El Paso Locomotive (14-2-9, 51 points) split the points with a 1-1 draw against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC at Weidner Field on Saturday. Forward Leandro Carrijo scored his fourth goal of the season as the lone Locomotive goal of the night.
In a repeat performance of the matchup from a couple of weeks ago, Locomotive and Switchbacks FC played cautiously against one another. Locomotive played a patient game, absorbing the league-leading Switchbacks offense to keep the Colorado Springs side wanting. Hadji Barry rifled a few shots on frame from free kicks or at distance, but Goalkeeper Logan Ketterer had the answers to keep the Golden Boot leader off the board.
Locomotive didn’t go without their chances as Defender Macca King sent a cross to the far post, finding Midfielder Diego Luna in the 52nd minute. The one-time shot from Luna, while threatening, went straight into the gloves of Switchbacks’ ‘keeper Sean Melvin. It was the Locomotive defense that continued to shine deep into the second half, however, with King making a goalline clearance to keep it scoreless and the Locos backline forcing Switchbacks attempts to go wide. In the 81st minute, Carrijo redirected a low cross by Midfielder Bryam Rebellon past Melvin for the opening Locomotive goal. While El Paso looked destined to claim the three points, a scramble in the box in stoppage time forced a ball off Defender Matt Bahner and into the Locos goal to equalize the scoring at a goal apiece.
UP NEXT: El Paso Locomotive returns home for a Copa Tejas match-up against San Antonio FC on Wednesday, October 6, where a draw or a result will win El Paso the title. Kickoff from Southwest University Park is set for 7:00 p.m. MT with tickets available online at https://www.eplocomotivefc.com/tickets or by calling 915-235-GOAL.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN
ELP: Leandro Carrijo (Bryam Rebellon), 81st minute: Starting from a freekick that flew to the far post, Bryam Rebellon collected before sending it back towards the center with a low cross. Carrijo was in the perfect position at the center of the box, redirecting the shot past Sean Melvin for the opening goal of the night.
COS: Matt Bahner (Own Goal), 91st minute: Chasing the game Colorado Springs continued their aggressive offensive pressure into the dying moments of the game. With a scramble in the box for a goal from the Switchbacks side and a clearance from the Locomotive end, Hadji Barry forced a ball off Bahner that redirected into the back of Locomotive net to equalize.
NOTES:
– Midfielder Cole Turner earned his first start in the Locomotive blue since joining the team on loan earlier in the week and subbing in during Wednesday’s match against Real Monarchs.
– El Paso Locomotive remains undefeated against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC as the all-time series record moves to 4-0-5 following tonight’s draw.
– Forward Leandro Carrijo recorded his fourth goal of the night, and the third made within the final within the final 10 minutes of the match.
– El Paso Locomotive keeps its distance at the top of the Mountain Division at 7 points from second place Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC as the two remain deadlocked in the 2021 regular season.
Match: El Paso Locomotive at Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
Date: October 2, 2021
Venue: Weidner Field; Colorado Springs, Colorado
Weather: 65F and mostly cloudy
Scoring Summary 1 2 F
El Paso Locomotive 0 1 1
Switchbacks FC 0 1 1
ELP – Leandro Carrijo (Bryam Rebellon), 81’
COS – Matt Bahner (OG), 90’+1
Lineups:
El Paso Locomotive FC (4-4-2): Logan Ketterer; Eder Borelli, Matt Bahner, Mechack Jerome, Macca King, Aaron Gomez (Leandro Carrijo, 78′), Cole Turner, Chapa Herrera (Nick Ross, 60’), Diego Luna, Lucho Solignac (Bryam Rebellon, 60’), Ricardo Zacarias (Jose Aguinaga, 60’)
Subs not used: Ben Beaury, Yuma, Andrew Fox
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (3-1-4-2): Sean Melvin; Tristan Hodge, Matthew Mahoney, Jimmy Ockford, José Torres, Dillon Serna (Dantouma Toure, 71’), Beverly Makangila, Andre Lewis, Sebastian Anderson, Zachary Zandi (Darren Yapi, 71’), Hadji Barry
Subs not used: Steven Echeverria, Andrew Pannenberg, Michael Edwards, Matthew Hundley, Rony Argueta
Stats Summary: ELP | COS
Shots:7 | 12
Shots on Goal: 4 | 3
Saves: 3 | 3
Corner Kicks: 0 | 6
Fouls: 14 | 14
Offside: 0 | 2
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
ELP – Chapa Herrera (Caution), 43’
COS – Matthew Mahoney (Caution), 46’
COS – Jimmy Ockford (Caution), 57’
COS – Dantouma Toure (Caution), 72’
ELP – Jose Aguinaga (Caution), 85’
COS – Andre Lewis (Caution), 90’+4
ELP – Eder Borelli (Caution), 90’+4