EDINBURG, Texas: St Vincent and the Grenadines international Kyle Edwards hammered a brace to help power Rio Grande Valley FC to a dominant 4-1 victory over El Paso Locomotive and into the playoffs the United Soccer League.
The 24-year-old, who signed with the southern United States outfit last year, netted on either side of half-time as Rio Grande Valley converted a 2-0 half-time lead into an impressive final result at home at HEB Park here at the weekend.
With the points, Rio Grande Valley clinched fourth place in the Mountain Division with 47 points and will now take on Phoenix Rising on Saturday in their first playoff fixture.
El Paso topped the group with 64 points, 12 clear of San Antonio FC, with Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC third on 49.
Rodrigo Lopez put the hosts ahead in the seventh minute from the penalty spot, but they were forced to wait until deep in injury time to double their advantage at the end of the half.
Nick Ross failed to cut out Christian Sorto’s pass from midfield, and Edwards pounced to produce a deft finish from eight yards, under pressure from goalkeeper Logan Ketterer.
El Paso pulled one back four minutes after the break when substitute Chapa Herrera found the back of the nets, but Edwards restored his side’s two-goal cushion seven minutes later with his second goal of the evening.
Juan Carlos Azocar whipped in a low cross, and Edwards ghosted into the area, split the two center backs, to beat Ketterer with a sliding finish from close range.
The insurance goal came in the 80th minute when Emilio Ycaza took advantage of a heavy touch on the edge of the 18-yard box by full-back Matt Bahner to drive his volley in at the near post from 15 yards.
At AutoZone Park in Downtown Memphis, Trinidadian Andre Fortune scored his second goal in many matches with a 56th-minute strike as Memphis 901 FC blanked Indy Eleven 3-0.
Roland Lamah opened the scoring in the 12th minute; Kyle Murphy added a second in the 32nd before Fortune lobbed the ’keeper from ten yards to give the hosts a rousing start to the second half.
Memphis, who finished third in the Central Division on 50 points, has secured a playoff clash against Charlotte Independence.
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