EDINBURG, Texas – Rodrigo Lopez had a goal and assist as Rio Grande Valley FC ended El Paso Locomotive FC’s regular-season undefeated streak at 18 games in a 3-2 victory at H-E-B Park on Wednesday night that kept the Toros on top of the Mountain Division after the meeting between the division’s top two clubs.

After recording 27 shots but scoring just once in their most recent outing, the Toros got out to a perfect start in the fifth minute as after a short corner El Paso tried to play the hosts offside, only for Carter Manley to remain onside as he received a cross from the left by Lopez which gave him time and space to finish into the right side of the net.

Locomotive FC had a chance to level eight minutes later as Josue Aaron Gomez turned his man well in midfield and broke forward in the right channel, but Toros defender Erik Pimentel covered well and made a decisive challenge to clear the danger before Gomez could shoot. RGVFC then went close to doubling its lead in the 26th minute as Christian Sorto’s run into the right side of the penalty area was picked out by Lopez, and the forward cut back as a defender approached to create space for a shot to the left corner that rang the post and was cleared.

The visitors made the Toros pay for the missed opportunity as they leveled five minutes later. A long-range free kick was driven toward goal by Dylan Mares and deflected off Jose Aguinaga as he ran toward goal at the top of the penalty area which wrong-footed RGVFC goalkeeper Tyler Deric and found the right side of the net. Mares then went close four minutes before halftime as he combined with Diego Luna after the youngster broke past his marker on the left, but both players had their efforts blocked to keep the teams level.

The Toros got back on the front foot early in the second half and Alexis Cerritos fired a long-range shot just wide of the left post two minutes into the second half. Five minutes later the hosts almost forced El Paso into a mistake as Lopez’s lifted pass to Manley as he arrived on the right flank saw the full back deliver a first-time ball across the top of the six-yard area that was intercepted by Mechack Jerome but turned on net, forcing Locomotive FC goalkeeper Logan Ketterer to save. Manley then fired high in the 55th minute after a good sequence begun by Wan Kuzain and continued by Lopez that opened up a chance in the center of the penalty area that flew high.

El Paso’s first chance of the second half, meanwhile, gave Aguinaga the opportunity to add his second of the game but his lifted finish after being played in behind the defense drifted just wide of the left post in the 57th minute. The Toros regained the lead just past the hour-mark, however, as Kuzain recorded his third goal of the season, putting home a finish after a shot by Lopez from outside the top-right edge of the penalty area deflected to him in the left side of the penalty area.

The Toros added a third with 17 minutes to go as Juan Carlos Azocar battled through a challenge in midfield that could have broken up a counterattack and powered forward down the right flank. The midfielder then picked out Lopez as he broke to the top of the penalty area and the veteran added to his earlier assist with a low finish from the left side of the box.

Azocar almost found the net himself with 10 minutes to go with a shot from the left side of the penalty area that Ketterer was able to tip just wide of the right post, but two minutes later Locomotive FC pulled a goal back as Luis Solignac received a clever back-heeled pass by Leandro Carrijo inside the penalty area and fired a low shot to the right side of the net to set up a big finish.

El Paso had a chance to level with two minutes to go as a free kick from the right by Eder Borelli found Gomez for a looping header that went over the crossbar, but the Toros held on late to secure victory and bring El Paso’s remarkable run to an end.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Rodrigo Lopez, Rio Grande Valley FC – Lopez recorded what proved to be the game-winning goal, added an assist and was involved in the other goal of the night for the hosts while completing 26 of 30 passes and notching five key passes overall.

Scoring Summary
RGV – Carter Manley (Rodrigo Lopez) 5’
ELP – Jose Aguinaga (Dylan Mares) 31’
RGV – Wan Kuzain 61’
RGV – Rodrigo Lopez (Juan Azocar) 73’
ELP – Luis Solignac (Leandro Carrijo) 82’

Full Box Score