RECAP | Scorpions 1, Silverbacks 0

Photo Credit: Rich von Biberstein

The San Antonio Scorpions beat the Atlanta Silverbacks, 1-0, at Silverbacks Park thanks to Omar Cummings’ league-leading fifth goal and Daryl Sattler’s season-high six saves. With the win, San Antonio jumped up to fifth in the standings pending the result of tomorrow’s match between Jacksonville and Ottawa.

The teams battled mostly in the midfield for the first half of the opening frame, but in the 26th minute the Scorpions got on the board through the NASL’s leading scorer. Marvin Chavez intercepted an Atlanta ball at midfield and sent a long ball down the left side that Billy Forbes was able to chase down. Forbes worked his way into the 18-yard box and as he so often does, the Turks and Caicos international drew the defense and Silverbacks ‘keeper Steward Ceus towards him. Forbes then sent a cross towards the now lightly defended far post that Omar Cummings was able to neatly tap into the open side of the net for the score.

Cummings then turned defender in the 33rd minute to keep the Alamo City boys in front. He was in his own area to help defend an Atlanta free kick from about 30 yards. The initial ball was sent in and in the ensuing scrum, Silverbacks center back Simon Mensing took a shot that was headed into the goal until Cummings deftly back-heeled the ball off the line.

The story of the second half was Sattler denying chance after Silverbacks' chance between the pipes. First in the 50th minute, Sattler picked what was meant to be a cross out of midair and immediately started the red and black attack going the other way. Then in the 63rd, former Scorpions forward Hans Denissen – a second-half substitute – was well within the SAS area when he headed a cross towards goal that Sattler was able to not only stop but catch to deny the rebound.

Sattler’s best save of the night came again on Denissen when he took a free kick from 20 yards away in the 81st minute. Denissen hit the ball well and it went up and over the wall before dipping towards the right upper 90 of Sattler’s goal. The fomer NASL Golden Glove winner dived hard to his left and at a full stretch denied Denissen what would have been a spectacular goal with an even better save.