Justin Bilyeu’s goal from the penalty spot gave the RGV FC Toros the win over Reno 1868 FC. Bilyeu scored the lone goal in the 32nd minute.
Jose Escalante got the RGV offense working early in the game. His toe poke in the fourth minute barely went wide to the left. Kevin Garcia almost got on the score sheet in seventh minute. Garcia’s cross hit the far post. Eric Bird could not capitalize on the rebound and sailed the ball out of the field.
The Toros kept finding cracks in the Reno defensive line. Kyle Murphy almost scored after a quick turn around shot. However, Reno’s goalkeeper Matt Bersano came out of his line and stopped the shot with his foot. Ivan Magalhaes stopped Reno from scoring in the 18th minute. A through ball enabled Dane Kelly and he beat the RGV defense. Magalhaes knocked the ball out as Kelly’s pass almost found an incoming forward.
Matt Bersano fouled RGV’s Kyle Murphy in the 31st minute, resulting in a penalty kick being rewarded to the Toros. Justin Bilyeu stepped up and scored his first goal in a Toros jersey. Murphy almost doubled the Toros’ lead in the 35th minute, but his shot went straight to Bersano.
The RGV FC Toros kept applying pressure in the second half and sought out that second goal. Eric Bird passed the ball to Robert Casner inside the penalty box in the 71st minute. Casner back heel pass found Jose Escalante. Escalante’s shot barely rolled wide to the right.
Reno 1868 was left with 10 men in the 77th minute. Dane Kelly made contact with Calle Brown as Brown came out his line and dove on the ball. The play resulted in a straight red card to Kelly. Reno almost found an equalizer in stoppage time. A free kick rolled through the penalty box and barely missed the goal and every player on its way.
The RGV FC Toros will visit their South Texas Derby rivals San Antonio FC next Saturday. The Toros will seek revenge after falling to them in the inaugural game of the season.
