Scorpions chalk up third straight home win

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SAN ANTONIO – In hindsight — and considering how this season has played out — Scorpions interim coach Alen Marcina had every reason to fear the worst.

His team was nursing a 1-0 lead with three minutes left when Sunday's NASL game against FC Edmonton was delayed after lightning struck near Toyota Field.

In a season that has produced its share of blown leads and late-game lapses, wasn't this moment setting up to be more of the same?

“We never put anything negative in our head,” Marcina said. “We said if we do what we need to do for these three minutes, we leave with three points.”

The Scorpions endured the 30-minute delay to secure their third win in four games. Each of the wins has come at home.

Forward Tomasz Zahorski scored the game-winner in the 40th minute, his eighth goal in 11 games, as the shorthanded Scorpions split the two-game season series with FC Edmonton.

Scopions Tomasz Zahorski (left) is congratulated by teammates Sainey (cq) Touray and Dennis Chin after scoring the game's only goal in the Scorpions 1-0 victory over Edmonton Sunday afternoon at Toyota Field. Scopions Tomasz Zahorski (left) is congratulated by teammates Sainey (cq) Touray and Dennis Chin after scoring the game's only goal in the Scorpions 1-0 victory over Edmonton Sunday afternoon at Toyota Field. Photo: Robin Jerstad Photo: Robin Jerstad Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Scorpions chalk up third straight home win 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

“It is a big win,” said Marcina, who was without four players — Daniel Medina (back), Borja Rubiato (hamstring), Hans Denissen (knee) and Kevin Harmse (suspension). “It's three home wins in a row, so we're obviously happy with that. I told the guys we take it game by game regardless of what position we're in right now. The guys have been committed to that, and it's showing on the field.”

The Scorpions (3-7-1) controlled the game from the start, with forward Sainey Touray putting two shots wide and having two others saved by FC Edmonton goalkeeper Lance Parker.

“You want to be able to not only keep possession (of the ball), but create opportunities,” Marcina said. “We've been doing that consistently over the course of the last five or six games. We missed quite a few opportunities (Sunday), but the bright side of it all is we're creating the opportunities. If we weren't, it would be concerning.”

Just when it appeared the Scorpions would go into halftime in a scoreless tie with FC Edmonton (2-4-5), they got the break they needed.

Midfielder/assistant coach Javier Saavedra ran onto a pass near the right sideline, eluded a defender and sent a cross to the near post. Zahorski got just enough of his left foot on the ball and redirected the pass into the upper right corner.

“I'm a striker, and scoring goals is my job,” said Zahorski, who has a goal in three of the last four games.

tthomas@express-news.net