Luna keeps Bravos FC in playoff hunt

HIDALGO – If anybody was going to give Bravos FC the goal it needed for a crucial win, it figures it would be Salvador Luna.

Luna’s goal in the 72nd minute from a Noe de los Santos pass gave Bravos FC the lone goal in its 1-0 win over the Dallas-Fort Worth Tornados on Friday night at Valley View’s Tiger Stadium. The goal was Luna’s 14th of the season (in 13 games) and kept Bravos FC (6-4-5, 23 points) in contention for the third and final Mid-South Division playoff spot.

To make the postseason, Bravos FC needs to win on Sunday against West Texas United. There however is still the possibility that RGV could be involved in a three-team tie with El Paso and Austin for the final two playoff spots. The simplest way in would be for last-place Houston to upset El Paso today, a result that would make the Bravos FC-West Texas season finale a virtual postseason play-in game.

Regardless of whether Bravos FC makes the playoffs, Luna has been a potent scorer all season. Despite sitting out the first two games because of contract issues, Luna has been Bravos FC’s most dependable striker and came into Friday night’s game tied for fourth in the 68-team PDL in goals, and just two off the overall lead.

His goal Friday night, which came when he beat DFW (2-7-4, 10 points) goalie Josh Jones to his right and off the post, wasn’t his prettiest of the season. But, without question, it was his most crucial.

“It’s a sensation that’s indescribable,” Luna said through a translator about the win. “It was a victory in the last minute and I’m glad it happened to me that I scored the goal. This helps us to get closer to qualifying (for the playoffs).”

For most of the evening, Bravos FC had a man-advantage after DFW midfielder Tony Guillen was given a red card for his challenge on RGV’s Miguel Vazquez in the 32nd minute. RGV, however, couldn’t take advantage until Luna’s goal.

As expected, DFW (which is out of playoff contention) pushed forward during the last few minutes but couldn’t score what would have been a crushing goal for Bravos FC.

“We knew we were going to win. We have a good team,” said Bravos FC coach Ismael Moreira Braga, who was returning from a three-game suspension. “We have been working so hard, and no matter what, I think we deserve a pat on the back because all the sweat, all the tears are paying off now.”

CORNER KICKS: Bravos FC mascot Piquin and players Reynol Fuentes, Luna, Jesus Mireles, Noe de los Santos and Jesus Alex Rios will sign autographs starting at 11:30 a.m. today at the Academy Sports and Outdoors store located at 3901 Expressway 83 at Ware Road in McAllen.

Brian Sandalow covers Rio Grande Valley Bravos FC for Valley Freedom Newspapers. You can reach him at (956) 683-4436.