COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Rio Grande Valley FC’s unbeaten streak continues to have legs as RGV tallied an early goal and went on to defeat Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC 2-0 on Sunday at Switchbacks Stadium. Ruben Luna’s sixth-minute tally put the Toros on the score sheet and the defense once again did its job in another clean sheet. The Switchbacks’ Rony Argueta was sent off midway through the match as the host side was forced to play with 10 men for the remainder of the match. Dzenan Catic put the match away in second-half stoppage time with a rebound after his initial shot was turned away. RGV is now on an eight-game unbeaten streak (4-0-4) in which the Toros have outscored their opponents 16-0. RGV has now officially gone 721 consecutive minutes without conceding a goal, going back to June 26 against Orange County Blues FC. RGV moves to 10-5-9 (39 points) overall and 5-3-4 on the road. The Switchbacks fell to 10-7-7 (37 points) overall and lost for just the second time at home this year, dropping to 7-2-3 at Switchbacks Stadium. Sunday’s game marked the first meeting between the second-year Switchbacks and expansion Toros. They will meet once more in regular-season play next Saturday at Toro Stadium.

Scoring:
6’ – RGV – Ruben Luna (Jose Escalante)
90’+ – RGV – Dzenan Catic

Three Things That Mattered:

• 1. It didn’t take long for RGV to gain the advantage, tallying in the sixth minute on Sunday. Charlie Ward played a phenomenal ball from right to left to Jose Escalante. He crossed back in to Ruben Luna who shielded the ball away from his defender with his back to the goal. Luna spun to his right foot and snuck his shot inside the left post for a 1-0 lead. It was Luna’s third goal of the season. It wasn’t until second-half stoppage time when the Toros put the match a way while playing up a man as Dzenan Catic scored his fifth of the season. His initial strike was stopped by Switchbacks goalkeeper Devala Gorrick, but the rebound went right back to Catic as he slotted it home and put the match out of reach for Colorado Springs.

• 2. RGV needed to burn a significant substitution early in the match when Tyler Deric – making just his second start with the Toros – injured his left elbow in the 15th minute. Normal RGV starting goalkeeper Callum Irving was inserted into the game in the 19th minute. The sequence that led to the substitution started with a Luke Vercollone corner kick from the left as he connected with Josh Phillips. Phillips’ thunderous header was cleared off the line by the RGV defense. Play continued with Colorado Springs’ Conor Doyle playing the ball back in to Josh Suggs. Suggs’ attack was stuffed by Deric, but Deric hurt his arm in the process, prompting RGV Head Coach Wilmer Cabrera to utilize his first sub. If there were any questions as to Irving’s readiness off the bench, he answered them immediately when he turned away a Vercollone strike from point-blank range in the 30th minute.

• 3. The Switchbacks suffered a big blow in first-half stoppage time when Rony Argueta was issued a straight red card. The play that led to the sending off occurred near midfield when Argueta slid toward RGV’s Jorginho James, and while it is questionable as to whether there was contact, James’ studs were showing and referee Chris Greer was quick to pull out the red card. That left Colorado Springs shorthanded for the entire second half. RGV spent much of the second half trying to possess and make the Switchbacks’ defense chase whenever possible. Credit goes to the Switchbacks, though, for continuing to press despite the man shortage, coming up with chances such as Mike Seth’s 83rd-minute attempt from close range that required Irving to make the point-blank foot save.

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match:
Callum Irving, Rio Grande Valley FC – Irving had the difficult task of replacing an injured Tyler Deric early in the first half to keep the Switchbacks off the score sheet.

Upcoming Games:
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC vs. OKC Energy FC – Aug. 24, 9 p.m. ET, Switchbacks Stadium
Rio Grande Valley FC vs. Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC – Aug. 27, 8:30 p.m. ET, Toro Stadium