LAS VEGAS, Nevada (August 27, 2022) – Rio Grande Valley F.C (8-11-6) defeated Las Vegas Lights (10-10-7) 0-5 at Cashman Field behind a brace from Jonas Fjeldberg who claimed his first goals in an RGV uniform in 2022 since rejoining the squad. Tyler Deric earned a clean sheet on a slow night at goal, he was tested once on target.
Las Vegas went a man down at the 14th minute as Alejandro Lara received a direct red after he made a last resort tackle on a driving Ricky Ruiz to give up a free kick just outside the box, 0-0.
Ruiz took a shot on goal at the 22nd minute but was denied by the Las Vegas defense at the goal line to keep the match scoreless.
Christian Pinzon broke the deadlock at the 28th minute as he sent a first touch strike into the back of the net in front of the goal, the service ball came from a beautifully placed volley from Jose Torres into the center of the box, 0-1. The goal is his second in five appearances, his second consecutive goal that marks the first goal of a match for RGV FC.
The Toros extended their lead at the 37th minute after Jonas Fjeldberg sent a ball to the back of the net to mark his first goal with RGV of the season, his third overall in 2022 in the USL Championship, 0-2. Ricky Ruiz was credited with his second assist of the year after he dished out the quick pass to Fjeldberg to create the play, his second of the season.
Erik ‘Puma’ Pimentel perfectly placed a header into the right corner of the goal at the 44th on a corner kick play to break it wide open for RGV, 0-3. Jose Torres claimed his second assist of the match as he sent the service from corner, his fourth overall in 2022 for RGV.
Fjeldberg locked in a brace at the 50th minute as he sent a first touch shot to the back of the net, past Tomas Romero who put a hand on it but was unable to stop the powerful shot as he gave up the fourth of the night, 0-4. Pinzon picked up the assist on the play, his second of the season with the Toros.
Ruiz added his name to the score sheet at the 58th minute on a perfectly placed header, he received a clean cross inside the 6-yard box from Emilio Ycaza to claim the fifth of the night in a flurry of goals for the Toros, 0-5. Ycaza was credited with his third assist of the season.
The fifth goal marked a milestone for RGV FC as they scored the most goals in a single match since the 2019 USL Championship season, when under the direction of Gerson Echeverry, now assistant behind Wilmer Cabrera. The franchise record holds at six goals which was achieved in 2016 against Tacoma Defiance in a 6-0 victory when Wilmer Cabrera saw his first stint at the helm, and the club’s first season overall.
This is the second time the club has scored five goals against Las Vegas, having defeated Lights FC 5-2 on April 20, 2019.
The Toros scoot over to Phoenix, Arizona as they close out their month-long road schedule on August 31. The action kicks off at 9:30pm CST. To see more matchday information, visit www.rgvfc.com.
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