Texas Border Business
OKLAHOMA CITY – Rio Grande Valley FC (0-2-2) draw with OKC Energy FC (1-1-2) on Wednesday night. Paul Blanchette totaled six saves tonight, the most saves in a single game thus far.
Jamaican midfielder DeShane Beckford opened play for the Toros in the 11th minute after he scored his first goal for the 2020 season. Beckford’s play developed as he dribbled towards the box, nutmegged one defender then took on the last defender 1v1 sending a shot to the top middle of the goal past C.J. Cochran, 1-0.
OKC equalized the match before the 90th minute after Frank Lopez struck the top post with his left foot sending it to the back of the net, 1-1.
RGV FC was a threat once again after Beckford sent a pass back to the top of the box to Isidro Martinez. Martinez sent a straight shot to goal, but the backline managed to deflect the shot out to corner.
The Toros arc was tested after Arun Basuljevic took a shot from the right side of the six-yard box but Blanchette blocked the shot sending it to a corner. Kyle Edwards took a right footed shot from nearly 30 yards out, missing to the left post in the 37th minute.
Before heading into the half, Jose Hernandez received a through ball inside the box. He then took on Robert Castellanos and took a shot at goal but Blanchette blocked the shot and saved it from being an equalizer. Blanchette was tested once again following a corner but managed to send the ball out to corner.
The second half picked up its momentum making the matchup even throughout the pitch. RGV FC had two dangerous opportunities back-to-back following two corners. Castellanos won a header sending it to the top middle post of the goal, but Cochran managed to flick it out to corner. Garrett McLaughlin had another dangerous header sent out wide for another corner kick in the 69th minute.
The Energy began to push their front line to goal threatening the Toros goal. Zachary Ellis-Hayden took a shot from outside the box forcing Blanchette to save the shot in the right bottom post in the 86th minute. During stoppage time, OKC sent a dangerous shot to goal but James Murphy managed to flick the ball out.
RGV FC totaled 21 shots, five on target while winning 47.1% of the duels. OKC totaled 13 shots, eight on target with 52.9% duels won.
Castellanos led the squad with four shots, one on target adding 13 clearances, one tackle and one interception. Robert Coronado totaled six clearances, one tackle, two chances created and totaled 50 touches.
Edwards and Jonathan Jimenez earned their first professional start tonight with the Toros.
RGV FC will finish off the road trip at San Antonio FC for another South Texas Derby clash. The matchup is set for Saturday, July 25 with kickoff at 8 p.m. CT. Matchup will be broadcasted nationally on ESPN+. To see more matchday information, visit www.rgvfc.com.
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Rio Grande Valley FC (0-2-2; 2 pts.) 1-1 OKC Energy FC (1-1-2; 5 pts.)
USL Championship 2020 Season – Match 4
Wednesday, July 22, 2020 – Taft Stadium – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
SCORING SUMMARY
| TEAM | 1H | 2H | FT |
| Rio Grande Valley FC | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| OKC Energy FC | 0 | 1 | 1 |
RGVFC: DeShane Beckford 11
OKC: Frank Lopez (C. Ibeagha) 88
LINEUPS & STATISTICS
RGV FC: Paul Blanchette, Robert Castellanos, Jonathan Jimenez (Emile Legault 45), Carter Manley, Kembo Kibato, Isidro Martinez, Robert Coronado, Deshane Beckford (Taiberson Nunes 59), Garrett McLaughlin (Kevin Rodriguez 94), Kyle Edwards (James Murphy 45), Christian Lucatero (Juan C. Obregon Jr. 84).
Unused substitutes: Ryan Coulter, Luka Prpa.
Total Shots: 21 (Castellanos 4), Shots on Goal: 5 (Five tied at 1), Fouls Committed: 13 (Lucatero 3), Offside: 0, Corner Kicks: 9, Saves: 6 (Blanchette 6)
OKC: C.J. Cochran, Kyle Hyland (Frank Lopez 61), Zachary Ellis-Hayden, Atiba Harris, Nicolas Taravel, Kodai Iida (Jonathan Brown 80), Cordell Cato (Jose Hernandez 38), Rafael Garcia, Arun Basuljevic, Brad Dunwell (Charlie Ward 45), Jaime Chavez (Christian Ibeagha 80).
Unused substitutes: Cody Laurendi, Ray Saari, Christian Ibeagha, Jonathan Brown.
Total Shots: 13 (Chavez 3), Shots on Goal: 8 (Chavez & Lopez 2), Fouls Committed: 11 (Three tied at 2), Offside: 3, Corner Kicks: 8, Saves: 4 (Cochran 4)
DISCIPLINE
RGVFC: Kembo Kibato (caution; foul) 20
OKC: Frank Lopez (caution; foul) 62
OKC: Zachary Ellis-Hayden (caution; foul) 63
RGVFC: Robert Coronado (caution; foul) 97
RGVFC: Taiberson (caution; time wasting) 98
OKC: Jose Hernandez (caution; dissent) 100
OFFICALS
Referee: Michael Cap
Assistant Referee 1: Kevin Lock
Assistant Referee 2: Truman Berghall
Fourth Official: Matthew Corrigan
