Fort Worth Vaqueros 1-3 McKinney Chupacabras

Fort Worth Vaqueros 1-3 McKinney Chupacabras

McKinney Wraps Up Road Slate With 3-1 Victory at Fort Worth

A second-half breakthrough lifted McKinney Chupacabras FC to a 3-1 victory over Fort Worth Vaqueros FC on Tuesday night, completing the club’s regular-season road schedule with three important points in the Ranger Division title race.

The Chupacabras generated quality chances throughout the opening half but were unable to solve Fort Worth goalkeeper Jacob Buhrkuhl until Aubry Eason converted a penalty kick in the 71st minute. The goal sparked a three-goal stretch in just over 20 minutes, with Brayden Beason and Sam Jones adding insurance goals to secure the victory.

The win keeps McKinney atop the Ranger Division standings with two regular-season matches remaining, leaving the Chupacabras in control of their own destiny.

McKinney controlled much of the first half despite the scoreless deadlock. The Chupacabras nearly opened the scoring midway through the half before Buhrkuhl made two outstanding saves in the 24th minute, including one to deny Aubry Eason.

As the first half wound down, McKinney continued to apply pressure. In the 40th minute, midfielder Nazeem Bartman found forward Tucker Eason with a cross, but the ensuing shot sailed over the crossbar.

“We couldn’t finish our chances in the first half, but we created some really good opportunities,” head coach Frank Yallop said. “Their keeper did well and made two or three really good saves.”

Yallop urged his team to remain patient during the halftime break.

“Just gotta stay with it,” Yallop said. “I told the guys at halftime, keep knocking on the door; we’re gonna break through.”

McKinney continued to push after the restart. Aiden Ussery’s first yellow card of the season gave Fort Worth a free kick in the 64th minute, but Nathan Kinser comfortably handled the attempt to preserve the scoreless match.

The breakthrough finally arrived six minutes later.

Beason was fouled inside the penalty area in the 70th minute, and Aubry Eason stepped to the spot and calmly converted the penalty kick for a 1-0 advantage, recording his first goal as a Chupacabra.

Yallop said the goal settled his side after a frustrating opening 70 minutes.

“Aubry’s penalty kick took the pressure off everybody,” Yallop said.

McKinney nearly doubled its lead in the 79th minute when substitute Ben Mulrooney’s shot drifted just wide of the left post.

The second goal came four minutes later. Beason’s left-footed effort deflected off Buhrkuhl and into the net in the 83rd minute, giving the MLS draft pick his team-high-tying fourth goal of the season.

Kinser preserved the two-goal advantage with a diving save in the 87th minute before Fort Worth’s Cameron Garcia converted a penalty kick in the 90th minute to spoil the clean sheet. It was Garcia’s first goal of the season and the fourth league goal scored by the Vaqueros this year.

Any hopes of a late comeback for the home side were quickly erased.

Just one minute into stoppage time, midfielder Sam Jones curled a left-footed strike into the back of the net for his first goal of the season, restoring McKinney’s two-goal cushion and sealing the 3-1 victory.

“We deserved to win the game because of the amount of chances we created,” Yallop said.

The outcome leaves the Chupacabras with a four-point lead in the Ranger Division and in position to decide their own fate entering the final two matches of the regular season.

“It’s a huge result for the club. Destiny’s in our hands,” Yallop said. “We can’t worry about anyone else; it’s up to us.”

McKinney returns home Friday for a Fourth of July showdown against Texoma FC. The two clubs enter the matchup separated by five points in the Ranger Division standings.

“We haven’t played them in a while,” Yallop said. “For us, it’s about just coming out with energy and being ready to go, trying to have a good start to that game, and trying to win it as well, obviously.”

With two matches left in the regular season, Yallop’s message to his club is simple.

“Play game by game, that’s all you can do,” Yallop said. “Just get ready for the next match.”

Kickoff between the Chupacabras and Texoma is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday at Ron Poe Stadium, where McKinney has collected all 12 possible points this season.

Words by Grayson Pitts.

Edited by Elliott Stockdale.