Rio Grande Valley FC look to get their first victory in Group D on Saturday when they travel to Oklahoma to face OKC Energy FC. The match will be streamed live on ESPN+ at 7 p.m.
RGV fell 4-1 to in-state rivals Austin Bold FC last Saturday to drop their record on the year to 0-5-2. The Toros took an early lead in the third minute of the match after Carter Manley found KemboKimbato at the near post for the first goal of the game. However, RGV was forced to play a man down formore than an hour after Robert Coronado received his second yellow card of the game in the 24th minute.
This is the second meeting between both clubs after a 1-1 draw on July 22 at Taft Stadium. RGV took the lead in the first half after Isidro Martinez controlled a throw-in at midfield and his half-volley pass found Deshane Beckford. The forward megged a defender outside the box and dribbled away from a second defender inside the box to score his first goal of the season. Energy forward Frank Lopez scored the equalizer minutes before the final whistle to split the points.
The Energy enter the match with back-to-back 3-0 defeats following the 1-1 draw with RGV on July 22. OKC fell to San Antonio last Saturday at Taft Stadium and will look to snap a three-game winless streak on Saturday. The Energy feature a familiar midfield duo in Brad Dunwell and Charlie Ward. This is Dunwell’s first season with OKC after he was drafted by the Houston Dynamo with the 56th overall selection in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft from Wake Forest University. Ward is also in his first season with the Energy after spending one season with the Ottawa Fury. The 25-year-old spent the 2016 and 2017 USL Championship season with RGV.
The Toros will return to H-E-B Park on Saturday, Aug. 22 at 8 p.m. to host Austin in Group D play.
