OKLAHOMA CITY – Rio Grande Valley FC’s offense finally made a mark this season. Ruben Luna converted a second-half penalty kick and the second-year Toros went on to also earn their first win of the season, topping OKC Energy FC 1-0 on Saturday during OKC’s home opener at Taft Stadium in front of a crowd of 5,899. Luna’s 67th-minute penalty was the difference, while RGV goalkeeper Calle Brown made a PK save earlier in that half to lead the Toros to the victory. RGV moves to 1-2-0 (3 points) on the season while OKC falls to 0-2-1 (1 point). The second half included a number of players sent off – OKC’s Richard Dixon and Jose Barril and RGV’s Victor Garza.

Scoring:

67’ – RGV – Ruben Luna (penalty)

Three Things That Mattered:

1. RGV entered the match with zero goals through two games and then a scoreless first half Saturday. The Toros finally put that trend to bed. Ruben Luna put his side on the score sheet in the 67th minute with a hesitation approach and slot inside the right post for a 1-0 lead. OKC goalkeeper Cody Laurendi committed slightly in the opposite direction and the visiting side got the upper hand. The Toros’ creativity and offensive generation had been there all season, and their efforts finally paid off with a goal and a season-opening win.

2. Earlier in the match, it looked like Energy FC would take advantage of an opportunity on the spot. Energy FC’s fate, however, was far different. In the 53rd minute, Alex Dixon was taken down in the spot and after a several-minute delay to tend to him, Jose Barril stepped up for the attempt in the 56th minute. Barril shot right-footed and tried to go up the middle. RGV goalkeeper Calle Brown began to dive to his left, and he kept his back foot back in time to deflect Barril’s shot away from the goal.

3. Last season, the ongoing theme for Energy FC was the surprise that the club was unable to finish its chances. Those moments have certainly lingered in 2017. In the 64th minute, Kyle Hyland crossed the ball in from the left side in the direction of Danni Konig and Coy Craft. Both players had a couple steps behind RGV’s defense and were in the path of Hyland’s ball. Craft would get a touch, but he sent the right-footed shot over the crossbar. Unmarked moments such as that will need a far different result moving forward if OKC wants to ultimately return to the postseason.

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match:

Calle Brown, Rio Grande Valley FC – The Toros goalkeeper wasn’t called upon too frequently, but turning away a penalty kick to keep OKC off the scoreboard was a significant moment, especially on the road.