Bravos lose in El Paso

EL PASO - The Rio Grande Valley Bravos dropped their third straight game, a 2-0 loss to the El Paso Patriots on Friday night at Gary Del Palacios Field of Dreams in El Paso.

El Paso improved to 4-5-3 and has 15 points. Rio Grande Valley fell to 2-6-3 and has nine points in the Mid-South division of the United Soccer League.

El Paso struck first as Mario Garcia scored on a chip shot from the right side, causing it to fall into the top left corner of the net at the 15-minute mark.

The Bravos had a chance to tie it at the 38-minute mark as Enrique Rivera attempted a header, but the ball sailed slightly over the crossbar.

The Patriots had a golden opportunity to take a 2-0 lead as the ball was rolling into the net, but Juan Gamboa made an outstanding save at the 11-minute mark of the second half to keep it at 1-0 El Paso.

Rivera got his second chance to score as he took a shot on goal, but it went inches over the right side of the post at the 20-minute mark of the second half.

El Paso eventually got its second goal of the game as Edgar Mendoza scored on a straight shot on goal at the 31-minute mark of the second half. Mendoza struck it from just outside of the penalty box, and Gamboa couldn’t get to it.

The next game for the Bravos is at 7:30 p.m. Saturday against the West Texas United Sockers in Midland.