SAFC returns home for the first time since May 29th as they will host RGV-FC for the second and final time in 2021. This is the third of four meetings between the clubs this season. They will close out their regular season series in August down in the valley.
The match will mark the 19th league game between the two Texas sides, by far the most common opponent for SAFC in their history. The game will double as a Copa Tejas match.
Both teams are coming off mid-week games. For RGV-FC this will be their second straight Copa Tejas game this week and already their 5th game out of 12 in the Copa Tournament that will crown the best Texas team in USL Championship. As it sits currently SAFC are in last place in the Copa Tejas standings and the only team without a win.
After winning three straight games in this series last season, SAFC has yet to earn a victory against RGV-FC in two tries this year. And being their last shot to do so at home in 2021, that makes this an important divisional game, as well as in the Copa standings. SAFC’s first three Copa games, including this one on Saturday night, have all been against RGV-FC.
SAFC are licking their wounds from a road trip that did not go as planned. They managed to earn only two points out of a possible nine and finished on a down note losing at New Mexico on Wednesday night 2-0. SAFC are now winless in four straight games overall and going back to last year have only won one road game in their last nine matches away from Toyota Field.
Said Manager Alen Marcina, “Games like this can only build resilience and help prepare us in the long run. It’s a marathon season, so we will learn. We will identify the areas we did well and where we need to improve. Our final actions on both ends of the field are areas we need to improve on, but we will get there. We will be better for it moving forward.”
RGV-FC are also limping into this game as they were stunned by a late Austin Bold goal deep into second half added time which turned a 1-1 draw into a 2-1 loss. Despite the result, RGV-FC enter the game as the leaders of the Mountain Division.
Both teams are top 7 in the league in total goals scored but RGV-FC also has a strong defensive element to their game. Their three clean sheets are tied for second best in the league. San Antonio FC are now 4th in the league in shots, so they are creating plenty of chances. But they’ll need to improve upon their 13% conversion rate if they want to make their chances count.
Elvis Amoh leads RGV-FC with four goals scored while James Murphy has provided three assists. Tyler Deric has 19 saves and three clean sheets in goal. Adrian Diz Pe is a stellar defender, easily pacing the team with 42 clearances.
SAFC will be happy to be back home, where they’ll look to extend their home unbeaten streak to 18 games. It’s their only home game in June, so they better make the most of it.
Marcina is ready for the challenge. “There’s a lot of great opponents that we played. We competed and earned the points that we got. Now we go back to our house and fight to keep our home regular season unbeaten streak going.”
The Matchup (W-D-L)
RGV FC (5-1-2, 16 points) at San Antonio FC (2-4-2, 10 points)
Toyota Field, Saturday June 19th, 2021
Kickoff 7:30pm Central Time
Current Form (W-D-L)
San Antonio FC - 2021 Home Record 2-2-0
W-D-D-D-L
RGV-FC – 2021 Road Record 1-1-1
L-D-W-W-L
All Time History (W-D-L)
Saturday will mark the 19th meeting between these two teams and the third of four meetings this season. The all-time series is dead even at 6-6-6 after two games in 2021, so if there’s a winner they will grab they overall series lead.
Season Series
5/15/21 @ RGV L 1-2
5/29/21 @ SA D 1-1
6/19/21 @ SA
8/8/21 @ RGV
Last Time
These two teams played for the second of four meetings this season late last month at Toyota Field. Epps scored for San Antonio in the first half but Azocar equalized in the 89th minute with a stunning bicycle kick goal for RGV-FC to share the points.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS:
IMAGES – SAN ANTONIO FC TWITTER, USL CHAMPIONSHIP TWITTER