The Rangers bounced back after their first loss of the season with a strong 2-0 victory over the Denton Diablos—marking their third consecutive home win of the season.

Coming off a tough away defeat to the Louisiana Krewe, the Rangers returned to War Memorial Stadium with the mindset to get back on track in front of their home fans. They had already beaten the Diablos earlier in the season, also by a 2-0 scoreline—and were looking to prove they could handle adversity.

Head Coach Nick Doyle made some changes to the usual starting eleven, particularly in the attacking line. Ethan Blake, Liam Corr, and Fabrizio Cubeddu led the frontline, forming a fast and dynamic trio that constantly troubled the Diablos' defense. The Rangers dominated the first half but couldn’t find the finishing touch, going into halftime with a 0-0 score despite creating several chances.

The second half told a similar story—Little Rock controlled possession and tempo—but in the 54th minute, the breakthrough finally came. Daniel Burko found the back of the net after a rebound from a corner kick, bringing relief and momentum to the Rangers. From there, they managed the match smartly, keeping the ball and denying Denton any chance to mount a comeback.

The second goal came 10 minutes before full-time, when Amos Boum Nlend found Raphael Kistmann, who sealed the win with a composed finish, confirming another crucial three points at home.

It wasn’t an easy game. Denton defended well and made it difficult for the Rangers to be as dominant on the scoresheet as they’ve been in recent home matches, where they had won by margins of four or more goals. Still, this game proved something even more important: the Rangers can grind out a win when things aren’t going their way.

In soccer, you’re not always going to score five goals or win in style. Sometimes, it’s about digging deep, finding one goal, and letting your structure and mentality carry you through. That’s exactly what the Rangers did. Even though the opening goal wasn’t the prettiest, it gave them the confidence to control the rest of the match. Coach Doyle’s team knows how to win big—but just as importantly, they know how to win smart.

Man of the Match, Fabrizio Cubeddu, who played a full 90 minutes for the first time, shared his feelings about the experience:

“There’s not a lot of better things. I was here with the boys, the boys supported me, the coaching staff supported me, and the fans did what they usually do—they helped me perform.”

Cubeddu also pointed to the halftime talk as a turning point:

“It was halftime. First half, we created many chances, but we didn’t find the goal. We knew they were cracked, so in the second half, we found the goal. But it was the halftime talk.”

With the win, the Little Rock Rangers remain at the top of their division with 13 points. 

On June 14th, just three days later, the Little Rock Rangers edged past Hattiesburg FC with a narrow 1-0 win in a tough and tactical match, remaining unbeaten at home and holding on to first place in the Mid-South Division.

The Rangers entered this game looking to continue their strong home form and further distance themselves from their closest challengers. It was a complicated matchup, as Hattiesburg came prepared with a low block, focused on solid defense, and quick counterattacks. Aware that the Rangers would control possession, press high, and relentlessly attack, Hattiesburg stuck to their plan effectively.

The first half played out as expected, with the Rangers dominating possession and pushing forward, but struggling to create clear scoring chances. Hattiesburg defended well and even posed some danger on the counter. However, Rangers goalkeeper Luca Calvero remained sharp and reliable, ready whenever called upon. Though the Rangers couldn’t find a breakthrough, they began creating danger from set pieces—winning aerial duels and forcing the Hattiesburg defense to stay alert. The first half ended 0-0, but with the feeling that a goal could come in the second half.

The second half followed a similar pattern, with the Rangers still searching for the opening goal and Hattiesburg staying compact defensively. Coach Doyle made several substitutions to inject fresh energy into the team. Players like Ethan Blake, Liam Corr, and Drew Harding came off the bench and made an impact. In the 67th minute, Ethan Blake played a pass through the middle to Drew Harding, who took a touch and smashed the ball into the side of the net—scoring the winning goal for the Rangers.

The rest of the game saw the Rangers managing possession, defending intelligently, and looking to double their lead. Throughout the season, the Rangers have been impressive at maintaining control once ahead, thanks to Coach Doyle’s disciplined approach. His team consistently makes smart decisions when in the lead, managing the tempo and closing games out effectively.

The match ended 1-0, giving the Rangers yet another home victory and clean sheet. Now, all focus turns to next week’s home game against LA Krewe at War Memorial Stadium at 7 p.m.—a highly anticipated rematch against the only team to have defeated the Rangers this season.