SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio FC returns home to host Rio Grande Valley FC in the second South Texas Derby of the season at Toyota Park on Saturday night, with the Toros facing a daunting prospect as they visit a SAFC side looking for a big rebound performance after its third loss of the season. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. CT.
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San Antonio FC news and notes
Current record: 14-3-10, 52pts
San Antonio FC's four-game road trip came to a disappointing end as the side fell 5-2 to the Swope Park Rangers last Sunday afternoon at Children's Mercy Victory Field.
After conceding an early penalty, SAFC leveled the scores through Jamaican international Omar Gordon's first goal for the club, only to give up four straight goals before Billy Forbes scored a late consolation goal five minutes from the end.
The defeat was only SAFC's third in the league this season, only the fourth time in 2017 that the side had conceded multiple goals, and the most goals conceded in a game in the club's short history.
SAFC is undefeated at home in 2017 with six wins and six draws, and has gone more than one year since a home loss, with the last side to take victory away at Toyota Park being Saint Louis FC on Sept. 10, 2016.
Rio Grande Valley FC news and notes
Current record: 8-13-7, 31pts
Rio Grande Valley took a 1-0 victory against Reno 1868 FC last Saturday night at H-E-B Park to keep its slim hopes of a place in the playoffs alive.
The goal came from a penalty kick as Toros defender Justin Bilyeu stepped up to score the game-winner in the 32nd minute, and then helped the side hold the league's leading scorers without a goal the rest of the way.
Bilyeu’s strong defensive performance, coupled with his goal, earned him a place on the USL Team of the Week announced on Tuesday.
The Toros have struggled away from home this season, posting a 3-8-2 record, a stark contrast to a season ago when the side recorded seven wins away from home on its way to a place in the playoffs.
Series Notes
Squads
San Antonio – GK: Matt Cardone, Diego Restrepo, Lee Johnston; D: Andrew Moullin, Sebastien Ibeagha, Cyprian Hedrick, Ben Newnam, Stephen McCarthy, Greg Cochrane, Ryan Roushandel; M: Pecka, Billy Forbes, Michael Reed, Victor Araujo, Rafael Castillo, Mark O’Ojong, Kris Tyrpak, Devin Vega, Maxi Rodriguez, Conor Presley, Omar Gordon; F: Cesar Elizondo, Michael Seth, Ever Guzman
Rio Grande Valley – GK: Marco Carducci, Borja Angoitia, Calle Brown, Michael Kirk; D: Kai Greene, Victor Garza, Robby Sagel, Ivan Magalhaes, Justin Bilyeu, Leo Ayala, Kevin Garcia, Omar Ontiveros, Juan Garcia, Camilo Botero; M: Eric Bird, T.J. Casner, Emilio Garcia, Todd Wharton, Christian Lucatero, Memo Rodriguez, Jose Escalante, Nicolas Perea, Joe Holland; F: Ruben Luna, Kyle Murphy, Francisco Pungo, Greg Sutton
Discipline
San Antonio – Accumulation Warning: Mark O’Ojong, Stephen McCarthy
Rio Grande Valley – None
Officials
REF: MICHAEL RADCHUK
AR1: Francisco Bermudez
AR2: Andrea Jedele
4TH: Elton Garcia
Game hashtag:
Twitter social handles
San Antonio FC – @SanAntonioFC
Rio Grande Valley FC – @RGVFC
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