Elizondo and Castillo Score But Fall Short in 3-2 Loss to RailHawks
Soccer News: The San Antonio Scorpions came back from an early two-goal deficit with two scores of their own, but ultimately fell 3-2 to the Carolina RailHawks at WakeMed Soccer Park.
In the closing seconds of the match, San Antonio had an opportunity to take a point on the road after second half substitute Eric Hassli earned a free kick 22 yards from the RailHawks goal. Set piece specialist Rafael Castillo lined up a left-footed shot and hit a hard, fast, curling ball up and over the wall and directly on frame. But unfortunately for the red and black, Carolina ‘keeper Akira Fitzgerald was up to the task and made a diving save to preserve the win for his team.
The RailHawks doubled down on the Scorpions with two goals only two minutes apart starting in the 22nd minute of play. Forward Nacho Novo sent in a high, looping ball from the left side that found midfielder Neil Hlavaty making a run behind the San Antonio defense. Hlavaty volleyed the ball past Scorpions goalie Daryl Sattler to open the scoring.
The second in the 24th came after Sattler had stoned the RailHawks on two straight chances in the box. Novo collected the final rebound in the six-yard box and fired it into the open net before Sattler could get back to his feet.
The Alamo City boys pulled one back on a beautiful set piece in the 35′. The Scorpions earned a free kick on the left wing about 22 yards from goal and Castillo stepped up to send the ball in. His well-struck ball was a liner into the box and Cèsar Elizondo was able to redirect and add power to the ball with his head as it lasered into Fitzgerald’s goal to make the score 1-2 heading into halftime.
In the second half, all the scoring came from dead-ball situations as the teams traded goals on kicks from the spot. In the 67′, Novo was taken down on a foray into the Scorpions’ area and earned a penalty for Carolina. Novo himself took the PK and buried his attempt past Sattler in spite of the Scorpions net-minder guessing correctly to his right.
Eight minutes later, Elizondo earned a penalty for the Scorpions when he was taken down on a ball sent in by Giuseppe Gentile. Castillo – who was captain with Cann on the bench – coolly tapped the ball to his right when Fitzgerald dived the opposite direction. As the clock wound down, San Antonio pressed forward furiously and won a series of corners before Castillo’s game-ending free kick attempt.
Next week, the Scorpions will be back at Toyota Field to face Minnesota United while Carolina will be headed north to play the Ottawa Fury.
Photo Credit: Rob Kinnan/Carolina RailHawks
