Toros kick off Cali road trip tonight vs. Los Dos

OKC stays hot with a big win over RGVFC

Typically this season, it has been the RGVFC attack that has let the club down. On Saturday, it was the club’s usually staunch defense getting four goals hung on them by OKC Energy FC in a 4-2 loss at H-E-B Park.

Christian Volesky scored a brace with Adam Jahn and former Houston Dynamo Homegrown player Alex Dixon adding one each. The long passing of Jose Barril was a nightmare for the Toros and they had nothing to stop any part of the OKC attack.

Matias Zaldivar knocked home a chance right before the halftime whistle after the ball bounced around the area. Todd Wharton would convert a second half penalty kick for the other tally.

Content to play on the counter-attack, Energy FC gladly allowed the Toros to hold 60% of possession. Surprisingly, each club had ten total shots. RGVFC only put two of their efforts on frame and OKC finished with nine shots on target.

Ballin’ Bulls

Dynamo Theory’s Man of the Match Todd Wharton: The Toros captain completed 91% of his passes and converted a second half penalty.

Matias Zaldivar: He scored the first RGVFC goal in the match and was aggressive in the attack, tallying a key pass.

Nicolas Perea: Completing 89% of his passes, Perea did well distributing the ball from different areas on the pitch. He connected on 80% of his passes in the attacking half.

Talkin’ Toros

Todd Wharton on the importance of this week’s two-match Cali swing:

“Every game is a must win if we want to make the playoffs. So, we are going to have to find a way to get results on the road any way we can.”

The Good Guys: Rio Grande Valley FC Toros (3-9-11)

RGVFC had a trio of Houston Dynamo players available for selection against OKC. AJ DeLaGarza got another start in his rehab efforts, playing 60 minutes and making a few crucial tackles. Eric Bird, a former Toro, started for Gerson Echeverry. Michael Nelson served as the backup for Nico Corti in goal.

It was a disappointing result at home for the Toros. Not because they should beat the in form Energy side, but they should have been better defensively to keep things close.

Now, the club hits the road for a two-match road trip to face Los Dos and Orange County. Tonight, they can start some momentum for the stretch run of the season. While the playoffs are out of reach, positives down the stretch are good for everyone’s future.

The Bad Guys: LA Galaxy II (7-12-5), Orange County SC (14-6-5)

There are usually at least a couple teams in the USL that are inconsistent in results but consistent in entertainment. Los Dos is definitely one of those teams this season. They are 7th in the league in goals scored with the 5th most conceded. They’re led by their young talent, including Ethan Zubak, Efrain Alvarez, and Frank Lopez. When these teams met earlier this season, they played to a 1-1 draw in South Texas.

After that match against 13th place Los Dos, RGVFC will take on one of the best clubs in the USL. Orange County SC enter the match on a seven-match unbeaten streak with three straight wins. Michael Seaton is the reigning USL Player of the Week and has scored four goals and has two assists in the last two matches. Thomas Enevoldsen enters play as the USL’s Golden Boot leader with 14 on the season. Orange County like to play in possession like the Toros, but the main difference is the consistent scoring up top. The midfield battle of Aodhan Quinn and Christian Duke against Nicolas Perea and Todd Wharton, all four elite passers, will be fun to watch.

The Dirty Details

TONIGHT, RGVFC at LA Galaxy II, 9:30 PM Central Time

SATURDAY, RGVFC at Orange County SC, 9 PM Central Time

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