By RGV Fútbol/Staff

BROWNSVILLE, 4 July. - RGV Bravos FC lost their fifth straight game after falling to the Laredo Heat 2-1 on Saturday at the Brownsville Sports Park, and were eliminated from the playoff hunt with four games left to play in the season.

Before an estimated 150 fans in the stands, Bravos FC extended their winless streak to seven consecutive games dating back to May 29 and cemented their place in the cellar of the USL Premier Development League Mid-South Division with a 2-3-7 record for nine points in 12 matches.

During Bravos FC’s current losing skid, the longest in their short two-year history, the Valley squad has only salvaged two out of a possible 21 points. The club’s seven losses is also a record.

The loss to the Heat was Bravos FC’s third of the season against their South Texas rival.

Despite taking the lead in the 15th minute on Alex Ríos’ second goal of the season, the Bravos were unable to protect the lead.

With two minutes remaining in the half, Angel “Bambi” Hernández equalized the score off a corner kick, which sparked controversy.

Chaos broke out after the goal when the Bravos contested the goal. The referee’s indecisiveness got to Laredo’s head coach Israel Collazo, who pleaded his case to the officiating crew. Although the goal was allowed, Collazo was ejected from the match.

Laredo took the lead in the 52nd minute on a tally by Daniel Garza, which proved to be the game winner.

Although the match was decided by one goal, it could’ve easily been 4-1 against Bravos FC had it not been for a key play by defender Mario Zamora and several timely saves by goalkeeper Juan Gamboa.

The University of Texas-Brownsville/Texas Southmost College Scorpions standout netminder also stopped his sixth penalty kick of the season in the 57th minute to keep the Bravos' deficit to one goal.

GAME NOTES: Saturday’s game marked the return of striker Salvador Luna to the Valley, but in a Laredo Heat uniform...The Bravos’ lone goal broke a string of 346 consecutive minutes without scoring...In six home dates, Bravos FC's 2010 attendance is estimated at only 1,250 fans (208 per game average), the total of one Bravos game last season...Team ownership continued to use leftover tickets from the Bravos-Barracudas exhibition match on April 17 for its home matches.