Rio Grande Valley Bravos News Release - www.rgvbravos.com

Monday, May 25, 2009

HIDALGO, TX -- Rio Grande Valley Bravos FC made believers out of Valley fans Monday night in a spectacular 3-3 draw with the three-time USL Premier Development League finalist Laredo that eliminated the Heat from US Open Cup qualifiying.

Salvador Luna, who scored the first goal in Bravos FC history at home in the opener on Saturday against the Houston Leones, came through for the Navy Blue-and-Gold once again when he scored the equalizer in the 71st minute.

Bravos FC (1-1-2) accumulated five points in the inaugural Clásico against South Texas arch-rival Laredo. With the tie, the Heat (3-1-1) reached 10 points in regular season league play, but tallied only seven points in US Open Cup qualifying.

The El Paso Patriots secured one of the eight PDL spots to the prestigious US Open Cup tournament, which was founded in 1914, with nine points (3-1-0).

Former Brownsville Rivera striker Alex Ríos opened up the scoring for Bravos FC in the 15th minute when he received a cross pass from fellow forward Tomás Banda and fired the ball into the back of the net past Heat goalkeeper Ryan Cooper for a 1-0 lead.

Emotions started to flare up in the 27th minute when Laredo midfielder Raúl Quiñones was ejected from the match and Bravos FC midfielder Jorge Herrera was cautioned by center referee Francisco Bermúdez.

The Navy Blue-and-Gold responded with a second tally eight minutes later when defender Reynol Fuentes fired a low cross past Cooper to increase the RGV lead to 2-0.

After catching their breath at the intermission, Laredo came out firing, which paid off in the 49th minute when Esteban Bayona slipped a low shot past Bravos FC keeper Juan Carlos García.

The Heat evened the match at 2-2 in the 60th minute on a Joel Pérez free kick that took an awkward bounce that went over García.

Bravos FC Technical Director Ismael “Moreira” Braga looked to spark the offense by subbing Jesús Mireles and Damián López for Alex Ríos and Noé De los Santos. However, the 10-man Heat didn’t back down and took a 3-2 lead on a blistering shot that defender Daniel Galván put into the upper left corner of the RGV net at the 63rd minute.

The Blue-and-Gold came back to life in the 71st minute. Herrera sent a pass to Luna, who fired low to beat Cooper and equalize the match at three goals apiece.

The Valley squad had a chance to take the lead when Luna was brought down in the box, however, Banda’s penalty kick in the 78th minute was stopped by the Heat keeper Cooper.

Bravos FC didn’t give up there and had one last opportunity to claim the win in stoppage time, but the Heat was able to get away with a 3-3 tie when José Alberto Camara´s earth-shattering shot hit the right post.

Overall, Laredo had 10 shots on goal to the RGV’s nine. Cooper, the Heat’s goalkeeper made six saves, while Bravos FC netminder, García, stopped seven Laredo shots.

Prior to the start of the match, Chivas de Guadalajara midfielder Xavi Iván Báez signed autographs and took pictures with hundreds of fans. Afterward, Báez was joined by Women’s U-20 Mexican National Team member Amanda Ortegón of McAllen for the ceremonial first kick.