All Toros, No Bull: A Late Night Loss for RGVFC

In what has been a wild, unpredictable year already, Saturday/Sunday’s match for RGVFC vs. FC Tulsa really encapsulated that. Weather delays were the theme of the night, but on the pitch, the Toros came away empty again as they lost their fourth match of the season.

RGVFC Toros (0-4-2)

Already struggling and searching for their first win of the season, Saturday’s circumstances certainly did not make it any easier. With the action delayed for more than a few hours in total, RGVFC and FC Tulsa were able to complete their match into early Sunday, which ended with FC Tulsa taking a 2-1 win at H-E-B Park.

Marlon opened the scoring before the half-hour mark as he pounced on a loose ball after Paul Blanchette failed to punch the ball away on a corner kick. It was a miscue from the RGVFC goalkeeper, a week after allowing a soft goal that cost the club vs. San Antonio FC.

The Toros leveled things in the second half, after another delay, when Robert Castellanos headed home his first professional goal off of a beautiful cross from Robert Coronado. But, a handball in the box by Houston Dynamo loanee Kyle Adams gave Tulsa a penalty, which Ariel Martinez converted.

Now, RGVFC find themselves without a win through six matches in 2020 and on the bottom of the Group D table (Only 6% of our BGN voters predicted they would make it out of the group). They are yet to score multiple goals in a match this year and that’s not a recipe for success. The group of strikers, which is limited to Garrett McLaughlin, JC Obregon Jr., and Kyle Sanchez Edwards, has to step up, be assertive, and score some goals. They have zero tallies among them.

After a monster season in 2019, Isidro Martinez has not yet met the high standards he set for himself (passing accuracy is down by 10% from last season). The attack needs Chelo pulling the strings and locked in with his distribution. At the back, the four players that started on Saturday should be a formidable group, but Blanchette needs to be more consistent behind them. Unfortunately, there isn’t any depth at goalkeeper to push him or take over if needed. Ben Willis is out with an injury and posted on social media that he had surgery, so that’s likely a long-term absence, and the other goalkeeper is Ryan Coulter, who primarily serves as the goalkeeping coach and has played sparingly over the last few seasons.

Top Toros

Robert Castellanos: He scored his first professional goal in the defeat, but his performance was much more than that. Caste connected on 70/75 passes and added two clearances.

James Murphy: The midfielder continued to be one of the better players for the Toros. He completed 88% of his passes, made two tackles, and created a chance.

Robert Coronado: RGVFC’s other Robert assisted on Castellanos’ goal and played well defensively, finishing with three clearances and two interceptions.

This Week’s Quote-A-Bull: Robert Coronado

On the craziness of the delays/circumstances on Saturday:

It was pretty crazy to think what we went through the other night and play a game that late.

On the frustration among players right now still without a win:

We are definitely frustrated that we haven’t won, but we are very close! We’ve been playing better and better every game and we’re liking what we’re seeing.

Austin Bold FC (1-2-0)

After some complications due to COVID-19 testing, Austin Bold FC finally returned to action on Saturday, their first match since July 17th. They were defeated by San Antonio FC in a 4-2 result. Billy Forbes scored in the first half and an own goal was responsible for the other tally for Austin.

Bold FC recorded a 1-0 win in their opening match vs. New Mexico United, but in their two matches since the restart, they’ve conceded seven goals in two losses. Diego Restrepo, a former USL Goalkeeper of the Year, only has five saves in three matches. Veterans like Jermaine Taylor and Amobi Okugo should help stabilize the Bold in the spine of the midfield and the defense as the club gets into more consistent action.

The Particulars

Saturday, 8 PM CT, at Bold Stadium

Austin Bold FC vs. RGVFC

Carson A Merk

Reporting live from Sin City, I have covered both RGVFC and Las Vegas Lights FC since their inceptions. I also write profiles to highlight players from the NCAA to USL to NWSL and everywhere in between.