Match Preview: Western Conference Quarterfinal
October 21, 2022 – United Soccer League Championship (USL) – Rio Grande Valley FC Toros News Release
EDINBURG, Texas – #6 Rio Grande Valley FC (14-13-7, 49 pts) are locked in for the Western Conference Quarterfinal matchup at Weidner Field where they face #3 Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (17-13-4, 55 pts). The 2022 USL Championship Playoffs are presented by HISENSE.
The action will be live nationally on ESPN+ starting at 7:30 pm CST. RGV FC staff have organized a watch party for fans who wish to attend, at TopGolf in Pharr, TX.
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HEAD-TO-HEAD (2022 Championship Figures)
WEST | Rio Grande Valley FC (34 Games) – 51 goals, 152 shots on target. |
40 goals conceded, 9 clean sheets | WESTERN Conference Standing: 6th
WEST | Monterey Bay Union FC (34 Games) – 59 goals, 155 shots on target. | 53 goals conceded, 9 clean sheets | WESTERN Conference Standing: 3rd
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Both sides split games at their respective homes during the regular season campaign. Colorado Springs secured a 3-2 victory at Weidner Field on May 5th by holding off a late comeback effort by Rio Grande. The Toros played a smart match at H-E-B Park as they locked in a 1-0 victor, limiting the Switchbacks powerful attacking front, which featured Hadji Barry in the lineup.
Things are much different now for the Switchbacks as they depend no longer on Hadji Barry’s attacking prowess, the forward was transferred to Egyptian Premiere League side Future FC on October 3, 2022. The transfer left the offensive workload on Michee Ngalina who accounts for 12 goals thus far. Former RGV FC forward, Elvis Amoh, also poses a significant threat behind 13 goals and a stout midfield support.
Rio Grande Valley have found their form at the right time, going 6-1-1 in their final two months of competition, scoring 17 goals in those eight matches to average 2.1 goals per match played. Wilmer Cabrera set the bar high after a mid-season slump left the Toros’ playoffs hopes in doubt; RGV FC adopted the “every match is a final” mindset and have since then turned the tide on the league and have every team watching closely, especially now in the single elimination format playoff tournament.
Defender Akeem Ward is among those mid-season puzzle pieces that joined the Toros as they made their momentum shift, he spoke on the confidence and focus the team currently possess; “There will be waves where they will be coming at us, but at the same time we need to recognize that we are there to win; we do not fear anyone right now and I think teams should fear that. That is the gameplan, confidence and composure.”
RGV FC need to continue playing their style of football and limit any surges offensively for the home team in a high altitude, and likely windy environment on artificial turf which will change the game pace; if the match stretches beyond 90 minutes, Wilmer Cabrera must set his pieces correctly to avoid fatigue or heavy legs factoring into the overall performance.
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