The Rio Grande Valley FC Toros have their third chance to deliver three points for their new fans Saturday night as they host the Swope Park Rangers at 7:30 p.m. CDT at the UT Rio Grande Valley Soccer Complex (Watch Live Stream above and here).
The Toros (3-2-2, 11 points) have accrued 10 of 11 points away from home on the season, with just one point from two home games after a 1-1 draw with Real Monarchs SLC last Friday.
“That was a tough game it terms of conditions,” Rio Grande Valley FC head coach Wilmer Cabrera said. “The referee looked nervous and inexperienced. He called a penalty three minutes into the game. Then there were a lot of circumstances, including wasting time, that were not good factors on the night.
“We pushed and moved the ball and passed the ball, but even two men up, we didn’t create enough chances to win the three points. It is something that we have to improve upon. At home, you need to be more offensive-minded, and you have to show in shots, opportunities and goals.”
Dynamo loanee Mauro Manotas scored his second goal in as many appearances for RGV FC, tying the game in the second half. The 20-year-old Colombian has rejoined the Dynamo for tonight’s game at the Chicago Fire (3:30 p.m. pregame; ROOT SPORTS).
Four Dynamo players join Wilmer Cabrera’s team on loan for tonight’s game: Rob Lovejoy, Zach Steinberger, Bradley Bourgeois and Calle Brown.
“We expect Rob to come and continue his development,” Cabrera said. “He has been very good in all aspects and brings good quality on the field this weekend.”
Swope Park Rangers (3-3-1, 10 points) are owned and operated by Sporting Kansas City and like the Toros are in their debut season in the USL. After a three-game losing streak, Tyler Pasher scored twice as the Rangers beat Tulsa Roughnecks FC 2-1 last weekend. Saturday marks the first meeting between the two new USL clubs whose parent clubs have forged a fierce rivalry within MLS.
“It is a team that had a very good start to the season,” Cabrera said. “Then they had three losses in a row and came back last weekend and had a big win at home and it helped their confidence. They are a good team, young obviously, but talented, with a lot of speed up front. They try to counter attack, they drop and have good shape defensively. They with two wide forwards Kris Tyrpak – who I drafted at Chivas USA – and Tyler Pasher, who scored against Tulsa. They also have solid midfielders who can pass and move the ball. Like us, they are trying to impose their system.”
Cabrera emphasized a few continued themes from previous weeks, including an aggressive mentality and turning home games into a difficult environment for visitors.
“We focused on being more offensive-minded (in training this week), with a good mentality to push harder in all aspects to make the opponents feel that they are visitors. We have to create more options and even though we have had more possession than other teams we have to translate that into shots around the goal. I think Charlie Ward is still a key component in the team with his mobility and passing."
Following Saturday’s game, the Toros return to the road for two games starting Wednesday with another rivalry match at San Antonio FC.
*Note: The Dynamo and RGV FC have a hybrid affiliation, with the Dynamo in control of all technical aspects of the soccer operation, including the construction of the roster and the coaching staff. Meanwhile, the McAllen, Texas based Rio Grande Valley Vipers run the business operations, including the current construction of a 9,400 seat soccer stadium that will resemble Houston’s BBVA Compass Stadium.
