All Toros, No Bull: RGVFC defeated by outnumbered OCSC
Despite ending the match with a two-man advantage, RGVFC lost to Orange County SC 2-1 over the weekend.
After a big win against San Antonio FC at home, RGVFC were looking to keep the momentum going on the road vs. Orange County SC over the weekend. Unfortunately, despite ending the match with a two-man advantage, the Toros lost 2-1 in Irvine. Michael Seaton and Darwin Jones scored for OC and Robert Coronado provided the lone goal for the visitors.
RGVFC Toros (4-5-4)
That’s an especially frustrating result for RGVFC. They dominated in possession (62%) and in shots (23 to 7) and played with a man advantage for over 20 minutes and two-man advantage for a few minutes in stoppage time.
The tone for the match was set early. With the club earning a 4th-minute penalty kick, things seemed positive. But, a very poor effort from Houston Dynamo loanee Ronaldo Pena was met with a routine save and Orange County would score the opener less than ten minutes later. Pena would finish with four shots, three on target, but couldn’t make up for the failed penalty.
Former RGVFC captain Eric Bird, before being replaced by Isidro Martinez, and Juan David Cabezas played well in the midfield, distributing the ball out to the Toros players on the wings. This was a match that did not lack chemistry, despite the number of outfield Dynamo players mixed in on the pitch.
It seems that anytime RGVFC make a move up the table and gain a little momentum, one of these losses occurs. If this young team wants to contend for the playoffs in the Western Conference, they need to steal some wins on the road and Saturday’s match was tailor-made to do that.
Top Toros
(Player of the Week) Robert Coronado: The left-back’s banger of a goal was the lone tally for RGVFC and is up for Goal of the Week. He also connected on 88% of his 49 passes and had a chance created. Defensively, he registered two tackles.
Robert Coronado (Rio Grande Valley) with a Spectacular Goal vs. Orange County SC, 06/01/2019 pic.twitter.com/gn2kdoYdkr
— RGVFC (@RGVFC) June 2, 2019
Jesus “Chuy” Enriquez: Per usual, Chuy was the action man for the Toros, dribbling his way into dangerous areas in the box. He finished the match with seven shots and created five chances for his teammates.
Juan David Cabezas: On loan from Houston, JDC completed 77/88 passes, shot six times, and had six tackles to go with three blocked shots.
This Week’s Quote-A-Bull: Wilmer Cabrera Jr.
On how frustrating it is to get zero points from a match that ended with a two-man advantage:
“It’s very frustrating to not be able to get a result against a team with fewer players, especially when we created as many chances as we did. At the end of the day, it falls on us for not being clinical in the final third.”
Real Monarchs SLC (3-6-3)
Typically one of the top sides in the Western Conference, Real Monarchs SLC are struggling to start out the 2019 season. The Real Salt Lake affiliate is winless in its last five outings, including four losses. They are 10th in goals scored while allowing the 7th-most. Winless away from home, Monarchs SLC have three victories at Zions Bank Stadium.
Douglas Martinez has played in the attack ten times for the club so far and has three goals and three assists. Midfielder Maikel Chang is typically a playmaker, but he leads the club with five goals on the campaign. Former Nottingham Forest midfielder Jack Blake has added four goals and averages 54 passes per match, completing at an 82% clip.
Brody sets it up and @maikel_chang puts it away! #StrongerTogether pic.twitter.com/B7g1yg447h
— Real Monarchs (@RealMonarchs) May 5, 2019
The Particulars
Saturday, June 8th, at 9 PM Central
RGVFC at Real Monarchs SLC
An Eloise Ending
