EL PASO, TX – February 15, 2020 – El Paso Locomotive FC welcomed USL Championship rival New Mexico United to an uncharacteristically warm and sunny February afternoon at the Locomotive Training Complex. Both teams were very much in preseason mode and the starting lineup for Locomotive was vastly different than when they played SAFC last week.
New Mexico United took the early lead on the first opportunity of the match when they scored in the 5th minute on an uncharacteristic giveaway in the back by neatly slotting the ball into the net. United was not content with their lead and late in the first half extended the score to 0-2 with a free kick into the box. The ball squirted through the mass of players and took an unlucky deflection off Moses Makinde, whose momentum led to an own goal.
After almost a complete lineup change from both clubs, the second half saw the Locos take control of possession and begin to settle into their trademark possession style. In the fiftieth minute, Omar put a terrific cross into Alexy Bosetti who could not find the back of the net.
Locomotive was not done competing, despite being down 0-3. Midfielder Omar Salgado got the ball on the left-hand side, beat his man and calmly passed the ball on the turf into the penalty spot and newcomer Distel Zola neatly put the ball away to cut the deficit to 1-3. Locomotive continued to work with close chances from Alexy Bosetti nearly chipping United’s keeper from 40 yards out and Salgado missing the upper corner by inches.
Head Coach Mark Lowry on the performance commented, “The weather was beautiful and it was a good game of football. We saw some good things from both teams. I thought that both teams played very well and it was a pretty even game with three silly giveaway goals.”
The match ended 1-4 with the team’s focus shifting to their upcoming preseason match against Borderland rival and sister club, FC Juarez, on Wednesday, February 19th.