FRESNO, Calif. – Rio Grande Valley FC rallied from a goal down twice to earn a 2-2 draw with Fresno FC on Wednesday night in the USL Game of the Week at Chukchansi Park. The Toros almost took the lead in the seventh minute when Matias Zaldivar rang a free kick from 25 yards off the right post with a bending effort, but the Foxes then began to control the game and eventually took the lead on the half-hour mark as RGVFC defender Conor Donovan redirected a cross by Alex Cooper into his own net for an own goal. The Toros hit back seven minutes into the second half through Jesus Enriquez, who picked up possession on the left and cut into the top corner of the penalty area before curling home a beautiful shot into the top-right corner of the net. The Foxes got back on top in the 61st minute, however, as Cooper put away a low finish after a turnover in midfield saw him spring forward two-on-one with Renato Bustamante, and the hosts almost added a third four minutes later only for RGVFC’s defense to scramble a corner kick away to safety. Jordan Jones almost made an immediate impact for the Toros after coming on as a substitute but was ruled to have handled as he put the ball in the net in the 67th minute, but Aldo Quintanilla wouldn’t be denied for the visitors leveled the score with 17 minutes to go that left honors even as neither side could break the deadlock late.

Scoring:
30’ – FRS – Conor Donovan (own goal)
52’ – RGV – Jesus Enriquez (Aldo Quintanilla)
61’ – FRS – Alex Cooper (Renato Bustamante)
73’ – RGV – Aldo Quintanilla (Jordan Jones)

• #FRSvRGV: Highlights and Opta Box Score

Three Things That Matter:

• 1. For a third time in the past five games the Foxes were unable to hold a lead as Fresno twice saw RGVFC rally back to take points in a trend that is starting to epitomize Fresno’s inaugural season. With 10 games gone in its regular season, the six points the Foxes have dropped from winning positions are the difference between sitting among the leaders in the Western Conference and their current spot, one place out of the playoff positions. There’s a long way to go still, and plenty of points left on the table, but this is a habit Fresno needs to shake, fast.

• 2. Fresno’s Alex Cooper played a key role in both the Foxes’ goals on the night, continuing a solid first season in the USL for the Scottish winger that has seen him be a staple getting into positive positions for Head Coach Adam Smith’s side. The Foxes looked to regularly push down the left side between the combination of Cooper and fullback Bradley Kamdem Fewo, and that first resulted in the own goal that opened the scoring by RGVFC defender Conor Donovan and a fine finish by Cooper himself for the second goal of the night for the hosts.

• 3. The Toros might have hoped for better fortune, with an early chance coming back off the post and a goal by substitute Jordan Jones ruled out for offside, but the visitors ended up with two outstanding finishes that resulted in the side taking a point back home to H-E-B Park this weekend. The task gets no easier from here for RGVFC with the first South Texas Derby of the season against San Antonio FC set for Saturday night, but the attacking quality the side can bring to try and match their in-state rival was on full display which should help the side’s confidence ahead of a quick turnaround.

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match

Aldo Quintanilla, Rio Grande Valley FC – Quintanilla scored the game-tying goal to add to an earlier assist as he battled strongly throughout the contest to allow the Toros to come away with a point.

Upcoming Games:

Fresno FC at Real Monarchs SLC – May 12, 3 p.m. ET, Zions Bank Stadium

Rio Grande Valley FC vs. San Antonio FC – May 12, 8:30 p.m. ET, H-E-B Park