FORT WORTH _ A hot, steamy night meant the Vaqueros needed to grind out a victory against a game Dallas City FC on Saturday.
After a scoreless first half, Fort Worth bagged a pair of goals in the final third of the match to earn the 2-0 victory in the NPSL Lone Star Conference match.
The victory kept the Vaqueros (4-0, 12 points) atop the conference and earned the first leg of the Trinity River Cup, the rivalry trophy between the North Texas neighbors.
Dallas City (1-4-1, 4 points) traveled to Farrington Field a mere day after playing the Denton Diablos on Friday.
Despite the back-to-back match days, Dallas City hardly looked fatigued according to Vaqueros coach Nick Stavrou.
“It was a slow start for us for sure. Luckily, the boys got going in the second half and it was a much better performance, and with the performance came the two goals as well,” Stavrou said. “It was a hard fought battle. That was a good team we played against tonight.”
Anthony Powell made an immediate impact as a second half substitute in his Vaqueros debut. Powell stripped the Dallas City goalkeeper after the Eastern Metroplex netminder held the ball a bit too long at his feet. Powell then scored the quick walk in for the 1-0 lead in 65th minute.
Fort Worth sealed the game in the 89th minute off a brilliant bit of tic-tac-toe passing. Ultimately, Miles Byass broke free along the left edge of the Dallas City penalty area. Byass then slotted a square pass along the turf to an on-rushing Alan Rovira for the second goal.
Vaqueros Midfielder Cameron Brown helped provide the stability for Fort Worth in the center of the park.
“We thought Dallas City playing the previous night; they would be sluggish, slow but give them full credit they came out with energy, positivity and were looking to get at our goal early,” Brown said. “We went into the break saying stay positive and the goals will come.”
Fort Worth returns to action 7 p.m. Thursday at Farrington Field against South Texas powerhouse Laredo Heat (3-2, 9 points).
ABOUT THE VAQUEROS _ The Vaqueros were founded in 2014 and reign as Fort Worth’s only active minor league sports team. The club competes in the NPSL, the fourth division of the American professional soccer pyramid. In 2018 the Vaqueros enjoyed their most successful season with records in merchandise sales, attendance and sponsorships. The club continued its run of playoff berths under coach Nick Stavrou.
The Fort Worth Vaqueros are committed to growing the sport of soccer in Fort Worth and developing local players (one of our players has been drafted by Major League Soccer.) A club of the community, the Vaqueros name, logo and jersey style for each season were chosen by supporter voting. For more information, visit www.fortworthvaqueros.com
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