SAN ANTONIO – Juan Carlos Azocar scored a bicycle kick finish in the 89th minute to earn Rio Grande Valley FC a 1-1 draw against South Texas Derby rival San Antonio FC on Saturday night as honors ended even between the two rivals at Toyota Field.

Looking for their second win against their rivals this season, the Toros looked to get on the front foot early and created their first chance after turning possession over in the San Antonio half before working the ball to Alexis Cerritos for a low shot that was saved by SAFC goalkeeper Matt Cardone in the seventh minute. RGVFC’s Christian Sorto also tested the goalkeeper a minute later, while Baboucarr Njie almost turned his pressure into a goal after turning over possession at the top of the penalty area only for his shot to be turned wide of the left post by Cardone.

San Antonio’s first good look of the game also came off a missed pass as Nathan Fogaca picked up possession 25 yards from goal and quickly fired on target forcing RGVFC goalkeeper Tyler Deric to parry the effort over the crossbar. Fogaca went close again 11 minutes later as Sam Gleadle delivered a cross from the right the Argentine hit first time forcing Deric to parry and then tip the ball over his own crossbar to keep out.

Momentum continued to move the way of the hosts as Deric once again produced a big save on a long-range effort by Emil Cuello eight minutes before halftime, and from the ensuing corner kick a scramble at the top of the six-yard area was eventually cleaned up by Deric as he lunged on the ball. San Antonio went ahead five minutes before the break, however, as Cuello sprang Marcus Epps behind the Toros defense in the right channel, and Epps calmly finished into the left corner of the net from 12 yards out.

San Antonio almost doubled its lead in first-half stoppage time as Jasser Khmiri controlled a recycled cross following a corner kick from Cam Lindley in the penalty area and rifled a shot that Deric tipped onto the crossbar before it was cleared to safety, and moments later Fogaca was squeezed out as he looked for a goal just before the halftime whistle. The momentum continued into the second half as Chris Lema forced a diving save by Deric with a shot from 20 yards to the left corner, while Epps fired just high of the net just before the hour-mark as he looked for his second.

The Toros almost found an equalizer with 13 minutes to go as Wan Kuzain cut onto his left foot at the top-right corner of the penalty area and fired just wide of the left post, but then three minutes later the visitors received a man-advantage as Cuello was sent off for a hard foul on James Murphy in midfield. The visitors took advantage with a minute to go as Rodrigo Lopez floated a ball from the left channel into the right side of the penalty area that was knocked back centrally by Adrian Diz Pe for Azocar to send home a bicycle kick for one of the Championship’s Goal of the Year candidates and to earn his side a point.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Adrian Diz Pe, Rio Grande Valley FC – Diz Pe provided the assist on Juan Carlos Azocar’s goal and had a strong game overall defensively, winning 13 of 15 duels and 7 of 8 aerial duels while making four interceptions and nine recoveries.

Scoring Summary
SA – Marcus Epps (Emil Cuello) 40’
RGV – Juan Carlos Azocar (Adrian Diz Pe) 89’

Full Box Score