October 15, 2022 – United Soccer League Championship (USL) – Monterey Bay FC News Release
EDINBURG, Texas – Monterey Bay F.C. (12-18-4, 40 points) fell 4-1 to Rio Grande Valley FC Toros (14-13-7, 49 points) at H-E-B Park in Texas. 20-year-old Jesse Maldonado scored his first professional goal for the Crisp and Kelp in stoppage time.
The match began with a penalty being awarded to the hosts in the 5th minute on a tackle inside the box by Hunter Gorskie. Gorskie was also shown red for the tackle, leaving the Union with 10 men from the jump. Goalkeeper Carlos Herrera saved the ensuing penalty kick, but Rio Grande Valley FC was able to convert the rebound to take the early 1-0 lead. Monterey Bay F.C. earned their first solid chance of the night in the 19th minute of the match. After receiving the ball on the wing from Seku Conneh at the top of the box, Adrian Rebollar crossed the ball back into the box to Conneh, but his header missed over the crossbar. In the 33rd minute, the Toros fired a low cross into the box and Frank Lopez connected to push the ball across the line and give the home side the 2-0 lead at the halftime break.
The Toros had a chance to add another six minutes into the second half, but the header from just outside the six-yard box missed to the right. The Crisp and Kelp earned a corner kick opportunity in the 53rd minute when Sam Gleadle intercepted a pass to spring the visitors on the counter, but the corner was cleared away by the defense. The Union countered quickly up the right side in the 80th minute, but the grass-burning ball into the box by Morey Doner missed second-half substitute Jesse Maldonado by a hair and the ball continued on its way out of bounds. In the second minute of stoppage time, Rio Grande Valley FC added a fourth goal in the match. Then just moments before the final whistle, second-half substitute Maldonado showed composure in the center of the 18-yard box to turn and score his first professional goal and the match ended 4-1 in favor of the hosts.
Notes:
– 20-year-old forward Jesse Maldonado came into the match in the 76th minute and scored his first professional goal in the 3rd minute of stoppage time.
– Midfielder Mobi Fehr wore the captain’s armband for the Union in the match, his first time wearing the armband for the Crisp and Kelp this season.
– Goalkeeper Carlos Herrera made his seventh start of the season and his first since July 2; a 1-1 draw with New Mexico United at Cardinale Stadium.
– Missing the match…