The Little Rock Rangers opened their USL 2 Championship Mid-South Conference regular season with a strong 2-0 win over the Denton Diablos.

Originally scheduled for a 7 p.m. kickoff, the match was delayed due to weather and didn’t begin until 8:45 p.m. From the opening whistle, it was a competitive contest. The Rangers struck first before the end of the first half, with Drew Harding finding the back of the net to give them the lead.

In the second half, the Rangers took control of the game, creating several solid chances, though they were unable to convert most of them. In the 75th minute, the Diablos committed a foul just outside the box that resulted in a red card. On the ensuing free kick, Alejandro Padilla scored the second goal with a well-placed header off a cross from Scott Gray.

Despite some early setbacks, the Rangers stayed focused, securing their first win of the season on the road and earning all three points. They now carry momentum into their upcoming home opener against McKinney Chupacabras FC.