RECAP | Scorpions 2, Indy 0
A goal in each half by San Antonio captain Rafael Castillo would be too much for Indy Eleven to overcome in a 2-0 defeat in front of 6,500 fans at Toyota Field.
Making just one change from its lineup that won 3-0 over Jacksonville last weekend – left back Jaime Frias entering for flu-stricken Kyle Hyland – Indy Eleven would come out composed and carry the bulk of the possession in the first half as San Antonio looked content to absorb pressure. However, quality chances for the visitors were few and far between, limited to a pair of shots by forward Dane Richards in the right side of the area, one being saved by Scorpions goalkeeper Daniel Fernandes in the 9th minute and another in the 20th minute being pushed wide left.
The Scorpions’ first chances of real danger came midway through the half, starting in the 25th minute when Indy Eleven goalkeeper Keith Cardona saved a 20-yard effort by Scorpions forward Omar Cummings. Three minutes later it was Cummings again creating havoc after bowling his way into the top of the area, but he sliced a 1-v-1 chance against Cardona wide left to keep things scoreless.
The lone minute of stoppage time in the first half would prove vital for the home side to take an advantage into the break, as Cardona set up a penalty-kick opportunity for San Antonio by cutting down Marvin Chávez inside the area after Cummings chipped him behind the Indy back line. It was Castillo stepping up and finishing into the left side of the goal to give the Scorpions the lead as the teams entered the locker rooms.
Richards earned a dangerous opportunity for Indy just minutes into the second half after being fouled just outside the area, and he’d eventually get a chance on the doorstep off of midfielder Don Smart’s cross, only to see Fernandes make a save cemented on his line. Cardona would be equal to the task in the 54th minute when he made a kick save on another Cummings effort from 10 yards out.
Richards would continue to ask questions just before the hour mark when a ball popped out to him with space near the penalty spot, but the Jamaican’s shot rang off the right post and was ushered out by Fernandes to quell the danger.
It would be Castillo doubling the San Antonio lead in the 72nd minute, as he flashed across the area to beat Frias to Billy Forbes’ cross from the left flank and beat Cardona with a first-time shot from eight yards out to push the score to 2-0.
San Antonio would hold its cushion without much trouble over the final 20 minutes, but one lasting effect would come two minutes into stoppage time when Scorpions forward Cesar Elizondo was shown a straight red card for a two-footed challenge on Indy Eleven’s Duke Lacroix.
