EDINBURG — RGV FC Toros winger Ricky Ruiz curled in a left-footed strike in first half stoppage time to help his team grab a point in the home opener with a 1-1 finish against the Las Vegas Lights.
Ruiz’s strike canceled out a Toros own goal that silenced the crowd at H-E-B Park after only five minutes. Both sides chased the winner in the second half, but could not find the breakthrough as the match finished in a draw.
“If you want to win, you have to be more effective,” Toros head coach Wilmer Cabrera said after the match. “That is something we need to work on. Obviously, it is the first game of the season. The first shot on goal for us was a goal. That was a great goal, and we need to improve on that.
Red cards by Toros defender Erik Pimentel and Lights midfielder Anwar Ben Rhouma Torres in second half stoppage time, and youngsters making their debut, was the last bit of action in a highly contentious match with a packed crowd at H-E-B Park.
Ruiz could have put the Toros ahead early in the second half. A low cross found Ruiz unmarked in the box, but he could not finish the golden opportunity. RGV FC looked the better side early in the second half after a tough first half against an energetic Lights side.
Ruiz’s goal came in the final minute of first half stoppage time. The winger picked up the ball on the right wing outside of the box. Ruiz beat his man and curled a beauty with his left that beat Lights keeper Alan Diaz.
The Lights looked strong in the first half, and probably deserved the goal even though they did not finish the chance themselves. Las Vegas winger Andrew Carleton caused the Toros problems as the Lights mounted pressure on the Toros.
Throughout the first half they were very physical,” Cabrera said. “We were not physical, at half time, we told them that we need to be physical, and that we need to be stronger.”
Cabrera also said the team needed to win more 50-50 challenges and have more quality on the ball.
Toros midfielder Taylor Davila was credited with the Lights’ goal after a clearance struck the midfielder in the back to beat RGV FC keeper Tyler Deric.
The Toros return to action at 7 p.m. Sunday against the Oakland Roots at H-E-B Park.
“It was good tonight,” Ruiz said after the match about Sunday night’s crowd. “I saw that they were all into the game. We built off their energy sometimes on the counterattack, they were loud enough and that gave us an extra push. This was the first game, so the fitness level is not going to be there in general, but they did help push us in my opinion. We hope that they keep coming out and that we reward them with the results that they deserve, and the club deserves.”