El Paso Locomotive FC (0-0-1, 1 pts, Group C – 2) vs Rio Grande Valley FC (0-1-0, 0 pts, Group D – 5)
Saturday, July 11 | Southwest University Park, El Paso, Texas
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. MT.
Live on ESPN+ | El Paso – Las Cruces CW
@EPLocomotiveFC | #ELPvRGV
El Paso Locomotive FC returns to play against Rio Grande Valley FC on Saturday, July 11 after a 17-week stoppage due to COVID-19. While officially the Copa Tejas is postponed until 2021, the flames of rivalry will reignite when the two Texas side return to the pitch in the hopes of a positive start in the condensed season.
2020 Stats Snapshot (ELP/RGV)
Goals For 0 / 1
Goals Against 0 / 5
Min/goal 0 / 90
Possession 54% / 56%
Passing Acc. 84.5% / 80%
Fouls 10 / 14
Yellow Cards 2 / 1
Red Cards 0 / 0
Locomotive Run Down
After a historic inaugural season, Locomotive FC came out of the offseason with fire and determination to begin building off a Western Conference Final appearance. 2020’s first match against Orange County SC proved to be a tough one where some tight back-and-forth ultimately proved the two sides level in a scoreless draw to secure a road point. The temporary suspension gave Locomotive FC time to re-evaluate its game plan with additional weeks to focus on tactics and will look to hit the ground running for a Top Two finish in Group C with its first contest against RGV.
Player to Watch: Midfielder Yuma has been proven dangerous against RGV. Having played the full 90 minutes in both matchups against RGVFC in 2019, Yuma has completed 124 passes for a 91.8% passing accuracy to cut through the Toros midfield. His defensive mind has proven to limit the damage done with seven clearances and two interceptions while winning eight duels to shut down the RGV offensive. The defensive mindset of the Spaniard helped Locomotive on the attack, as a forward Yuma blocked out the Toros backline to open teammate Nick Ross for a shot to convert a goal in March 2019.
Rio Grande Valley FC Run Down
While the end of the 2019 season saw Rio Grande Valley FC surging with results, a long drought of mid-season woes ultimately left RGV on the outside looking in of the playoff picture. Eager to turn things around, the Toros didn’t get their dream start to the 2020 season as a visiting LA Galaxy II thoroughly trumped the Texas side in a 5-1 scoreline. Now with 17-weeks to analyze and learn from the 2020 Season Opener, Rio Grande Valley will aim to itself back on track when it visits Locomotive on Saturday.
Player to Watch: Forward Juan Carlos Obregón Jr. could be a thorn in the side of the defenders for the Locomotive side. Creative in the attack and confident on the ball, Obregón took three shots towards goal with two on target during the opening match against LA Galaxy II. His quick thinking in the 85th minute to redirect a freekick to the far post with a headed effort opened his side to pull one back on a devastating scoreline to prevent the shutout. Selfless in the final third, Obregón will be one to watch at Southwest University Park on Saturday.