Out-of-favour Soca Warriors defender Julius James and striker Trevin Caesar ended off the season in the North American Soccer League (NASL) on a high after helping the San Antonio Scorpions to the 2014 Soccer Bowl Championships title on Sunday, the club's first NASL title and the first ever professional soccer title for the city of San Antonio as well.
Founded in 2010, Scorpions made their debut in the NASL in 2012 and playing at Toyota Field, edged Ft Lauderdale Strikers 2�1 in front of 7,847 fans, a modern league record for attendance in the championship game.
For the James-skippered Scorpions, striker Rafael Castillo was the unquestionable man-of-the-match with a second half performance that will go down in Scorpions lore.
In the 69th minute, Josue Soto sent a cross from the left side of the pitch towards the top of the Strikers' 18-yard-box where Castillo had run into space.
Castillo's back was toward goal, but his eye was on the ball as he leapt into the air, scissored his legs and then struck an overhead bicycle kick that he zipped towards the upper left of the Ft Lauderdale goal past Strikers' goalkeeper Kamil Contofalsky.
Eleven minutes later, Castillo turned creator when he sent rookie Billy Forbes in on goal all alone and the Turks and Caicos native rounded the goalie and neatly side-footed the eventual game winner into the goal.
Just as the crowd started to sense a title, Ft Lauderdale drew one back to make the final ten minutes stressful for the home crowd.
Former Scorpion Walter Ramirez received the return pass of a one-two with Mark Anderson and finished past Josh Saunders in the 79th minute.
Earlier on Ft Lauderdale had the opportunity to take the lead in the 64th minute when Elizondo was called for a foul in the penalty area and referee Ted Unkel called for a penalty kick to be taken, but it was muffed by Martin Nunez as his attempt caromed off the crossbar and out of play.
Scorpions' first appearance in a Championship match was earned after it defeated New York Cosmos 2�1 in San Antonio, courtesy of a goal in extra time.
The Strikers finished as runner-up in 1980 and 2011, and headed into the match after upsetting top-seed Minnesota United FC in the semifinal round.
Strikers forward Martin Nu�ez struck a stoppage-time equaliser to force the match into extra time and eventually a penalty kick shootout, where Kamil Contofalsky came up with two big saves to send the Strikers into The Championship Final.
The newly crowned historic Soccer Bowl Champions were also runners-up in the 2014 Woosnam Cup and is coached by Canadian-born Alen Marcina.