Tropics win second season opener in a row in defeating RGV Barracudas

HIDALGO, TX. – The Florida Tropics SC won their second straight season opening game, the first of a two-game “Tex-Mex” road trip to open their Major Arena Soccer League Season

Florida got two goals each from Ricardo Diegues, Maycon Franca and newcomer Mauricio Salles, his second of which was a bicycle kick score that put the Tropics up 8-3 heading to intermission.

The eight goals in one half tied a team record set last February in a 12-10 win over Syracuse, and the five goal margin of victory also tied a team record set last January in a 9-4 win over St. Louis.

Florida got single goals from Captain Freddy Moojen, Anthony Arico, Victor Parreiras and another newcomer, Lucas Coutinho who spent the summer with the New York Cosmos.

It was a big night for Diegues, who started his MASL career with the Barracudas when they were in Brownsville for the 2015-16 season. Diegues had three assists as well for a five-point night.

Antonio Manfut scored the first goal of the night for RGV, one of his two on the game, but the Tropics reeled off the next four, and then broke things wide open in the second with four unanswered goals after RGV had pulled to within 4-3. Piotr Sliwa got the win in goal.

Florida is right back at it Sunday night in Monterrey, Mexico, for a 6:05 EST start against the perennially tough Flash who return to the MASL after sitting out the last two seasons. The

Tropics will return to Lakeland for their home opener on Saturday, Nov. 11 at 7:35 against the Cedar Rapids Rampage. All games are broadcast live at www.masl.tv.