Rio Grande Valley FC found a second-half equalizer in a 1-1 draw with Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC at Weidner Field on Saturday night. Dynamo defender A.J. DeLaGarza played the full 90 minutes as he continued to rehab from last fall's ACL injury.
The Switchbacks took the lead in the eighth minute as Saeed Robinson curled home a finish from the top-left corner of the penalty area into the top-right corner of the net. The hosts almost doubled their lead as Mason Toye had his close-range chance miraculously turned wide by Toros goalkeeper Michael Nelson in the 20th minute.
RGVFC’s first good chance arrived in the 36th minute when Aldo Quintanilla found space in the right side of the penalty area but had his shot tipped over by Switchbacks goalkeeper Moise Pouaty, while Toye again went close for the hosts in first-half stoppage time on a counterattack that was turned away once more by Nelson.
The Toros’ goalkeeper’s saves proved crucial with 19 minutes to go as the visitors equalized when a cutback from the left side of the penalty area near the goal line by Jesus Enriquez was headed into the right corner by Nicolas Perea, and RGVFC almost took the lead in the 79th minute when Pablo Aguilar’s low shot to the right corner was saved by Pouaty.
The Switchbacks also almost found a late goal when Ayukokata Tambe shot just wide of the right post from almost 40 yards, but honors ended even as the Switchbacks’ playoff hopes drifted further away.
