USL San Antonio FC

San Antonio FC Falls 0-3 to RGV FC in Final 2016 Regular Season

September 24, 2016 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
San Antonio FC News Release


EDINBURG, TX- San Antonio FC fell 0-3 to Rio Grande Valley FC in the teams' final match of the regular season. The match was the fourth encounter between the two clubs in USL play.

"It was a very tight game, until the last ten or fifteen minutes," SAFC Head Coach Darren Powell said. "We were right in it till the end fighting for a playoff spot, and now we just have to hope and see what happens in the other games."

Rio Grande Valley opened the scoring late in the second half when midfielder Eric Bird took a shot from distance that dinked off the post and into the net to earn the hosts the lead in the 78th minute.

The Toros added a second goal just five minutes later when forward Ruben Luna found the end of a cross with a header and beat SAFC goalkeeper Matt Cardone for the 2-0 lead. The hosts capped off the match when forward Yair Arboleda added the tallied the third of the night.

San Antonio FC finished the season 0-3-1 against the Toros, playing their in-state rivals more times than any other team in the league. The club's playoff hopes took a significant hit with the loss, but will be determined pending the results of other matches across the conference.

Scoring Summary: RGV FC: 1-0, Eric Bird '78 (Kai Greene assist) RGV FC: 2-0, Ruben Luna '83 (Memo Rodriguez assist) RGV FC: 3-0, Yair Arboleda '90 (Memo Rodriguez assist)

Disciplinary Summary: SAFC: Yellow Card (Carlos Alvarez '20) RGV FC: Yellow Card (Kyle Murphy '45) SAFC: Yellow Card (Milton Palacios '62)

Attendance: 2,646

SAFC Starting XI: GK: Matt Cardone; D: Fejiro Okiomah (Milton Palacios '60), Biko Bradnock-Brennan, Ryan Roushandel (Jacques Francois '82), Greg Cochrane; M: Rafa Castillo (c), Sebastien Thuriere, Carlos Alvarez, Jason Johnson (Franck Tayou '73), Shawn Chin (Danny Garcia '84); F: Taylor Morgan (Cesar Elizondo '45)

Substitutions Not Used: Lee Johnston, Sam McBride

Postgame Notes:

* San Antonio FC were defeated 2-0 in their final match of the 2016 USL regular season by RGV FC...SAFC were 0-3-1 against their Texas rivals this season

* San Antonio FC finish the 2016 regular season on 39 points, recording 10 wins, nine draws and 12 losses...SAFC record a 3-10-5 road record along with a 7-4-4 home record in their inaugural campaign

* SAFC midfielder Rafa Castillo and forward Franck Tayou led the team in goals with 5 a piece...Carlos Alvarez was the team assist leader, collecting seven in 2016 and defender Greg Cochrane led the club in minutes (2,631)

* SAFC goalkeepers Josh Ford and Matt Cardone both made double-digit appearances this season...Ford started 17 USL matches, making 53 saves in 1,509 minutes...Cardone made 14 appearances (13 starts), making 49 saves in 1,191 minutes

* SAFC midfielder Rafa Castillo led the club in shots tonight for the eighth game this season (three)...Castillo's 67 shots led the club in 2016

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