EDINBURG, Texas – Reno 1868 FC can secure a place in the USL Cup Playoffs in its first year of existence with a win against Rio Grande Valley FC on Saturday night at H-E-B Park as the Toros look to jumpstart their dying hopes of a place in the postseason after a dramatic late defeat last weekend. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. CT.
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Rio Grande Valley FC news and notes
Current record: 7-13-7, 28pts
Rio Grande Valley suffered a frustrating 2-1 loss to Sacramento Republic FC on Saturday in its last outing as it dropped further back in the race for the USL Cup Playoffs.
RGVFC opened the scoring in the 69th minute through Kyle Murphy but conceded twice in the final 20 minutes, including a stoppage-time winner for Republic FC that gave the visitors all three points.
The Toros have now gone six matches without a win which sees the club sitting six points out of the top eight in the Western Conference with only five games remaining.
RGVFC has scored only 32 goals in 27 games this season, and has failed to score more than one goal in each of its last six matches .
Reno 1868 FC news and notes
Current record: 14-5-7, 49pts
1868 FC can seal a place in the 2017 USL Cup Playoffs with a win on Saturday night, joining Real Monarchs SLC and San Antonio FC in the Western Conference field.
Reno saw its six-game winning streak come to an end last Saturday night as it played to a 1-1 draw with Seattle Sounders FC 2 at Starfire Stadium.
Brian Brown scored the equalizer for Reno in the 38th minute after the side had conceded early against S2, but despite finishing with a 5-3 advantage in shots on goal the visitors were unable to earn all three points.
Reno forward Dane Kelly is looking to get back on a scoring track with the Jamaican forward currently sitting without a goal since Aug. 19 against Sacramento Republic FC. Kelly is tied in the race for the USL Golden Boot with Charlotte Independence forward Enzo Martinez on 16 goals this season.
1868 FC needs two goals to surpass the New York Red Bulls II's USL regular-season record of 61 goals.
Series Notes
Squads
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, Taylor Hunter, 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
Reno – GK: Russ Klaybough, Matt Bersano, Andrew Tarbell; D: Thomas Janjigian, Jimmy Ockford, Brent Richards, Brenton Griffiths, Jordan Murrell, Kip Colvey; M: Junior Burgos, Fatai Alashe, Marc Pelosi, Chris Wehan, Lindo Mfeka, Matt LaGrassa, Seth Casiple, Luis Felipe Fernandes, Nick von Niederhausern, Anibal Echeverria, Jackson Yueill, Darwin Espinal, Jordan Roberts; F: Antoine Hoppenot, Dane Kelly, Boxi Yomba, Mackenzie Pridham, Brian Brown
Discipline
Rio Grande Valley – None
Reno – Accumulation Warning: Jimmy Ockford
Officials
REF: WILLIAM HALE
AR1: Cody Rowden
AR2: Jorge Perez
4TH: Arturo Ibarra
Game hashtag:
Twitter social handles
Rio Grande Valley FC – @RGVFC
Reno 1868 FC – @Reno1868FC
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