Rio Grande Valley FC defeated Seattle Sounders FC 2 on Saturday evening in USL play at H-E-B Park in Edinburg, Texas, behind goals from Jorginho James, Ruben Luna and Ivan Magalhaes.
James gave RGV the lead in the 16th minute after he intercepted a pass from goalkeeper Tyler Miller and fired a seeing-eye right-footed shot over Miller’s head and into the net.
S2 equalized just seconds before halftime on a corner kick. Ray Saari whipped in a ball to the near post that found the head of Riley Grant, who flicked it to the far post and beat goalkeeper Borja Angoitia.
RGV would strike twice in a three-minute span in the second half to take all three home points, though. T.J. Casner made a nifty move in the left side of the 18-yard-box and picked out captain Ruben Luna, who one-timed his shot from close range to regain the lead in the 63rd minute.
One minute later, Grant was cautioned for a foul on Todd Wharton 30 yards from goal. On the ensuing free kick, Magalhaes gave RGV an insurance tally after his one-timed left-footed shot on a cross from Emilio Garcia beat Miller.
Aaron Kovar, who made his first appearance of the season with the Sounders first team on June 4th against RGV’s MLS affiliate the Houston Dynamo, started for S2 on Saturday after the Sounders reached a standard loan agreement with USL. Kovar missed the first 14 games of the MLS season with a groin injury and played 45 minutes against RGV as he continues to improve his fitness. First team midfielder Zach Mathers replaced Kovar at halftime.
Sounders FC 2 had 54 percent possession and had seven corner kicks to RGV’s one, but could not capitalize. They also sent in 29 crosses to RGV’s four.
S2 falls to 5-6-2 and is fifth place in the Western Conference with 17 points. It will welcome OKC Energy FC to Starfire Sports on Monday, June 19, at 7:30 p.m. PT.
