EDINBURG — Hours prior to the scheduled 8 p.m. kickoff, crowds of fans began packing the parking lot at H-E-B Park.
The aroma of the tailgaters clouded the air, with chants from fans for their favorite teams echoing throughout the walkways.
This time, the chants weren’t for the hometown RGV FC Toros. Instead, Liga MX fans from across the Valley made their way to H-E-B Park for a friendly match between Monterrey FC and Pumas U.N.A.M.
In front of a lively crowd, the Rayados handily defeated Pumas 3-0 on Wednesday at H-E-B Park in Edinburg.
The contest drew thousands of fans to H-E-B Park despite being only a preseason match. Among those was San Juan-native Angie Flores and her fiancé, Pedro Alvarado.
For the couple, the Liga MX’s attraction to Valley fans goes back to tradition, making any of the league’s events in the Valley a must-go.
“Honestly, it goes back to my fiancé,” Flores said. “Not just the Liga MX, but soccer all over the world. I started watching it six years ago, and it was mainly because he loved it. I had no interest in the sport but I learned to like it and watch it every time his team, the Rayados, would play. I think when it comes to diehard Liga MX fans it goes back to tradition. My fiancé’s dad always watched soccer, and he would join him watching it at a super young age.”
The Rayados put on a show for their Valley fans, taking the lead during the 37th minute on a goal by Alfonso Gonzalez. During the 56th minute, they added to their lead on a goal from inside the box by Luis Romo.
Newly acquired forward Rodrigo Aguirre put the exclamation point on the contest for Monterrey during the 75th minute, his first goal with his new club.
“We’re very happy because it’s always good to win, even if it’s a preseason game,” Aguirre said.
Pumas winger Jorge Ruvalcaba said facilities such as H-E-B Park that allow for exhibition games such as Wednesday’s match, as well as American leagues such as the USL and MLS, have helped cultivate growth of the sport in the United States.
“It’s a beautiful thing. Walking up to practice and seeing this stadium (H-E-B Park), as a kid you grow up wanting to play in stadiums like this,” Ruvalcaba said. “I actually watch the USL and MLS. I have friends who play in the USL. I know it’s an important league. I’ve seen players from the USL jump up to play in big clubs. It’s beautiful. It’s a good feeling.”
Pumas manager Andres Lillini shared Ruvalcaba’s sentiment, left in awe by the Toros’ facility.
“It’s incredible. We were surprised by everything there is for it being a stadium for a second-division team,” Lillini said. “It makes me happy seeing this type of thing. At the end of the day, it’s about the soccer player. They can have a career anywhere. … This kind of facility like the Toros, it helps the player get better.”
The victory marked the second time in nearly a year Monterrey has earned a victory at the Toros’ stadium, taking down RGV FC 5-1 during a friendly contest July 3, 2021.
