First Annual Scorpions International Challenge Set To Begin

Scorpions ready to face Atlanta; C.F. Monterrey and San Luis to face off


 

 

SAN ANTONIO, TX (June 29, 2012) – The San Antonio Scorpions will host the first annual Scorpions International Challenge presented by Aeromexico this Saturday, June 30, beginning with their NASL match with the Atlanta Silverbacks at Heroes Stadium at 7:30 p.m.
 
The match will be immediately followed with an exhibition between two Mexican Primera Division clubs: defending CONCACAF Champions league winner C.F. Monterrey and San Luis F.C. The exhibition will be broadcast in Monterrey by Multimedios.
 
Saturday’s contest with the Silverbacks will be the third meeting of the season between the two clubs.  The two sides claimed a point each in a 0-0 draw in the Scorpion’s inaugural NASL match on April 7 in Atlanta.  The second meeting was a 3-0 victory in favor of the Scorpions at Heroes Stadium on June 9.
 
The Scorpions enter the match with a 6W-4T-2L record, giving them 22 points in the league standings, one point behind the league-leading Puerto Rico Islanders, who sit at 23 points.
 
A victory over the Silverbacks could once again put the Scorpions back atop the league standings.
 
SCOUTING ATLANTA
 
Atlanta (1W-5T-7L) enters Saturday coming off of a 2-1 loss to Puerto Rico on June 23, handing the Silverbacks their seventh loss of the season.  The Silverbacks currently sit at the bottom of the table with eight points on the season, three behind FC Edmonton and only have one victory in 13 matches this season.
 
Silverbacks striker Reinaldo Navia is tied with the Scorpions forward Pablo Campos for league lead with six goals, but has failed to score in two games against the Scorpions this season. But the rest of the Atlanta offense has struggled, scoring just 14 goals this year.
 
In goal for the Silverbacks most likely will be Daniel Illyes who has given up 24 goals this season out of 67 shots faced.  Illyes has allowed two goals per match this season and the Silverbacks currently have the worst goal differential in the league (-13).
 
LAST TIME OUT
 
The Scorpions will be entering the match following a 3-2 loss at Tampa Bay on June 23.  The loss dropped the Scorpions out of first place and left them with 22 points, one back of Puerto Rico who was a 2-1 victor against Atlanta.
 
The Scorpions struck first in the 31st minute when forward Esteban Bayona fed Jonathan Greenfield a pass inside the box. After beating a defender inside the box and nearing the end line, the Scorpions defender fired a shot from a sharp angle that beat Rowdies goalkeeper Jeff Attinella.
 
The Rowdies evened the score in the 39th minute when forward Tsuyoshi Yoshitake knocked in a header off a cross from midfielder Keith Savage that made its way past Scorpions goalkeeper Daryl Sattler.
 
It did not take long for the Scorpions to retake the lead in the second half, taking advantage of a poor clearance by the Rowdies backline. A shot from Bayona went off the post, but then he was able to knock in the loose ball in front of the net to earn his second goal of the season and give the Scorpions a 2-1 lead.
 
The Rowdies then tied the match in the 88th minute off a set piece by Luke Mulholland and Yoshitake picked up his second goal of the match in stoppage time to give Tampa Bay the lead and win.
 
C.F. MONTERREY VS. SAN LUIS F.C.
 
With the Mexican Primera Division season around the corner, C.F. Monterrey and San Luis F.C. travel to San Antonio for a preseason battle at Heroes Stadium as the second part of the Scorpions International doubleheader.
 
C.F. Monterrey is coming off a CONCACAF Champions League victory for the second year in a row and will compete in the 2012 FIFA Club World Cup this December in Japan.
 
The Rayados will be bringing stars like Chilean striker Humberto Suazo and Mexican national team member Angel Reyna while San Luis F.C., which has made some key additions this offseason, while be brining Mexican national team regulars goalkeeper Oscar Perez and defender Jose Antonio Castro.
 
SATTLER STILL STRONG
 
Daryl Sattler is 6W-2T-1L as a starter this season and has a league-best 0.66 goals against average in NASL play this season. He has posted three straight shutouts and six overall.
 
The Scorpions lead the league in shutouts with seven and Sattler has not allowed a home goal in NASL play since a 2-2 draw with FC Edmonton on May 27.
 
PABLO POWER
 
Striker Pablo Campos remains atop the league in goals scored with six on the season and will be looking to perhaps jump into the league lead with a goal this weekend.
 
Campos scored twice in San Antonio’s win over Atlanta on June 9.
 
BAYONA BOOST
 
Esteban Bayona has become a key part in the Scorpions attack up front, scoring his first two goals of the season in back-to-back games against Puerto Rico and Tampa Bay and is second in the league with four assists this season.
 
COMING UP
 
The Scorpions will remain at home for a midweek game on Wednesday, July 4 with FC Edmonton. Kickoff is set for 7:30 at Heroes Stadium.

The match will be part of the Scorpions’ 4th of July celebration, which will include a post-game fireworks show at the conclusion of the match.


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