Toyota Field – The San Antonio Scorpions hadn’t not won since raising their NASL trophy last November. However, their luck turned around as the red and black dominated for a full 90 minutes en route to their first win of the season.
Bright Dike scored his first goal in a Scorpions uniform as San Antonio defeated the Carolina Railhawks 1-0 in front of 7,252 fans at Toyota Field on Saturday night.
“There was never any panic from our team in these games prior,” Scorpions head coach Alen Marcina said. I feel like we dominated this game, Carolina had one shot on target. If we can do that against any team we play, the odds on are our side.”
San Antonio dominated from the opening kick off and did not allow a Carolina goal for the first half. Marvin Chávez and Omar Cummings each had chances for the Scorpions in the first half, but could not find the back of the net. We would go into the second half in a scoreless tie.
After halftime, the Scorpions continued to keep the ball in the Carolina zone. In the 78th minute, Billy Forbes sent the ball to striker Dike, who shot it past Carolina goalkeeper Hunter Gilstrap to put San Antonio ahead 1-0. The Scorpions would hold on for the victory for the remainder of the match.
“I saw Billy making a run from behind and I knew that he’s going to beat that defender,” Dike said of the goal. “I knew I had to be in the right spot and I was. Billy made that goal.”
San Antonio had two shots on target, while Carolina had none. The red and black had the edge in possession 51 percent to Carolina’s 49 percent.
The Scorpions are now 1-1-3 (4 points) on the season and will return to the pitch next Sunday when they travel north of the border to face F.C. Edmonton at 3 p.m. inside Foote Field.
