USL Preview: San Antonio FC vs. Rio Grande Valley FC

South Texas Derby set for national stage as USL Game of the Week

SAN ANTONIO – The second South Texas Derby of the season will receive the national showcase of the USL game of the Week on ESPN3 on Wednesday night, as San Antonio FC hosts Rio Grande Valley FC at Toyota Field. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. CT.

San Antonio FC news and notes

• Current record: 2-4-3, 9 points
• San Antonio is looking to get back on track as it enters Wednesday’s game on a three-game winless run that continued this past Saturday with 1-0 loss to OKC Energy FC.
• Colin Bonner scored the only goal for the visitors at Toyota Field, as San Antonio’s offense was held at bay by Energy FC goalkeeper Cody Laurendi’s six saves.
• San Antonio will be without Manolo Sanchez for a second consecutive contest after he represented Puerto Rico this past Sunday against the U.S. Men’s National Team.
• Sanchez and Shawn Chin both scored in the previous meeting with the Toros, while Jason Johnson leads the team with three goals this season.

Rio Grande Valley FC news and notes

• Current record: 4-2-2, 14 points
• The Toros are on a three-game undefeated streak after Saturday night’s 4-1 victory against the Swope Park Rangers.
• Memo Rodriguez scored a pair of goals, and Christian Lucatero had a pair of late assists, to send the Toros to their second win in the past three games.
• Rob Lovejoy also found the net in the game, and now leads the team with three goals on loan from the Houston Dynamo.
• T.J. Casner’s fourth assist of the season moved him into sole possession of the USL lead.

2016 Team leaders

• Goals: San Antonio– Jason Johnson, 3; Rio Grande Valley – Rob Lovejoy, 3
• Assists: San Antonio – Carlos Alvarez, Greg Cochrane, 2; Rio Grande Valley – T.J. Casner, 4

Series notes

• The Toros took a 3-2 victory in the first meeting between the teams, as Rob Lovejoy scored a stoppage-time winner after SAFC had rallied back from a two-goal deficit to level the score.

Officials

• REF: Brandon Artis
• AR1: Pedro Trejo Jr
• AR2: Billy Hale
• 4TH: Jorge Perez

Game hashtag:

• #SAvRGV