El Paso Locomotive is preparing for its first trip to Arizona since 2020. At Phoenix Rising Stadium at Wild Horse Pass, El Paso is looking to do what it has never done before: Come away with a result against Phoenix Rising FC.
Since Locomotive’s inaugural year in the USL Championship, the Locos have faced Phoenix Rising four times in all competitions. The first two were in the 2019 regular season, where El Paso lost in both matches 2-0 and 2-1. The two sides met again during the 2020 regular season in Arizona where Locomotive fell 3-1. Finally, the two sides met on the stage of the Western Conference Final in 2020 where once again El Paso Locomotive fell in its tightest contest yet with the Phoenix team.
History certainly has not been on El Paso’s side in the all-time series with Phoenix Rising FC. However, these two look like two completely different teams 593 days removed from the 2020 Western Conference Final. El Paso Locomotive is under new management with Head Coach John Hutchinson, who has been implementing a completely different style of play. Phoenix Rising is uncharacteristically low on the Western Conference table. The team that usually dominates the top two spots in the West has started the 2022 season floating around the midtable.
In the current form, Locomotive has been continuing its resurgence into the 2022 USL Championship season. With two wins, one loss, and one draw in the last five, the Locos are on a four-game undefeated streak. The El Paso team has shot up from the bottom of the Western Conference title to contend for top spots on the table, only a point behind for third and six points down from first. Phoenix Rising has been on the poor side of mixed results in its last five, earning a record of two wins and three losses. Most recently, the Arizona club suffered defeat at home against Birmingham Legion. Form shows the two sides are even on paper with Locomotive perhaps having the slight edge, but history would still make Phoenix Rising the favorites on the weekend.
Underdogs or not, however, the Locomotive locker room prepares for every game the same regardless of who is in front of them. The Locos will plan to set in motion their style of play, their aggressiveness, their pressing, and come away with the full three points.
“Every game we think is going to be a hard game whether you’re first in the table or last,” commented Midfielder Nick Hinds. “We prepare the same mentally. We’re going to out there and like every game we are going to be aggressive and try to get the three points.”
“They have a really good players and they are well coached,” said Hutchinson. “We know it’s going to be a challenging game. We understand in front of their home crowd they are going to go for it and try to win. We know there are certain players we have to stop and try to control. We will have a look with the players on Friday before we travel, and we will work on it then about how we are going to stop them and how our game will cause them problems.”
Locomotive’s key to success on Saturday will be to continue playing to their principles. With a focus on possession and the use of possession, El Paso Locomotive will be aiming to move Rising players out of position and create big chances to take the lead.
Coach Hutchinson said he has been impressed with the Boys in Loco Blue. The players have stepped onto the field in recent weeks and have created chances as a result of the hard work put into training. So long as the team continues to work like they have, Hutchinson is confident El Paso can come out the other side of the weekend with three points in hand.
“I believe in these players and their football,” Hutchinson said. “I’ve got complete confidence about whoever we put out and I think we proved that against Hartford [Athletic]. I thought we created enough chances and Phoenix will be no different. We promised from the start that we will go and try to win every game we play this season, and we are going to go there and implement our football.”
There will be more than just the challenge of facing against a good team. At kickoff in the evening, it will be a blistering 109 degrees at Phoenix Rising Stadium. It will be a hot match, but Locomotive is no stranger to extreme heat.
“Luckily, El Paso is already hot,” said Hinds with a smile. “So we have a little bit of preparation to play this weekend.”
Locomotive makes the trip to Arizona this Saturday, June 11 with kickoff set for 8:30 p.m. MT. The match will be broadcast live on ESPN+. Fans can join El Paso Locomotive at the Union Draft House on Sunland Park drive for its official Watch Party which will feature Locomotive giveaways.