Rio Grande Valley FC is undefeated in its last three meetings with Oakland Roots SC after the sides ended in a 1-1 draw at the start of the campaign. | Photo courtesy Christian Inoferio / Rio Grande Valley FC
Oakland Roots SC will try to add to its current undefeated streak, and has a chance to jump into the top four in the Western Conference, as it kicks off Week 17’s action in the USL Championship with a clash against a Rio Grande Valley FC side that is on an upswing in form of its own.
Here's a look ahead at the action.
Venue: Pioneer Stadium
Kickoff: 10 p.m. ET
Broadcast: ESPN+ / SiriusXM FC
The Lowdown: Oakland Roots SC will try to add to its five-game undefeated streak as it squares off with Rio Grande Valley FC for the second time this season with fourth place within reach for the California club against the Toros. Roots SC (6-4-5, 23pts) missed out on all three points last time out as it played to a 1-1 draw with Phoenix Rising FC at Pioneer Stadium as Phoenix leveled in second-half stoppage time after Dariusz Formella had given Oakland the lead with eight minutes to go. The hosts have drawn their last three outings overall but sit two points behind fourth-placed San Antonio FC with a game in hand on the defending Championship title holders as they close out their June slate. Roots SC played to a 1-1 draw with the Toros when then met early this season as Johnny Rodriguez scored a late equalizer after Jonathan Ricketts had put RGV FC ahead at H-E-B Park. The Toros (3-5-7, 16pts) are looking to build on a victory last time out, meanwhile, after Frank Lopez’s goal lifted the side to a 1-0 win against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC last Wednesday night to snap a five-game winless streak. With a six-point gap to the playoff places, the visitors will be hoping to earn their first back-to-back wins this season to close the gap before heading to Sacramento Republic FC on Saturday night to complete their NorCal trip.
Spotlight Players
Oakland Roots SC – Johnny Rodriguez: The forward has five goals this season to sit second on the team and will look to break a three-game goalless run after finding the net when these teams met in March.
Rio Grande Valley FC – Taylor Davila: The central midfielder has been arguably the Toros most consistent performer this season, contributing two goals and three assists while posting an 84 percent passing accuracy rate.