The Rio Grande Valley FC Toros produced another strong road performance and gained a point with a 1-1 draw at Saint Louis FC on Sunday at World Wide Technology Soccer Park. Jose Escalante scored his second goal of the season off a great pass from Memo Rodriguez, but Saint Louis FC received a stunning equalizer from Irvin Herrera as the teams shared the points in the first meeting between the expansion clubs.
RGV FC is now unbeaten in its last five games (3-0-2) and remains tied for fourth in the Western Conference with 16 points from 10 games (4-2-4).
The game stayed scoreless into the 69th minute when Rodriguez collected the ball in midfield and threaded a perfectly-weighted pass atop the synthetic turf and between the Saint Louis center backs and into the path of Escalante. The Honduran winger used one touch with the outside of his left foot to dart around goalkeeper Mark Pais near the top of the box and finish into an empty net.
“We played very well until the 75th minute,” Rio Grande Valley FC head coach Wilmer Cabrera told HoustonDynamo.com by phone. “We were moving the ball and we dominated the possession. They didn’t have any clear chances during the first 75 minutes. We were comfortable in possession and moved the ball but were not decisive enough in the last 25 yards.”
Watch a full replay of the match.
The hosts pulled even within seven minutes as Herrera received a pass with his back to goal, 25 yards away, used a simple turn and then curled a left-footed strike off the inside of the post at the far corner for a sensational goal.
“[After Escalante's goal] we kind of started dropping back, and they made some subs and went to the ball long. We didn’t manage that correctly and they scored an unbelievable goal. We have to learn how to manage the last 20 minutes, especially when we are winning. We have to be able to deal with five fresh players coming at us.”
Cabrera was pleased with the team’s ability to gain two road draws in five days following a 0-0 tie at San Antonio FC on Wednesday.
“It was good to see [goalkeeper] Callum Irving play his first game. He was solid. Kevin Garcia brought leadership and distribution in the back. Charlie Ward has been an outstanding player for us and TJ Casner had a wonderful game, with great touches and movement and decisions with and without the ball.”
Next up, the Toros continue the new rivalry with San Antonio FC, whom they beat 3-2 at Toyota Field on May 7 before the scoreless draw last Wednesday. The clubs meet for the third time in four weeks on Saturday.
“We need to put pressure on them and show them it’s our home. We want to be on top of them with intensity and mobility.”
Saint Louis FC vs. Rio Grande Valley FC
May 29, 2016 – World Wide Technology Soccer Park – St. Louis, Missouri
Scoring Summary:
RGV – Jose Escalante 2 (Memo Rodriguez 1) 69
STL – Irvin Herrera 6 (Richard Dixon 2) 76
Rio Grande Valley FC: Callum Irving; Kai Greene (Bradley Bourgeois 53), Kevin Garcia ©, Ivan Magalhaes, George Malki (Taylor Hunter 85); Jorghino James, Charlie Ward, TJ Casner; Rob Lovejoy* (Memo Rodriguez 40), Kyle Murphy (Zach Steinberger 67), Jose Escalante (Emilio Garcia 78).
*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.
