The match started quickly with Rio Grande Valley FC Toros trying to score fast before Sacramento Republic FC could get settled in. Their best look of the half came in the 5th minute on a free kick after Memo Rodriguez was taken down on the right side of the field. The free kick went into the middle of the box where Chris Christian headed the ball straight up into the air. Goalkeeper Dominik Jakubek and an RGV forward both competed for the ball with the forward winning the header and sending it toward Ivan Magalhaes who was able to strike the ball on a volley, but his shot sailed high and wide keeping the match scoreless early.
Republic FC would settle in quickly and see multiple chances of their own in the first half. Their first good chance came in the 18th minute off a corner by James Kiffe. The defender found Villyan Bijev alone in middle of the box. Bijev headed the ball toward goal where Sammy Ochoa connected with the pass and blasted it into goal, but the forward was ruled offside, nullifying the goal.
The best chance for Republic FC came in the 38th minute on a counter attack when Matt Wiesenfarth was played free in the middle of the pitch near the top of the box. Wiesenfarth touched the ball past his defender earning himself a one-on-one with goalkeeper Borja Angoitia. The forward took a low driven shot on goal, but Angoitia was there for a sliding save, keeping the match scoreless going into the half.
The match started quickly with Rio Grande Valley FC Toros trying to score fast before Sacramento Republic FC could get settled in. Their best look of the half came in the 5th minute on a free kick after Memo Rodriguez was taken down on the right side of the field. The free kick went into the middle of the box where Chris Christian headed the ball straight up into the air. Goalkeeper Dominik Jakubek and an RGV forward both competed for the ball with the forward winning the header and sending it toward Ivan Magalhaes who was able to strike the ball on a volley, but his shot sailed high and wide keeping the match scoreless early.
Republic FC would settle in quickly and see multiple chances of their own in the first half. Their first good chance came in the 18th minute off a corner by James Kiffe. The defender found Villyan Bijev alone in middle of the box. Bijev headed the ball toward goal where Sammy Ochoa connected with the pass and blasted it into goal, but the forward was ruled offside, nullifying the goal.
The best chance for Republic FC came in the 38th minute on a counter attack when Matt Wiesenfarth was played free in the middle of the pitch near the top of the box. Wiesenfarth touched the ball past his defender earning himself a one-on-one with goalkeeper Borja Angoitia. The forward took a low driven shot on goal, but Angoitia was there for a sliding save, keeping the match scoreless going into the half.
The Toros would open the scoring in the 69th minute on a counter attack. Rodriguez had the ball on the right side before crossing it into the box. The ball was knocked down by the Republic FC defense, but Murphy was perfectly placed and booted the loose ball past Jakubek and into the goal to put the Toros ahead 1-0.
Republic FC wasted no time in finding an equalizer, tying the score in the 72nd minute. Kiffe had the ball wide left before sending a cross to the back post. Tyler Blackwood chested the ball down before laying the ball back to Bijev who was following the play down the middle of the box. The midfielder hit Blackwood’s pass on his first touch sending a rocket past Angoitia and leveling the score at 1-1.
Republic FC would net the winner late in stoppage time on a corner kick by Kiffe. The defender’s corner went to the middle of the box where Carlos Rodriguez, who had just subbed into the match, leapt high over his mark and headed the ball down and past Angoitia to make the score 2-1 and win the match for Republic FC.
The Toros would open the scoring in the 69th minute on a counter attack. Rodriguez had the ball on the right side before crossing it into the box. The ball was knocked down by the Republic FC defense, but Murphy was perfectly placed and booted the loose ball past Jakubek and into the goal to put the Toros ahead 1-0.
Republic FC wasted no time in finding an equalizer, tying the score in the 72nd minute. Kiffe had the ball wide left before sending a cross to the back post. Tyler Blackwood chested the ball down before laying the ball back to Bijev who was following the play down the middle of the box. The midfielder hit Blackwood’s pass on his first touch sending a rocket past Angoitia and leveling the score at 1-1.
Republic FC would net the winner late in stoppage time on a corner kick by Kiffe. The defender’s corner went to the middle of the box where Carlos Rodriguez, who had just subbed into the match, leapt high over his mark and headed the ball down and past Angoitia to make the score 2-1 and win the match for Republic FC.
Rio Grande Valley FC Toros 1:2 Sacramento Republic FC
USL Match
H-E-B Park – Edinburg, TX
September 9, 2017 – Attendance:
Scoring Summary: RGV – Kyle Murphy 69; SAC – Villyan Bijev (Tyler Blackwood) 72, Carlos Rodriguez (James Kiffe 90).
Misconduct Summary: RGV – Todd Wharton (caution) 33; SAC – Hayden Partain (caution) 40.
Sacramento Republic FC – Dominik Jakubek, Emrah Klimenta, Chris Christian, Jeremy Hall, James Kiffe; Agustin Cazarez, Villyan Bijev (Peter McGlynn 82), Hayden Partain, Tyler Blackwood; Sammy Ochoa, Matt Wiesenfarth (Trevin Caesar 59, Carlos Rodriguez 90).
Subs Not Used: Evan Newton; Harry Williams, Gabe Gissie, Elliott Hord.
Stats: Shots: 17, Shots on Goal: 5, Saves: 2, Fouls: 19, Corner Kicks: 7, Offside: 6.
Rio Grande Valley FC Toros – Borja Angoitia; Justin Bilyeu, Ivan Magalhaes, Taylor Hunter, Kevin Garcia; Christian Lucatero (Robert Casner 57), Todd Wharton, José Escalante, Eric Bird, Memo Rodríguez; Kyle Murphy (Francisco Pungo 77).
Subs Not Used: Michael Kirk; Kai Greene, Emilio Garcia, Leonardo Ayala, Nicolas Perea.
Stats: Shots: 13, Shots on Goal: 3, Saves: 3, Fouls: 16, Corner Kicks: 1, Offside: 0.
Rio Grande Valley FC Toros 1:2 Sacramento Republic FC
USL Match
H-E-B Park – Edinburg, TX
September 9, 2017 – Attendance:
Scoring Summary: RGV – Kyle Murphy 69; SAC – Villyan Bijev (Tyler Blackwood) 72, Carlos Rodriguez (James Kiffe 90).
Misconduct Summary: RGV – Todd Wharton (caution) 33; SAC – Hayden Partain (caution) 40.
Sacramento Republic FC – Dominik Jakubek, Emrah Klimenta, Chris Christian, Jeremy Hall, James Kiffe; Agustin Cazarez, Villyan Bijev (Peter McGlynn 82), Hayden Partain, Tyler Blackwood; Sammy Ochoa, Matt Wiesenfarth (Trevin Caesar 59, Carlos Rodriguez 90).
Subs Not Used: Evan Newton; Harry Williams, Gabe Gissie, Elliott Hord.
Stats: Shots: 17, Shots on Goal: 5, Saves: 2, Fouls: 19, Corner Kicks: 7, Offside: 6.
Rio Grande Valley FC Toros – Borja Angoitia; Justin Bilyeu, Ivan Magalhaes, Taylor Hunter, Kevin Garcia; Christian Lucatero (Robert Casner 57), Todd Wharton, José Escalante, Eric Bird, Memo Rodríguez; Kyle Murphy (Francisco Pungo 77).
Subs Not Used: Michael Kirk; Kai Greene, Emilio Garcia, Leonardo Ayala, Nicolas Perea.
Stats: Shots: 13, Shots on Goal: 3, Saves: 3, Fouls: 16, Corner Kicks: 1, Offside: 0.