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FC Tulsa

Match Preview: FC Tulsa at Rio Grande Valley FC - Saturday, August 1, 8 p.m. CT

July 31, 2020 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
FC Tulsa News Release


Following a four-month hiatus, a 19-day break doesn't seem nearly as long. FC Tulsa returns to USL Championship play at Rio Grande Valley FC on Saturday night in Edinburg, Texas. Due to the postponement of its match last week against Austin Bold FC, it has been nearly three weeks since FC Tulsa's nationally-televised return to play on July 13 following the pandemic-induced hiatus.

FC Tulsa will be in search of its first win of the new era and a big three points in Group D as it looks to make up some of the matches-in-hand it has on its fellow opponents. While this will be just the third match of 2020 for Tulsa, it will be the sixth for RGV, showcasing the imbalance in the cadence of matches across the USL Championship.

ABOUT RIO GRANDE VALLEY FC

RGVFC, located at the border of Texas and Mexico in Edinburg, Texas, is one of four Group D opponents for FC Tulsa in 2020, and is the longest road trip of the season at 770 miles. Like FC Tulsa, RGV is searching for its first win of the 2020 season, compiling a 0-3-2 record. While the defense has been stout for RGV since the restart, allowing just one goal in each of its last four matches, the offense has sputtered, being shut out twice and scoring once in the other two. In it's five total matches in 2020, RGV has managed to light the lamp just three times and its -6 goal differential is the third-lowest of the 35 USL Championship clubs.

SERIES HISTORY

In nine previous meetings between FC Tulsa and RGV, Tulsa has had the upper hand, owning a 5W-2D-2L advantage in the series. Last season, the teams split the home and home, each winning on the other's home pitch. FC Tulsa has never lost south Texas, going unbeaten in its four prior trips to the border.

FORMER RGV-ERS HEAD BACK

FC Tulsa has three players on its roster who used to play for RGVFC. Defenders Bradley Bourgeois and Kevin Garcia as well as midfielder Eric Bird, all spent time as a Toro. All three were teammates on RGV in 2016 in the club's first season. Garcia served as the captain of that team who finished 2nd in the USL's Western Conference with a 14-9-7 record, allowing the fewest goals in the conference. To date, the 2016 season is the lone playoff campaign for RGVFC.

HOW TO WATCH

The match will be broadcast locally on My41 Tulsa and nationally streamed on ESPN+. The Tulsan Bar will be hosting a socially distant watch party for those aged 21+ and will feature drink specials on Saturday night for those watching the match.

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