After the kickoff was delayed 20 minutes for the host Scorpions to celebrate their 2014 Soccer Bowl as NASL champions, the Rowdies showed they might be in line for this year's crown. Tampa Bay blitzed San Antonio 3-1 Saturday in its spring season opener.
Tampa Bay got goals from three players, with 19-year-old Darwin Espinal scoring right before halftime for a 2-0 lead. That came right after 6-foot-6 defender Stefan Antonijevic cleared a shot off the goal line.
Antonijevic started the scoring by outjumping the defense on midfielder Georgi Hristov's corner kick in the 10th minute. And striker Corey Hertzog blasted a highlight-reel goal home 15 minutes after intermission for a 3-0 cushion.
San Antonio's tally came from Omar Cummings in the closing moments, preventing a shutout for new Rowdies goalkeeper Kamil Contofalsky.
Defender Darnell King, a Gaither High graduate, and captain Marcelo Saragosa had assists on the final two goals.
It was a chippy game; the Rowdies were issued six yellow cards and San Antonio drew four plus a late-game ejection of defender Julius James.
The Rowdies almost certainly will be without midfielder Keith Savage, who left early with a leg injury and was on crutches, for Saturday's home opener at Al Lang Stadium against Minnesota.