By EVAN REAM
Neither team was the best over the course of the combined seasons, but the San Antonio Scorpions and the Fort Lauderdale Strikers are certainly the two hottest sides heading into the NASL Soccer Bowl (8:30 p.m EST, NASL Live), Saturday at Toyota Field.
With just one loss in their combined past 10 games, something has to give when the Scorpions’ stingy defense meets the Strikers, who actually finished the combined regular seasons with a negative goal differential and were average on both sides of the ball.
However, the Strikers have something that the Scorpions don’t: a top striker.
Forward Fafà Picault has been instrumental in the Strikers’ success this season. After being released from the Tampa Bay Rowdies in 2012, the Strikers forward made a triumphant return to the NASL this year, finishing second overall in the league in scoring with 12 goals despite playing in just 23 of his team’s 27 games.
Featuring former MLS defenders Julius James, Adrian Cann and Greg Janicki, the Scorpions, who allowed just 24 goals in 27 games will look to slow down the dynamic Picault.
Though they led the league in goals against, don’t underestimate the Scorpions as a one-trick pony. The Texan side finished with 43 goals, good for the second most in the league.
Lacking a consistent goal-scorer, San Antonio features talents such as NASL Best XI midfielder Rafael Castillo (eight goals), Tomasz Zahorski (six) and former Vancouver Whitecaps Designated Player Eric Hassli (six), leaving many defenses with more than one player to focus on. In all, 13 different players scored for San Antonio in the regular season.
While the Scorpions will go into the game as favorites to pick up their first ever NASL title, the Strikers are something of an unknown entity.
Stuck mid-table near the end of the combined seasons, the Strikers strung together a seven-game unbeaten streak before knocking off runaway No. 1 seed Minnesota United FC in Minnesota.
The south Florida side did require some luck – a controversial referee’s decision and a penalty shootout brought them to the final – but the team has experience in big matches, especially with veteran CONCACAF internationals such as Ivan Guerrero and James Marcelin.
Woah, Ivan Guerrero?? I had no idea he was still in the US!! One of the biggest mistakes the Fire have made over the years was letting this guy go. I don’t really remember the circumstances.
Anyone but the Strikers…San Antonio it is then!
I wish Fox Sports or BeIN would pick some NASL games, this should certainly help the league’s visibility…
As always, Come on You Rowdies!
What is this NASL you speak of?
I know not of it.
MLS and MLS alone is American soccer.
Have you seen the NYCFC jerseys?
Neat, right?
I know it’s a joke and everything, but I so badly wish that Garber really posted on this site in this exaggerated version of himself.
But I doubt he has a sense of humor about himself.
ps. You screwed New York TWICE
Nah,
Pretty sure only certain NASL fans hate parts of American soccer. You are with a doubt one of them. Garber undoubtably not.
Billy – no one would laugh at that…it wasn’t even remotely funny. There wasn’t one shred of funny to it, it was just downright st upid. I would have no problem laughing if it was, even it was a rip on soccer in this country.
Here are some stats for everyone out there.
In the fall season, the Strikers on the road have won 2, tied 3 and lost 5.
In the fall season, the Scorpions at home have won 8, tied 1 and lost 1. They conceded only 5 goals in that span while scoring 19.
Some notes for you Evan not mentioned:
Steven DeRoux (LB), the other component on the Scorpions D, also has MLS experience and is their best defender. Cann is out with a knee. So, it will most likely be Borrajo (RB), Janicki and James (CD) with DeRoux (LB). The spot Borrajo leaves open in the midfield will be covered by Soto (former Dynamo player) paired with Menjivar (the US/Salvadoran midfielder). The wings will be Restrepo and Forbes. Castillo hasn’t been really playing midfielder; they are using him as a false 9 with Cesar Elizondo (Costa Rican International) as a slashing striker. Zahorski hasn’t seen the field, and Hassli only gets mop up minutes.
should be an entertaining game. Strikers 2-0. Ugh, I feel ill. Go Cosmos!