The Rio Grande Valley FC Toros wrap up a two-game road trip on Friday when they visit Tulsa Roughnecks FC at 7 p.m. at ONEOK Field.
RGV FC earned their first point of the season last Saturday with a late equalizer from midfielder Jesus “Chuy” Enriquez (above). Midfielder Isidro Martinez found the 21-year-old at the back post in the 90th minute for his first goal of the season and the Toros’ first point of the 2019 campaign. It marked the first time in club history that RGV FC secured a result after trailing 2-0 in a match.
Defender Romilio Hernandez snapped the team’s two-game scoreless streak with a blast from long distance that promises to be a candidate for the Goal of the Year award. He struck from outside the box with a 30-yard effort in the 79th minute. This was Hernandez’s sixth appearance for RGV after joining the Toros late in the 2018 season.
Forward Maalique Foster returns from international duty after helping Jamaica qualify for the 2019 Gold Cup with a second-half shift in their match versus El Salvador. Forward Michael Salazar will also return from international duty after Belize qualified for Group B of the 2019-2020 Concacaf Nations League. RGV will also have the services of Dynamo midfielder Juan David Cabezas, defender Erik McCue and goalkeeper Michael Nelson as they join the team on loan for Friday's match.
The Toros will face a Tulsa Roughneck squad that has scored 10 goals in their last three games. The Roughneck offense is led by Luca Lobo and Cristhian Altamirano, who have combined for nine goals this season. RGV will need to contain Rodrigo da Costa, who is adapting well to the USL after the midfielder has tallied three assists in his first season with the Roughnecks. Tulsa currently sit in first place in the Western Conference after earning seven points from their first four games and posting a plus-five goal differential.
The match will be streamed live at 7 p.m. on ESPN+. RGV FC return to H-E-B park at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 6 to host the unbeaten New Mexico United. Tickets for the match are on sale and available at RGVFC.com/tickets.
