Rio Grande Valley FC’s Jonas Fjeldberg notched a brace to beat Pheonix Rising 2-1 Saturday night at H-E-B Park in Edinburg.
In the 55th minute, Fjeldberg received the ball just inside the box, the Norwegian cut in on his left foot and curled his shot inside the far post for the match-winning goal.
Toros keeper Tyler Deric’s penalty save in the 75th minute protected the one goal lead. Deric leapt to his right to deny Rising’s Aodhan Quinn.
Phoenix Rising had five shots on target with 70% of the possession. The Toros had six shots on goal with only 30% of the ball.
Gabriel Torres levelled the match for Phoenix in the 48th when he was played in behind the Toros defense on a counter. Torres calmly took his chance to make it 1-1.
Fjeldberg fired the Toros in the lead in the 39th minute. Fjeldberg created space for his right foot inside the box, the angle looked tight, but Fjeldberg’s shot was blasted low and hard across the keeper and into the corner.
Toros midfielder Juan Pablo Torres assisted Fjeldberg on both goals.
The win keeps the Toros in playoff contention with only one match remaining. RGV FC is currently in 5th place of the USL Championship Western Conference with 46 points.
Only one goal separates RGV FC, Oakland Roots and El Paso Locomotive FC, all have 46 points, but the Toros, have the better goal differential with 8 goals compared to Oakland’s 7 and El Paso’s 6.
New Mexico United sit outside the playoff spots in the 8th place with 44 points, but have two games in hand.
The Toros wrap up the season at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, at H-E-B Park. RGV FC (13-7-13) take on Monterey Bay (12-4-16).