Damus goal and Moshobane brace leads club to third straight road win
EDINBURG, Texas (Aug. 26, 2023) – San Diego Loyal SC was back on the road after playing six home matches over 24 days and held on late in stoppage time to secure a 3-2 win against Rio Grande Valley FC Toros Saturday night at H-E-B Park.
Tumi Moshobane scored in each half of the USL Championship match and Ronaldo Damus also scored for the visitors as SD Loyal earned three crucial points in the Western Conference standings. Jonathan Ricketts and Christian Pinzon found the net for the team from Southern Texas but it was Moshobane’s late game-winner that would be the difference.
SD Loyal (11W-7L-7D, 40 points) opened up the scoring with Damus’ goal in the 32nd minute. The Haitian striker sent a right-footed shot to the lower-left corner of the Rio Grande Valley net, beating goalkeeper Tyler Deric for his seventh goal of the season.
Two minutes later, SD Loyal extended its lead with a goal by Moshobane. The forward charged into the six-yard box and sent in a quick shot off a cross by Blake Bodily. SD Loyal continued to attack with Damus and Carlos Guzman nearly scoring again prior to halftime. Damus hit the outside wall of the net and Guzman blasted his shot high over the goal in the 40th minute.
The match took a turn in the second half as Rio Grande Valley (7W-9L-10D, 31 points) started the period with a score by Ricketts in the 49th minute. The defender fired from the 18-yard box to beat SD Loyal goalkeeper Koke Vegas, cutting the visitors’ lead to 2-1.
The homeside continued to try and break through the SD Loyal defense and caught a break when Grant Stoneman was whistled inside the penalty box in the 72nd minute. Pinzon made the most of the opportunity, converting the penalty kick to tie the match 2-2.
SD Loyal would secure the win when Moshobane scored his second of the night and sixth of the season four minutes later to give SD Loyal the 3-2 lead. It was the 23rd career goal for SD Loyal’s All-Time leading scorer. Moshobane took a quick pass from Elliot Collier to end the scoring play that started with a give-and-go play from Adrien Perez.
Head coach Nate Miller’s team will bring home the three points as the club will next host Birmingham Legion FC on Sunday, Sept. 3 in an interconference match at Torero Stadium. Tickets to the match are on sale at sdloyal.com/tickets.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN
SD – Ronaldo Damus (Alejandro Guido), 32nd minute: Damus sent a shot past goalkeeper Tyler Deric to open up the scoring. RGV 0, SD 1
SD – Tumi Moshobane (Blake Bodily), 34th minute: Moshobane connected on a Bodily cross from left to right to double the lead. RGV 0, SD 2
RGV – Jonathan Ricketts, 49th minute: Ricketts fired a blast from the 18-yard box to cut the visitors’ lead. RGV 1, SD 2
RGV – Christian Pinzon (Penalty), 73rd minute: Pinzon converted the penalty kick to tie the match with a shot to the left of Vegas. RGV 2, SD 2
SD – Tumi Moshobane (Elliot Collier), 77th minute: Moshobane sped into the 18-yard box and took an Elliot Collier pass and sent it in for the game-winner. RGV 2, SD 3
ADDITIONAL NOTES
- Ronaldo Damus scored his seventh goal of the season.
- Tumi Moshobane scored his fifth and sixth goals of the season.
- Alejandro Guido recorded his second assist of the season.
- Blake Bodily recorded his fifth assist of the season.
- Elliot Collier recorded his third assist of the season.
Palomar Health Man of the Match: Tumi Moshobane
