Toyota Field – After a Red Card in the first half, the San Antonio Scorpions fought hard, but fell 0-1 to the Ottawa Fury in front of 6,574 fans at Toyota Field on Saturday evening.
San Antonio had a chance to go up early when Omar Cummings found Milton Palacios, who send a one-timer wide to keep the game scoreless in the 18th minute. Defender Zourab Tsiskaridze was given a yellow card in the 22nd minute and picked up another in the 40th minute, meaning he would be out the rest of the game.
After halftime, Ottawa found the back of the net for the proven game winner. Oliver Minatel beat San Antonio goalkeeper Daniel Fernandes in the 52nd minute after the ball was cleared to put the visitors up by a goal.
Despite, being down a man – the Scorpions still created chances to try and tie the match. Giuseppe Gentile and Eric Hassli each had scoring chances, but Ottawa’s defense held strong as the Canadians held on for the win.
“From the start we were compact we were organized, we didn’t have too many chances against us,” Scorpions center back Brad Rusin said. “We were feeling comfortable, we just needed to play a little quicker through the midfield. The chance of overcoming a red card in any game, no matter if it’s the first minute or the last minute, it changes the game. It is what it is, as players you just have to work hard, put your head down and fight like you’re a man down because you are man down.”
The Scorpions are now 2-3-5 (9 points) on the Fall Season and will return to the pitch for a midweek game against the Carolina Railhawks at 7:30 p.m. at Toyota Field.