The Rio Grande Valley FC Toros and Phoenix Rising FC split points after a 1-1 draw in which Ivan Magalhaes scored late for the Toros. Jason Johnson scored in the first half via penalty. Phoenix Rising finished the game with nine men after receiving two red cards.
Borja Angoitia, goalkeeper for the Toros, was needed early on in the game. In the sixth minute, he denied Blair Gavin from getting the first goal of the night with a diving save. Jose Escalante had a header in the 25th minute, but it went over the crossbar. RGV’s Taylor Hunter was called for a handball inside the penalty box in the 40th minute. Former Houston Dynamo forward Jason Johnson shot his penalty kick to his left and put it past Angoitia for the first goal of the match.
Early in the second half, Rio Grande Valley sought the equalizer and pushed lines forward. Joseph Holland tried his luck but his shot went slightly to the right of the goal in the 56th minute. Eric Alexander, who suffered an MCL sprain in May, returned to competitive action for the first time and played 65 minutes in the Valley.
As the game wound down, the Toros kept finding holes in the Phoenix defense. Woszczynski denied Escalante after he cut through the Phoenix defense. TJ Casner almost found the equalizer for the Toros after collecting a rebound inside the penalty box, but his shot sailed over the crossbar in the 81st minute. Two minutes later, Casner shot from outside the box. His curling shot did not dip enough and it went over the crossbar.
Phoenix Rising FC lost a man in the 86th minute as Amadou Dia received his second yellow card and was sent off. Todd Wharton volleyed in a rebound inside the box and was denied by Woszczynski in the 88th minute. Seconds later, Phoenix was left with nine players when Doueugui Mala was shown a red card after a foul on Eric Bird. The Toros found their equalizer five minutes into stoppage time. Wharton headed a cross which Ivan Magalhaes capitalized on and headed in for the goal.
The Toros' next game will be at home in H-E-B Park when they host Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 on Saturday, August 19.
