Wednesday night for the fourth and final regular season meeting between the sides. Edmonton has failed to win against San Antonio in the three previous meetings, losing by a goal to nil the last time the teams met.
FC Edmonton fell behind shortly before halftime, Martin Nuñez capitalizing on a defensive error by Jonathan Joseph-Augustin to put the Stars up 1-0. With less than three minutes left in regulation time, the game looked like the Eddies were going to be shutout yet again, but for an own goal by Ernest Tchoupe. On-loan midfielder Bryan Arguez split the Minnesota defense with a clever pass to Michael Cox, whose shot was saved by Matt VanOekel, but pushed right into the path of the unfortunate Tchoupe who bundled the ball into his own net. The goal was the first at home for Edmonton since Cox scored against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers back on June 10th.
The Scorpions lost just their second home game of the season Sunday, falling to the Puerto Rico Islanders for the third time this season. Pablo Campos capitalized on a defensive error to score his 16th goal of the season, but it proved nothing more than a consolation as San Antonio failed to find an equalizer. Nicholas Addlery’s brace for the Islanders ended a Scorpions’ shutout streak just shy of 800 minutes when playing in the Alamo City.
The last time San Antonio traveled to Edmonton, the Scorpions came back from two goals down to tie the match. Josue Soto made it a one goal game after strikes by Edmonton duo Yashir Pinto and Shaun Saiko, before Aaron Pitchkolan scored the equalizer with less than eight minutes remaining. The draw kept San Antonio’s unbeaten streak intact, an eventual run of nine games.
The point picked up by Edmonton was enough to keep the side ahead of the Atlanta Silverbacks, who defeated the Fort Lauderdale Strikers 4-2 on Saturday. Edmonton are level on points with Atlanta, byr have a superior goal differential. At the other end of the table, the gap between the Scorpions and both the Islanders and Rowdies was reduced just one point following the results at the weekend. With those sides having to wait until Saturday for their next matches, San Antonio remains in first until the weekend, regardless of the result against Edmonton.
FC Edmonton vs. San Antonio Scorpions
Wednesday, August 8, 2012— 9:00 P.M. EDT
Clarke Stadium
Edmonton, Alberta
Webcast: NASL on ustream, CBC Edmonton
TV: Shaw Cable, GOLTV Canada
2012 Series: San Antonio, 2-1-0, 7 points
Edmonton San Antonio
Head Coach Harry Sinkgraven Tim Hankinson
2012 Records 7th: 4-5-10, 17 points 1st: 10-5-4, 35 points
Last Five Games T L W L T L T W W L
Goals Leader Shaun Saiko (5) Pablo Campos (16)
Assists Leader Shaun Saiko (5) Esteban Bayona (5)
Walter Ramirez (5)
Edmonton
San Antonio
| Upcoming Games | ||||||
| ||||||
| ||||||
| ||||||
|
| Standings | |||||||
| TEAM | GP | W | T | L | GD | PTS | |
| Carolina RailHawks | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 11 | |
| Tampa Bay Rowdies | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 8 | |
| Minnesota United FC | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 8 | |
| FC Edmonton | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 8 | |
| Atlanta Silverbacks | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 7 | |
| Fort Lauderdale Strikers | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -4 | 4 | |
| San Antonio Scorpions | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | -6 | 2 | |