Rio Grande Valley FC Toros (8,5,9) defeated Seattle Sounders FC 2 (7,10,6) 6-0 at the Practice Fields at H-E-B Park on Saturday, August 13. Emilio Garcia, Ruben Luna, Kyle Murphy, Dzenan Catic, and Eric Bird got on the score sheet for the Toros.
The wind was a factor in the game, which led to both teams taking their time to adjust to it. RGV’s Rob Lovejoy collected a long cross from Jorginho James with his chest, but the Seattle Sounders FC 2 goalkeeper, Charlie Lyon, blocked his shot in the 21st minute. Seattle’s Myron Samuel tested his luck from outside the box in the 24th minute. Callum Irving, the Toros goalkeeper, easily defended the shot. Toros’ Yair Arboleda connected a bicycle kick in the 27th minute. Unfortunately for him, the ball hit a defender.
Emilio Garcia scored from a set piece in the 44th minute. Garcia’s free-kick curled and found its way into the upper right corner of the net to give the Toros the 1-0 lead. Rob Lovejoy found his way into the opposing box a minute later and tried to get his shot through Lyon, who came up with the save. Emilio Garcia collected his second goal of the night in the 45th. Yair Arboleda set a through ball that enabled Garcia to break through the Seattle defense and get his shot to double Rio Grande Valley’s lead.
Toros’ Ruben Luna got his first goal of the season in the 48th minute. Rob Lovejoy headed in a cross that left Ruben Luna uncovered for the easy head in for a goal. Eric Bird cut into the box in the 73rd minute and passed the ball to Jose “Memo” Rodriguez who shot the ball wide left. Memo would have a chance to redeem himself in the 78th minute, when he faced Charlie Lyon one-on-one. Lyon came out with the save.
Rio Grande’s Dzenan Catic danced his way through the Seattle Sounders FC 2 defense in the 79th minute but was not able to get his shot in the back of the net. Eric Bird made it 4-0 for the Toros in the 81st minute. RGV’s Kyle Murphy made it 5-0 for the home team in stoppage time, assisted by Eric Bird. Dzenan Catic scored the final goal of the gameto finalize it 6-0.
The Toros have not conceded a goal in the past six games, for a total of 540 minutes. After hosting five consecutive home matches, the Toros will be traveling to face Tulsa Roughnecks FC at ONEOK Field. That match will take place on Thursday, August 18 with a start time set at 7:30p.m. Seattle Sounders FC 2 will stay in Texas and play San Antonio FC the following Saturday, August 20.
