Club News

El Paso Locomotive FC kicks off its second consecutive run through the USL Championship playoffs, hosting a Western Conference Quarterfinal against FC Tulsa on Saturday, October 10. Kickoff from Southwest University Park is set for 7:30 p.m. MT and will be broadcast live on El Paso – Las Cruces CW and ESPN+.

Locomotive FC secured the right to host a playoff match with its dominating 4-0 win over Real Monarchs on Sunday, putting to bed any doubt that it was the team at the top of Group C. An early 8th-minute goal from Dylan Mares started the scoring for Locomotive, paving the way for the commanding second-half performance that saw a goal from Aaron Gomez and the brace by Saeed Robinson. The full three points lifted Locomotive out of the reach of New Mexico United, clinching Group C for the Sun City.

With an undefeated streak of 11 games and a streak of four clean sheets, the Locos Blue has momentum behind it going into the USL Championship playoffs. The first challenge on the track to the trophy comes in the form of a hot FC Tulsa side that is on a three-game win streak that clinched a playoff position out of Group D. After a series of home matches, Locomotive boasts a home record of 7-1-2 through 2020, making a fortress out of Southwest University Park. Los Locos will now put that record to the test against FC Tulsa’s run of form, despite the visitors holding a 2-1-4 record on the road.

Follow El Paso Locomotive FC vs FC Tulsa – Sat., October 10, 2020

·         Coverage Begins: 7:30 p.m. MT
·         Local TV: El Paso – Las Cruces CW
·         Digital Streaming: ESPN+
·         Social Media: @EPLocomotiveFC & #ELPvTUL on Twitter
·         Additional Content: Official El Paso Locomotive FC App (iOS / Android)

In the final week of the USL Championship Regular Season, El Paso Locomotive FC recorded two clean sheets in a hard-fought scoreless draw against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC and a dominating 4-0 victory over Real Monarchs. Donning the captain’s armband and playing a pivotal role in each match to earn a spot on the USL Championship Week 15 Team of the Week was Yuma.

Playing the full 180 minutes across both matches, Yuma completed a staggering 132 of 135 passes (98%) while winning 75% of his duels. The Spaniard helped secure the two clean sheets to keep the undefeated run going by making 10 tackles, nine clearances and four interceptions, to gain possession for Los Locos an incredible 13 times against both Colorado Springs and the Monarchs.

The veteran presence in the holding midfield and the versatility to drop into the center back position, the 34-year-old defender is a commanding force in the Locomotive defending third. Yuma’s world-class display through a tight week earned him a nod on the USL Championship Team of the Week for Week 15.

The Championship’s Player of the Week is selected by the USL National Media Panel, which is made up of representatives from each media market in the Championship.

See below for the full USL Championship Team of the Week for Week 15, presented by Cleer Audio:

USL Championship Team of the Week – Week 15

GK – Rafael Diaz, Sacramento Republic FC: Diaz recorded an eight-save shutout as Republic FC took a 4-0 victory against the Portland Timbers 2 on Saturday night to close the club’s regular season at Papa Murphy’s Park.

D – Yuma, El Paso Locomotive FC: The Spaniard helped Locomotive FC record two shutouts over the week, winning 12 of 16 duels and four interceptions while completing 132 of 135 passes as El Paso claimed first place in Group C.

D – Duke Lacroix, Charlotte Independence: Lacroix put in a strong shift as the Independence shut out North Carolina FC to clinch first place in Group G with a 1-0 win, winning 7 of 9 duels and 2 of 2 tackles, while completing 46 of 51 passes.

D – Danny Reynolds, Tacoma Defiance: Reynolds recorded two assists across two games, won 9 of 13 duels and made 10 clearances as Tacoma faced Sacramento Republic FC and Reno 1868 FC to conclude its regular season.

M – Kembo Kibato, Rio Grande Valley FC: Kibato recorded a pair of assists and completed 22 of 24 passes overall while winning 5 of 8 duels and 2 of 2 tackles in the Toros’ 4-2 victory against OKC Energy FC to close the regular season.

M – Sam Stanton, Phoenix Rising FC: Stanton scored twice as Rising FC ended its regular season with a 4-1 win against the LA Galaxy II, and also completed 27 of 33 passes and recorded four interceptions.

M – Dariusz Formella, Sacramento Republic FC: Formella had two goals and one assist as Republic FC scored four goals in the opening 25 minutes against the Portland Timbers 2 on Saturday night at Papa Murphy’s Park.

M – Sebastian Velasquez, Miami FC: Velasquez had two goals and one assist across two games as Miami wrapped up the season with wins against the Charleston Battery and Atlanta United 2, while completing 30 of 38 passes overall.

F – Cal Jennings, Memphis 901 FC: Jennings capped his first professional season with a hat trick against Birmingham Legion FC on Saturday night, while recording four shots on goal and completing 2 of 3 dribbles.

F – Chandler Hoffman, Orange County SC: Hoffman recorded his second hat trick in the Championship as Orange County SC took a 4-2 victory against Las Vegas Lights FC, while also completing 12 of 14 passes and recording four shots overall.

F – Augustine Williams, LA Galaxy II: Williams scored three goals across two games, including a pair of tallies as Los Dos clinched a place in the 2020 Championship Playoffs with victory against Orange County SC, and completed 29 of 35 passes for the week.

Bench: Brandon Miller (CLT), Rodrigo Da Costa (TUL), Wal Fall (STL), Ema Twumasi (ATX), Fredlin Mompremier (SKC), Stavros Zarokostas (CHS), Tobenna Uzo (TUL)

El Paso Locomotive FC (9-2-5, 32 points) sealed the top seed of Group C with a 4-0 win over Real Monarchs at Zions Bank Stadium on Sunday. Dylan Mares opened the scoring early, while Aaron Gomez doubled the lead before Saeed Robinson sealed the deal with a brace. Meanwhile, Logan Ketterer recorded his league-best eighth clean sheet of the season.

El Paso dominated Zions Bank Stadium from the opening whistle, holding 68% of possession throughout the first half, keeping Real Monarchs from getting a shot on goal. The Locomotive possession game was highlighted through the trademark passing game of Coach Lowry’s style. The tactics paid off early in the eighth minute after Mechack Jerome connected a long pass with Macca King, who read the field to put the ball center at the top of the box for Mares to tuck away into bottom right for an early lead.

The Monarchs were able to pick up the pressure after the halftime break, testing the ironclad Locomotive defense with a series of corners that Los Locos handled with ease, keeping the Monarchs without a shot on goal. El Paso Locomotive doubled its lead through Gomez in the 68th minute, cleaning up the spill inside the box shortly before Robinson netted the Locos third, calmly playing around the Monarchs defense to open the shot on goal.

Robinson put the nail in the coffin with a late 87th minute goal, capitalizing on a bad back pass to beat Monarchs goalkeeper Jimmy Slayton. The clinical offense paired with the defensive cohesion secure the full three points for Locomotive FC, definitively claiming Group C for the Sun City.

UP NEXT: Locomotive return to Southwest University Park on the Track to the Trophy! The first match of the playoffs kicks off at 7:30 p.m. MT on Saturday, October 10 when Locomotive FC hosts FC Tulsa in the Western Conference Quarterfinals.

GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN

ELP: Dylan Mares (Macca King), 8th minute: Picking up from a lobbed ball forward from Mechack Jerome, King read the field perfectly to send the ball center at the top of the box where Mares struck gold, tucking the ball neatly into the bottom corner for the opening goal.

ELP: Aaron Gomez, 68th minute: After shots from Dylan Mares and Leandro Carrijo were deflected back into the box, Gomez stood in wait to clean up the spill with a smooth strike towards the net. While a Monarchs defender got a touch, it wasn’t enough to stop the ball from finding the back of the net to double the Locomotive lead.

ELP: Saeed Robinson (Dylan Mares), 78th minute: Latching on to the pass from Mares, Robinson ran the ball down the left side of the pitch before cutting in towards the center. With patience, Robinson waited for his moment to create an opening on the near post, slotting home the third Locomotive goal of the night.

ELP: Saeed Robinson, 87th minute: Taking advantage of a bad back pass from the Monarchs defense, Robinson swiftly claimed the ball at the top of the 18-yard-line, rifling the ball past Jimmy Slayton for the nail in the coffin against Real Monarchs.

NOTES:

– The win at Zions Bank Stadium cemented Locomotive FC at the top of Group C, earning the right to play the Western Conference Quarterfinals at Southwest University Park.

– Logan Ketterer and his defensive backline held Monarchs off for the eighth clean sheet of the season, putting the Locomotive goalkeeper at the top of the league for clean sheets through the 2020 Regular Season

– Locomotive FC continued its club record undefeated streak, picking up the full three points at Zions Bank Stadium to extend the streak to 11

Match: El Paso Locomotive FC vs Real Monarchs

Date: October 4, 2020

Venue: Zions Bank Stadium; Herriman, Utah

Weather: 77F; clear and sunny

Scoring Summary                           1       2       F

El Paso Locomotive FC                    1      3        4

Real Monarchs                                    0      0        0

ELP: Dylan Mares (Macca King), 8’
ELP: Aaron Gomez, 68’
ELP: Saeed Robinson (Dylan Mares), 78’
ELP: Saeed Robinson, 87’

Lineups:

El Paso Locomotive FC (4-2-3-1): Logan Ketterer; Macca King (Memo Diaz, 80’), Eder Borelli, Mechack Jerome, Yuma, Dylan Mares, Aaron Gomez (Nick Ross, 80’), Richie Ryan (Distel Zola, 86’), Chapa Herrera, Bryam Rebellon, Leandro Carrijo (Saeed Robinson, 71’)

Subs not used: Jermaine Fordah, Drew Beckie, Moses Makinde

Real Monarchs (4-4-2): Jimmy Slayton, Zack Farnsworth, Michael Wetungu (Luis Arriaga, 69’), Steve Jasso, Nicolas Gimenez, Dayonn Harris, Sam Brown, Devin Vega (Kyle Coffee, 45’), Daniel Flores, Bode Davis (Esequiel Coronel, 59’), Nicholas Bellini (Ryan Sierakowski, 59’)

Subs not used: Gabriel Miranda, Gavin Beavers, Jaziel Orozco

Stats Summary: ELP/SLC

Shots: 9 / 7

Shots on Goal: 5 / 0

Saves: 0 / 1

Corner Kicks: 3 / 9

Fouls: 10 / 13

Offside: 3 / 2

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:

SLC – Bode Davis (Caution), 48’
SLC – Steve Jasso (Caution), 50’
ELP – Macca King (Caution), 70’
ELP – Memo Diaz (Caution), 83’
SLC – Nicolas Gimenez (Caution),86’
SLC – Daniel Flores (Caution), 93’

El Paso Locomotive FC ends its 2020 USL Championship regular season against Real Monarchs on Sunday, October 4 at Zions Bank Stadium. The afternoon kickoff is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. MT and can be watched live on ESPN+.

Los Locos maintained their spot at the top of Group C with a scoreless draw against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on last Wednesday. After a quiet first half, Locomotive earned its best chance of the night after Macca King sent a cross into the box to Aaron Gomez who redirected to the back post. Leandro Carrijo headed the effort towards goal where a Switchbacks defender stood in the right place at the right time. Logan Ketterer secured his seventh clean sheet of the season behind just one save as the defensive line in front him limited the Switchbacks’ shots on goal.

Now undefeated in 10 games, Locomotive plays its final game of the 2020 regular season on the road in a fight to keep momentum on its side moving into the USL Championship playoffs. After three rounds against the Monarchs in the abbreviated season, Locomotive so far sweeps the current title winners with a record of 3-0-0. El Paso could make it four for four on Sunday and move into the Western Conference Quarterfinals with confidence to start the track to the trophy.

Follow El Paso Locomotive FC at Real Monarchs – Sun., October 2, 2020

·         Coverage Begins: 2:00 p.m. MT
·         Local TV: N/A
·         Digital Streaming: ESPN+
·         Social Media: @EPLocomotiveFC & #SLCvELP on Twitter
·         Additional Content: Official El Paso Locomotive FC App (iOS / Android)

El Paso Locomotive FC (8-2-5, 29 points) held fast to the top of Group C with a scoreless draw against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on Wednesday night. The defensive stops marked Logan Ketterer’s sixth clean sheet of the season, while the team extended its undefeated streak to a club-record 10 games.

Mirroring the visit to Weidner Field in late August, Locomotive and Switchbacks played a quiet battle of possession through the first 45 minutes, neither side finding strong opportunities to open the scoring. While Locomotive made its way into in the final third, taking shots to earn back-to-back corner kicks, the Switchbacks backline held strong to stave off the high Locos offensive line. Meanwhile, Switchbacks had a pair of shots through the first half that flew wide of the frame, failing to truly test Ketterer’s keeping ability.

The pendulum continued to swing for both sides throughout the second half as early on, Macca King was able to rifle off a pair of shots that sailed just over the crossbar and played into Switchbacks goalkeeper Sean Melvin’s hands. While Saeed Robinson contributed a shot in the Locomotive attack, Ketterer kept the scoring level with a big catch of a rifled shot by Jordan Burt. Los Locos found control again, as Macca crossed a ball into the box that found Aaron Gómez, who headed back to find Leandro Carrijó to finish the play that ended with a goal-line clearance by the Switchbacks defense. The sixth Locomotive clean sheet in 2020 splits the points in Colorado Springs to maintain control at the top of Group C.

UP NEXT: Locomotive travels once again to close out the 2020 USL Championship Regular season against the current USL Championship title winners, Real Monarchs. The regular-season finale is set for Sunday, October 4 with the afternoon kickoff from Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman, Utah set for 2:00 p.m. MT.

NOTES:

– Locomotive traveled for a game for the first time since August 22, where it played against Switchbacks FC to play for 0-0 draw.

– The scoreless draw in Colorado Springs marks Logan Ketterer’s sixth clean sheet of the USL Championship 2020 season, making him third in the league for the stat.

– Locomotive FC extended its undefeated streak to 10 straight games, setting a new club-record and remains at the top of Group C heading into the final match of the season against Real Monarchs on Sunday.

Match: El Paso Locomotive FC vs Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC

Date: September 30, 2020

Venue: Weidner Field; Colorado Springs, Colorado

Weather: 89F; clear and sunny

Scoring Summary                           1       2       F

El Paso Locomotive FC                    0      0        0

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC   0      0        0

Lineups:

El Paso Locomotive FC (4-2-3-1): Logan Ketterer; Mechack Jerome, Macauley King, Eder Borelli, Memo Diaz (Dylan Mares, 62’), Yuma, Saeed Robinson (Bryam Rebellón, 82’), Drew Beckie, Distel Zola (Richie Ryan, 62’), Aaron Gómez, Leandro Carrijó

Subs not used: Jermaine Fordah, Chapa Herrera, Moses Makinde, Matt Bahner

Switchbacks FC (4-4-2): Sean Melvin, Everardo Rubio, Adrian Diz Pe, Jordan Burt, Joan Cervós, Hiroki Kurimoto, Rony Argueta, Aidan Daniels (Mamadi Camara, 85’), Luke Ferreira (Austin Dewing, 68’), Christian Volesky (Uvaldo Luna, 68’), George Lebese

Subs not used: Gage Robinson, Abraham Rodriguez, Vladimir Walent

Stats Summary: ELP/COS

Shots: 11 / 9

Shots on Goal: 2 / 1

Saves: 1 / 2

Corner Kicks: 8 / 4

Fouls: 12 / 10

Offside: 1 / 0

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:

COS – Everardo Rubio (Caution), 11’
ELP – Saeed Robinson (Caution), 57’

El Paso Locomotive FC (8-2-4, 28 pts, Group C – 1) at Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (2-6-6, 12 pts, Group C – 3)
Wednesday, September 30 | Weidner Field; Colorado Springs, Colorado
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. MT
ESPN+
@EPLocomotiveFC | #COSvELP

El Paso Locomotive FC and Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC meet for the final time in the 2020 regular season for a midweek matchup on Wednesday night. While Switchbacks have been mathematically eliminated from playoff contention and will only be playing for pride of the badge, Locomotive FC can claim a home playoff game with a win or a draw in Colorado Springs.

2020 Stats Snapshot (ELP/COS)
Goals For             20 / 19
Goals Against     14 / 26
Min/goal              63 / 66.3
Possession          54% / 52%
Passing Acc.        81.7% / 82.2%
Fouls                     165 / 173
Yellow Cards      36 / 22
Red Cards            0 / 1

Locomotive Run Down

The Locos Blue extended their undefeated streak to nine (7-0-2) on Saturday with a scoreless draw against New Mexico United, furthering the incredible run of form Mark Lowry’s side has been on. Heading to Colorado Springs, Locomotive has an opportunity to extend that undefeated streak to set a new club-record, remain undefeated through the month of September, while earning a second home playoff game in the club’s young existence.

Player to Watch: For a side that has run into a string of unfortunate injuries, look for the full team to step up and showcase the depth of the Locomotive roster. On the defensive side look towards Eder Borelli to continue to make waves in the left back position. Since coming on as a sub for Andrew Fox, Borelli has been box-to-box, fitting in perfectly with Lowry’s system to shut down the opposing attack, while providing additional width on the Locomotive offense to stretch out defenders. Borelli is a shining example of how deep this roster goes and will be one to watch on Wednesday night.

Switchbacks FC Run Down

Switchbacks have not had the best return to play, picking up only one win since the 2020 regular season restarted. The lone win was a late 2-1 upset victory over New Mexico United just a week ago that provided Locomotive FC with the four point lead it currently holds. The lackluster performances have mathematically removed Switchbacks from playoff contention, leaving the Colorado Springs side to play only for pride and the badge on the front of the jersey.

Player to Watch: Christian Volesky continues to be a saving grace for the Switchbacks side, acting as the teams leading goal scorer. A threat in the final third, Volesky has put away two goals in the last two games to equalize against Real Monarchs and earn the full three points over New Mexico United. With five goals in 15 appearances, look for Volesky to highlight the attack for Switchbacks FC and test the ironclad defense of Locomotive FC.

El Paso Locomotive FC goes on the road for the first time since August 1st to take on Group C opponent, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC in the penultimate match the of the 2020 regular season. Kickoff in Colorado Springs is set for Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m. MT.

Locomotive comes off the heels of a frustrating scoreless draw against New Mexico United on Saturday, after overpowering their Derby del Rio Grande rival on the field. Despite early chances that bounced off the woodwork in the early moments, Locomotive could not find the back of the net to gain the advantage on the score line. Two saves from Logan Ketterer paired with the work from an unfamiliar backline in the form of Yuma, Eder Borelli, Macca, and Mechack Jerome, sealed the fifth Locos clean sheet of the 2020 season. The draw keeps Locomotive four points above United on the Group C table while extending the undefeated streak to nine.

With the fight for first place in Group C still alive, Locomotive will aim to remain undefeated in the month of September – while setting a new club-record of undefeated in 10 games – by securing a home playoff spot with either a draw or a win over Switchbacks FC. Locomotive and Switchbacks last met at Southwest University Park on September 16th in a match that saw a 2-1 win for the El Paso side. The final meeting of 2020 will be played at Weidner Field, where the two sides struggled to get on the scoreboard, splitting the points for a 0-0 draw.

Follow El Paso Locomotive FC at Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC – Wed., September 30, 2020

·         Coverage Begins: 7:00 p.m. MT
·         Local TV: N/A
·         Digital Streaming: ESPN+
·         Social Media: @EPLocomotiveFC & #COSvELP on Twitter
·         Additional Content: Official El Paso Locomotive FC App (iOS / Android)

Locomotive Season Ticket Member Richard Garcia became the first and only winner of the Casa Flatbed Challenge this Saturday. After successfully kicking a soccer ball into the bed of a Ford-150 Raptor during halftime of the Locos match on Saturday, Garcia was notified that he would be the recipient of a 12-month lease on a truck courtesy of Casa Ford!

The Casa Flatbed Challenge has been played since the Locomotive inaugural season, Garcia became the first out of 21 contestants to successfully get the ball into the bed of the truck. (15 in 2019, 6 in 2020)

El Paso Locomotive FC (8-2-4, 28 points) monopolized a scoreless draw against a lackluster New Mexico United on Saturday in front of 1,669 fans at Southwest University Park. Despite outclassing their regional rivals, Los Locos couldn’t find the back of the net to secure the full three points.

“I don’t know how happy I am yet; I’m proud though,” said Head Coach and Technical Director, Mark Lowry. “I’m proud of the work. I can’t fault the guys tonight at all. I thought the heart and their spirit was just superb. I don’t want to sound happy with a point, I’m not. I’m not happy we didn’t score. We had chances, particularly in the first four or five minutes of the game but we will take the point and I just hope the injury list doesn’t get long.”

The Southwest Derby proved to be heated from the beginning as Locomotive came out of the gates strong against a physical United. Omar Salgado and Dylan Mares, along with a freekick opportunity from Mechack Jerome tested the United GK Cody Mizell early with shots bouncing off the frame and wide. While each side began to get into physical battles over control of the ball, the Locomotive offense continued to create chances, while the defensive side left New Mexico with only two shots and one on target which Logan Ketterer easily saved to keep everything level entering the break.

Locomotive picked up right where they left off when returning to the break, utilizing weak points in the United defense to slip the ball into dangerous areas for a goal, including Aaron Gomez getting within 6-yards only to be shut out by a scrambling Mizell. Taking advantage of their dominating possession, Locomotive opened another chance with a headed flick from Mares just wide of the net. Though Locomotive FC overshadowed their visitors, unlucky shots in the final third kept the four-point gap between the two on Group C.

UP NEXT: Locomotive goes on the road to face Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC in Round 4 of the 2020 series between the two. Kickoff from Weidner Field is scheduled for a midweek Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m. MT.

NOTES:

– The 2020 regular season home campaign came to a close for Locomotive behind a scoreless draw against New Mexico United.

– After splitting the points, Locomotive still stands four-points ahead of New Mexico on the Group C table.

– Los Locos move to nine games unbeaten (7-0-2) matching the club-best unbeaten streak in the 2019 inaugural season.

Match: El Paso Locomotive FC vs New Mexico United

Date: September 26, 2020

Venue: Southwest University Park; El Paso, Texas

Attendance: 1,669

Weather: 89F; clear and sunny

Scoring Summary                           1       2       F

El Paso Locomotive FC                    0      0        0

New Mexico United                             0      0        0

Lineups:

El Paso Locomotive FC (4-1-2-1-2): Logan Ketterer; Eder Borelli, Yuma, Mechack Jerome, Macca King, Richie Ryan, Chapa Herrera, Bryam Rebellon, Dylan Mares, Omar Salgado (Leandro Carrijo,18’), Aaron Gomez

Subs not used: Jermaine Fordah, Saeed Robinson, Drew Beckie, Distel Zola, Moses Makinde, Memo Diaz

New Mexico United (4-4-2): Cody Mizell; Sam Hamilton, Kalen Ryden, Austin Yearwood, Saalih Muhammad (Rashid Tetteh,86’), Juan Guzman (David Estrada, 45’) (Daniel Bruce, 86’), Josh Suggs, Andrew Tinari (Ryan Williams, 67’), Amando Moreno (Romeo Parkes, 86’), Chris Wehan, Devon Sandoval

Subs not used: Joris Ahlinvi, Philipp Beigl

Stats Summary: ELP/NM

Shots: 11 / 8

Shots on Goal: 2 / 2

Saves: 2 / 2

Corner Kicks: 4 / 3

Fouls: 13 / 21

Offside: 2 / 5

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:

ELP – Eder Borelli (Caution), 29’
NM – Amando Moreno (Caution), 36’
ELP – Bryam Rebellon (Caution), 41’
ELP – Richie Ryan (Caution), 52’
ELP – Leandro Carrijo (Caution), 68’
NM – Rashid Tetteh (Caution), 88’

El Paso Locomotive FC (8-2-3, 27 pts, Group C – 1) vs Real Monarchs (3-8-1, 10 pts, Group C – 3)
Saturday, September 26 | Southwest University Park; El Paso, Texas
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. MT
El Paso – Las Cruces CW | ESPN+ } Sirius XM FC
@EPLocomotiveFC | #ELPvNM

For the final time of the 2020 USL Championship Regular Season, El Paso Locomotive FC and New Mexico United meet at Southwest University Park. The match marks the sixth in the All-time series history that United leads with a record of 2-2-1. After their last meeting in early September, Locomotive FC dealt their first blow on the United perfect series record behind a 3-2 victory. Eager to keep that momentum going strong, Locomotive is looking to claim Group C for its own with a second win over their regional rivals.

2020 Stats Snapshot (ELP/NM)
Goals For             20 / 22
Goals Against     14 / 17
Min/goal              58.5 / 53.2
Possession          54% / 49%
Passing Acc.        81.9% / 78.1%
Fouls                     152 / 174
Yellow Cards      32 / 27
Red Cards            0 / 1

Locomotive Run Down

Behind a narrow 1-0 victory over the current USL Championship title winners Real Monarchs, El Paso Locomotive FC extended its club-historic winning streak to five as well as its undefeated streak to eight (7-0-1). The victory, paired with New Mexico United’s loss to Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC last weekend, puts the Locos Blue in a spot to control its own destiny. A win over their regional rival would give Locomotive claim to Group C and the right to host the USL Championship Western Conference Quarterfinals against either FC Tulsa or Austin Bold FC.

Player to Watch: For El Paso, movement in the middle of the park has been a key to success and Saeed Robinson has shown class with his passing through the final third. Over his last three appearances, Robinson has created two key chances for the Sun City, while completing 85% of his chances in that time. Paired his with the game-winning goal against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, Robinson is a player to watch for Locomotive FC.

New Mexico United Run Down

United have earned the title “The Road Warriors” this season, having only one official “home” game on record (a “home” matched played at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs). Despite traveling away from their Albuquerque home for the 2020 season, United has been able to come away with a record of 7-4-2 (23 points) to clinch a playoff berth. With the fight for first still going strong, United will be looking to bounce back from their 2-1 loss against Switchbacks to keep their dreams of claiming Group C alive.

Player to Watch: Amando Moreno has continued to be critical in the attacking front for New Mexico United throughout the 2020 season. Leading his team alongside Chris Wehan with 6 goals and 4 assists, Moreno has proven to be clinical on the wing. Against Real Monarchs, Moreno found the brace in the 40th and 65th minute, pairing with Wehan, after having provided an assist of his own to David Estrada in the match against Locomotive. With Moreno’s run of form and the support he and Wehan provide each other, Amando Moreno is the player to watch for New Mexico United.