EDINBURG, Texas – Stefano Pinho scored a pair of second-half goals as Indy Eleven took its first victory under new Head Coach Mark Lowry with a 2-1 win against Rio Grande Valley FC on Saturday night at H-E-B Park as the visitors withstood a late comeback effort by the Toros.

The game opened quietly, but in the 16th minute the Toros almost broke the deadlock when Isidro Martinez stole in to claim possession in the Indy half only to be denied by visiting goalkeeper Elliot Panicco before sending the rebound chance high. RGVFC also had a pair of chance late in the first half as first Frank Lopez shot over the crossbar with a snap snot before Martinez threatened again with a long-range effort that went just wide of the right post, but the teams went to the halftime break scoreless.

Lopez had another chance for the hosts 11 minutes into the second half as the Cuban seized on a loose pass in the Indy half and fired a shot from 20 yards that was tipped over by Panicco. After having only recorded a pair of shots overall – and none on target – through the opening 65 minutes, Indy went ahead on its first real opportunity as Haiti international Mechack Jerome lifted a pass from just inside the Toros’ half toward Pinho, who controlled on his chest at the top of the penalty area and lifted a finish home for his second goal of the season.

Pinho struck again with 12 minutes to go as he broke onto a well-weighted through-ball by Aris Briggs before cutting past the goalkeeper as he came off his line and finishing into an open net. The Toros made it a one-goal game with seven minutes to play, however, as 17-year-old Academy signing Duilio Herrera played Robert Coronado in on the left, and the fullback delivered a low cross that Lopez tucked home from close range. While the hosts tried to push for an equalizer as time wound down, the Indy defense withstood the pressure to claim a valuable first win of the campaign.

USL Championship Player of the Match

Stefano Pinho, Indy Eleven – The Brazilian scored on Indy’s lone two shots on target for the game as he timed his movement ideally on both occasions to unlock the Toros’ defense and earn the visitors all three points.

Scoring Summary
IND – Stefano Pinho (Mechack Jerome) 69’
IND – Stefano Pinho (Aris Briggs) 78’
RGV – Frank Lopez (Robert Coronado) 83’

Full Box Score