BROWNSVILLE — The gameplan going into Friday’s district opener against Los Fresnos was simple for Brownsville Rivera – apply pressure.
Nearly 20 minutes into the second half, the gameplan worked with Pedro Villanueva forcing an errant pass from the Falcons goalkeeper inside the box. Villanueva intercept the pass attempt and tapped it back to Cesar Garza for the go-ahead goal.
The play settled the Raiders into the game, with Brownsville Rivera taking control of the game and earning a 2-1 victory over the Falcons.
“That play was big,” Brownsville Rivera head coach Salvador Garcia said. “The plan from the very beginning was to put some pressure on them. They ended up doing it to us instead. After that goal, it helped us relax and then the second one came. We were playing good but we allowed one goal to them at the end. The kind of team that they have, they’re going to come after you. Now we’re going to get ready for our next opponent and Los Fresnos in the second round because we expect the same next time around.”
Garza’s goal was followed up by a laser shot from Rafael Lopez, who located a deflected pass at the top of the box and delivered rocket of a shot past the goalkeeper to make it 2-0 with less than 20 minutes remaining.
The Falcons battled back, cutting it to 2-1 with 14 minutes left on a strike by Fabian Lozano, but the comeback attempt ended there, with the Raiders holding on for the win.
“We feel good because we got the win,” Lopez said. “We didn’t play like coach wanted us to at first. But he told us something that just hit us hard at the half and that’s when we started to play. Here at Rivera, it is all about winning. That’s what we want to do. The pressure to win is there and we started on the right foot.”
The Raiders (1-0-0) resume district play at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday against San Benito at Bobby Morrow Stadium in San Benito. The Falcons (0-1-0) look for their first win at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday against Weslaco High at Bobby Lackey Stadium in Weslaco.