The Rio Grande Valley FC Toros collected their second home win of the season after defeating Las Vegas Lights FC 2-0. Houston Dynamo defender Conor Donovan scored in the first half to put the Toros ahead and Jesus Enriquez scored the second goal for the Toros.
Las Vegas tried to keep their offensive momentum rolling into this match. In the 12th minute, Daniel Guzman Miranda tried to score off a header but was denied by RGV FC Toros goalkeeper Michael Nelson. Later in the 18th minute, Todd Wharton ran through the Las Vegas defense on the right flank. Wharton dropped the ball back to Pablo Aguilar. Aguilar took a shot at goal on his second touch but the ball was deflected by the Lights FC defense.
Jordan Jones was able to get a shot on target in the 28th minute. Kai Greene sent in a deep cross and found Jones. Ricardo Ferriño, goalkeeper for Las Vegas, saved the header without much difficulty. After cutting from the left side of the pitch, Pablo Aguilar sent a curler towards goal in the 38th minute. The ball barely went wide to the right. Aguilar’s free kick in the 41st minute hit the right post of the goal.
The Rio Grande Valley FC Toros found their goal after a series of missed opportunities. Kai Greene found Nicolas Perea in the near post. Perea blasted his shot at Ferriño and could not get full contact of the rebounding ball. Las Vegas tried to clear the ball from danger but they cleared the ball straight to Conor Donovan. Donovan blasted his shot from a distance towards the left corner of the goal and put the home team ahead.
A through ball left Jordan Jones one-on-on against Ferriño. Ferriño blocked the initial shot from Jones but Wilmer Cabrera found the ball. Cabrera juked Ferriño out but missed his target on shot. In a give and go play between Perea and Cabrera, Perea found himself facing the goal with only Ferriño in his way. Perea’s toe poke was not enough to get the ball past Ferriño.
Las Vegas had opportunities to equalize late in the game. In the 83rd minute, Marco Jaime headed in a Marcelo Alatorre cross but missed the target. Daigo Kobayashi missed a golden opportunity in the 88th minute. His close range shot went over the crossbar. In the 90th minute, Rio Grande Valley FC Toros doubled their lead off a breakaway. Aldo Quintanilla stole the ball and darted towards goal. Quintanilla played the ball over to Jesus Enriquez. Enriquez buried the ball to the lower right corner as Ferriño came out of his line.
The Rio Grande Valley FC Toros hit the road to take on Swope Park Rangers on Sunday, July 22. The match will kickoff at 4 p.m. CT.
