Cabrera Brace Lifts RGV Past Oakland
June 28, 2023 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Rio Grande Valley FC Toros News Release
OAKLAND, California - Rio Grande Valley FC (4-5-7) faced Oakland Roots SC (6-5-5) on the road to close the season series. Wilmer Andres Cabrera scored a brace on the night after coming into the match in the second half, Frank Lopez assisted on both scoring plays also off the bench as Rio Grande claimed the regular season series 1-0-1 in 2023 on a 0-2 road victory.
The match started off with a heavy presence in the attacking third by Oakland Roots SC as they looked to change things early; Erik Pimentel was forced to make a goal-line block as Wolfgang Prentice sent a rifling shot past Tyler Deric but was denied at the line as Pimentel laid out and kicked it clear, 0-0.
Rio Grande Valley found some offensive rhythm of their own at the 38-minute mark as Christian Pinzon tested the goal by sending a diagonal shot toward goal; the shot was just wide of the goal and a closing Christiano Francois was unable to make the correct contact to redirect into net, keeping the match notched at 0-0.
Gabriel Benitez controlled just outside the left side of the 18-yard box and sent a good shot to the top left of the goal but Paul Blanchette was positioned perfectly to control the ball and end the danger right before the half ended, 0-0.
A defensive miscue on a failed clearance led to a stolen ball by Frank Lopez near the box; Lopez then sent an assisted pass into the center of the box where a chasing Wilmer Andres Cabrera took a shot past Blanchette to punish Oakland and make the match 0-1, in favor of RGV FC at the 73rd minute.
Déjà vu, as at the 80th minute Frank Lopez once again connected with Andy Cabrera on a scoring play as the Cuban forward dribbled through the right wing and sent a crossing ball right in front of goal where Cabrera calmly tapped in his second goal of the match to place RGV ahead 0-2 and claim a brace on the night.
The pair of goals padded his lead as top scorer for Rio Grande Valley as he now tallied (5) on the season, he has scored in three of the last four appearances for the club.
Oakland Roots SC were left with 10 men on the pitch after Diaz managed two yellows within a minute of action (91', 93'), adding to the already dreadful night at home for the California side.
The final whistle came after a six minute additional period of action as RGV FC claimed their second consecutive win, their largest win margin of the year [two goals] 0-2, to climb the Western conference rankings.
The win also marked Tyler Deric's second consecutive clean sheet performance; he made just one save as Roots SC only managed one shot on target. Frank Nodarse led the clearance category with seven on the night.
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United Soccer League Championship Stories from June 28, 2023
- Roots Fall to Rio Grande Valley FC Toros 2-0 - Oakland Roots
- Cabrera Brace Lifts RGV Past Oakland - Rio Grande Valley FC Toros
- Waggoner Stars in Santa Fe as New Mexico United Academy & U23's Win by a Combined 18-0 - New Mexico United
- Tonight's Detroit City FC Match Moved to Brighton Due to Air Quality Concerns - Detroit City FC
- Oakland Roots Close out Three Game Homestand against Rio Grande Valley - Oakland Roots
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