Years Team Current team Tampa Bay Rowdies 2013–2014 Darton State College Height 1.80 m | Number 20 Role Footballer Playing position Name Darwin Espinal Position Forward | |
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Date of birth (1995-01-16) 16 January 1995 (age 20) | ||
Place of birth Tegucigalpa, Honduras | ||
Richard menjivar and darwin espinal discuss national team duty
Darwin Espinal (born 16 January 1995) is a Honduran professional footballer who currently plays as a midfielder for Reno 1868 FC in the USL.
Contents
- Richard menjivar and darwin espinal discuss national team duty
- Darwin espinal goal vs new york cosmos september 5 2015
- College and Youth
- Tampa Bay Rowdies
- South Florida Surf
- Reno 1868 FC
- International career
- References
Darwin espinal goal vs new york cosmos september 5 2015
College and Youth
Espinal was born in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, though his family moved to Broward County, Florida where he played high school soccer for J. P. Taravella High School. While at Taravella, Espinal was named the 2012–2013 Florida Class 5A-4A Player of the Year. Espinal also enjoyed success at the club level in Broward, playing for Plantation FC. Espinal led Plantation to the Florida State Cup Championship and a spot in the Region III Championship, where he was named tournament MVP.
Coming out of high school, Espinal had an offer to join the Chicago Fire SC Academy, but he opted to go to college at Albany, Georgia's Darton State College. In his freshman season as a Darton Cavalier, Espinal scored 23 goals and notched 10 assists in just 16 games. During his 2014 sophomore season, Espinal continued his impressive form, scoring 29 goals with 19 assists in 19 games. He was a 1st Team NJCAA All-American both years and helped the Cavaliers win the Region 17 Championship in 2014. His 52 goals and 81 points were both good for school records.
Tampa Bay Rowdies
On 23 December 2014 it was announced that Espinal had signed his first professional contract with the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the North American Soccer League. During the Rowdies preseason tour of Portugal ahead of their 2015 campaign, Espinal scored goals against the 'B' teams of S.L. Benfica and Sporting CP.
Espinal's strong preseason performance earned him a spot in Coach Thomas Rongen's starting eleven for the Rowdies first match of the 2015 season against the San Antonio Scorpions. Espinal cashed in on the opportunity, scoring a goal in first half stoppage time off an assist by Darnell King.
South Florida Surf
In 2017, Espinal signed on to play with the South Florida Surf of the Premier Development League. For three weeks, Espinal was listed as the PDL's top prospect.
Reno 1868 FC
On June 21st, 2017 it was announced that Espinal had signed with Reno 1868 FC of the USL in a one-year deal. He scored his first goal for the team on July 3 in its historic 9-0 rout of LA Galaxy II; Espinal's 88th minute strike, Reno's ninth of the game, set the league record for largest margin of victory. He was one of five Reno players called up by the San Jose Earthquakes, Reno's Major League Soccer affiliate, to play in its July 14 friendly against Eintracht Frankfurt, and made his first appearance for the club off the bench during the 4-1 victory in the 33rd minute for Danny Hoesen.
International career
Espinal was called up to represent Honduras for the 2015 CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualifying Championship in the United States.