EDINBURG, Texas (October 8, 2022) – Rio Grande Valley FC (13-13-7, 46 pts) hosted Western conference side Phoenix Rising FC (11-16-6, 39 pts) at H-E-B Park. The Toros rode a brace by Fjeldberg and locked in the win off a penalty kick save by Tyler Deric to inch closer to a playoff clinch. This was the first-ever RGV FC victory over Phoenix Rising FC in regular season action, Rio Grande knocked off Rising FC in the 2021 USL Championship Western Conference Quarterfinal after a penalty shootout.
Jonas Fjeldberg opened it up at the 39th minute as he received an assist inside the box from Juan Pablo Torres. Fjeldberg controlled and took a shot at goal to defeat Ben Lundt at give RGV FC the 1-0 lead. The Norwegian forward locked in seven goals in the campaign, tying Christian Pinzon atop the score chart for Rio Grande.
Phoenix Rising FC closed out the first half of action with four shots, one on target which hit woodwork past a fully stretched Tyler Deric.
RGV FC shot eleven times, placing five on target to pepper the back line in the early stages of the match.
Gabi Torres equalized the match on a break-away play at the 47th minutes as he snuck one into the net for Rising FC, 1-1.
Fjeldberg kept it going at the 55-minute mark as he sent a power shot to the left end of the goal, uncontested, to reclaim the lead for RGV FC, 2-1, and secured a brace. The goal catapulted Jonas into the scoring leader role for the Toros, now at eight total.
Rio Grande conceded a penalty at the 73rd minute, but Tyler Deric made a heroic save to keep the match at 2-1 Toros after guessing correctly against Aodhin Quinn who took the penalty shot. The saved penalty was Deric’s first in the USL Championship and his second career penalty saved since his Major League Soccer days.
Greg Hurst was sent off with a direct red card in the 93rd minute after a clear foul on Tyler Deric. Phoenix was left with 10 men to close out the match.
RGV FC stay at H-E-B Park to close out the regular season schedule as they welcome Monterey Bay FC for the first time. The action kicks off at 7:30pm CST on Saturday, October 15. To see more matchday information, visit www.rgvfc.com.
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