FENTON, Mo. – A brilliant strike by Irvin Herrera earned Saint Louis FC a 1-1 draw with Rio Grande Valley FC on Sunday night at the World Wide Technology Soccer Park. Neither side was able to produce a major scoring threat in the opening half, but the Toros broke the deadlock with just over 20 minutes to go when Memo Rodriguez split Saint Louis’ defense to find Jose Escalante, who rounded Pais and slotted into the back of the net. Saint Louis responded in spectacular fashion, as Irvin Herrera’s bending shot from 25 yards on the right curled in off the left post to level the score.

Scoring:
69’ – RGV – Jose Escalante (Memo Rodriguez)
76’ – STL – Irvin Herrera (Richard Dixon)

Three Things That Matter:

• 1. The opening goal was always going to be crucial in a contest that was this tightly fought, and the Toros showed how dangerous they can be on Jose Escalante’s opening goal. In a way it was slightly unlucky for STLFC as a challenge by Mike Ambersley sent the ball into the middle of the field, but Memo Rodriguez reacted quickest, both to get to the ball and get turned to play a perfect pass to find Jose Escalante for what was a relatively simple finish with the defense flatfooted after the turnover.

• 2. There are moments in a game that simply take your breath away when they happen. Irvin Herrera’s equalizer for Saint Louis was one of those. Saint Louis’ Jordan Roberts and Richard Dixon deserve credit for keeping the ball alive in the Toros end, but in the end this is all about Herrera’s finish, which was absolutely sumptuous.

• 3. Herrera’s goal understandably gave Saint Louis a massive boost, but the Toros held on well at the end to secure a point in a game that had pretty much everything you could want. Between the great atmosphere, two excellent goals, and a level of tension that kept everyone on the edge of their seats until the final whistle, the game lived up to all of the pregame expectations set out, and then some.

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match

Irvin Herrera, Saint Louis FC – The reigning USL Player of the Week scored one of the best goals of the season so far, and probably in the USL’s history, to record the equalizer in an enthralling contest between two strong playoff contenders.

Upcoming Games:

June 4: Saint Louis FC at Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, 9 p.m. ET, Switchbacks Stadium

June 4: Rio Grande Valley FC vs. San Antonio FC, 8:30 p.m. ET, UT RGV Soccer Complex