RENO, Nev. – Expansion Reno 1868 FC did something that no other team has been able to do against Rio Grande Valley FC this season – tally multiple goals in a game. Brent Richards’ 77th-minute tally proved to be the winner as 1868 FC earned a 3-2 victory against RGV on Wednesday at Greater Nevada Field. Richards was set up by halftime sub Luis Felipe, who also provided a 66th-minute go-ahead goal. Dane Kelly scored his league-leading 11th goal in the first half. Reno extended its unbeaten streak to six (4-0-2), and the side has scored a whopping 22 goals during this stretch. Reno improves to 4-3-3 (15 points) overall and 3-1-2 at home, moving into the upper half of the Western Conference standings. RGV’s Memo Rodriguez scored his team-leading third goal and Eric Bird’s penalty kick tied the score at 2-2, but the Toros were unable to hold Reno in check. RGV falls to 4-4-2 (14 points) and 1-2-1 on the road.

Scoring:

20’ – RGV – Memo Rodriguez (Todd Wharton)

23’ – RNO – Dane Kelly (Antoine Hoppenot)

66’ – RNO – Luis Felipe (Chris Wehan)

75’ – RGV – Eric Bird (penalty)

77’ – RNO – Brent Richards (Luis Felipe)

Three Things That Mattered:

1. Keeping Reno’s Dane Kelly quiet is a difficult task even for one of the league’s staunchest defenses. RGV entered the match having conceded only five goals in nine matches while posting four clean sheets. Kelly had a couple early moments, including a 12th-minute penalty kick that he lofted over the crossbar. In the 23rd minute, Kelly finally broke through. The Toros’ defense coughed up the ball and Antoine Hoppenot quickly countered, dishing to Kelly who was wide open in the right side of the box and shooting inside the near right post to tie the score at 1-1. Kelly leads the league with 11 goals this season and is the all-time goal-scoring leader with 59 for his career.

2. RGV’s Memo Rodriguez, who had a strong 2016 season with the Toros with a team-leading seven assists to go along with six goals, made just his second appearance with the USL side in 2017. He now has three goals in two games this year to show for his efforts. In fact, Rodriguez is the only player on this roster who has scored multiple times this season. Rodriguez’s goal was a scrappy effort from the Toros in the 20th minute after Andrew Tarbell made an initially strong save. Rodriguez kept the play alive and the ball deflected toward the end line. Todd Wharton chested it to Rodriguez who finished at the near right post to take a 1-0 advantage.

3. In the 60th minute, RGV’s Charlie Ward entered the match in an incredibly rare reserve role. Ward had played in every minute of the season – as well as every minute of the 2016 season – prior to Wednesday’s game. Ward entered 15 minutes into the second half for Jose Escalante. Toros midfielder Eric Bird and defender Ivan Magalhaes are now the only two players on RGV’s roster to feature in all 900 minutes this season.

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match:

Luis Felipe, Reno 1868 FC – In just 45 minutes of play, Felipe played a crucial role every time Reno needed an offensive spark, scoring a go-ahead goal and setting up Brent Richards’ winner.