The 2020 El Paso Locomotive FC season was the second season for El Paso Locomotive FC in the USL Championship (USLC), the second-tier professional soccer league in the United States and Canada.[2] This article covers the period from November 18, 2019, the day after the 2019 USLC Playoff Final, to the conclusion of the 2020 USLC Playoff Final, scheduled for November 12–16, 2020.[3]
| 2020 season | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Mark Lowry |
| Stadium | Southwest University Park, El Paso |
| USL | Conference: 4th Group C: 1st |
| USL Cup Playoffs | Conf. Finals |
| 2020 U.S. Open Cup | Cancelled |
| Copa Tejas | Not held[1] |
| Average home league attendance | 1,458 (Overall) 3,188 (Pre-Covid) 1,423 (Post-Covid) |
| Biggest win | SLC 0–4 ELP (Oct. 4) |
| Biggest defeat | PHX 1–3 ELP (Aug. 1) |
Club edit
Roster edit
- As of July 7, 2020[4]
| No. | Position | Player | Nation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GK | Logan Ketterer |  United States
|
| 2 | DF | Drew Beckie |  Canada
|
| 3 | DF | Chiró N'Toko |  Belgium
|
| 4 | DF | Mechack Jérôme |  Haiti
|
| 5 | DF | Éder Borelli |  Mexico
|
| 6 | MF | Richie Ryan |  Ireland
|
| 7 | MF | Dylan Mares | United States
|
| 8 | MF | Nick Ross |  Scotland
|
| 9 | FW | Omar Salgado | United States
|
| 10 | FW | Leandro Carrijó |  Brazil
|
| 11 | MF | Saeed Robinson |  Jamaica
|
| 12 | GK | Jermaine Fordah |  England
|
| 14 | FW | Marios Lomis |  Netherlands
|
| 19 | DF | Andrew Fox | England
|
| 20 | MF | Chapa Herrera | United States
|
| 21 | MF | Distel Zola |  DR Congo
|
| 22 | DF | Moses Makinde | England
|
| 23 | MF | Memo Diaz | United States
|
| 24 | MF | Yuma |  Spain
|
| 25 | DF | Bryam Rebellón |  Colombia
|
| 26 | FW | Aarón Gómez (on loan from Juárez) | Mexico
|
| 71 | MF | Fabrice Fokobo |  Cameroon
|
Competitions edit
Exhibitions edit
| January 29 Preseason 1 | El Paso Locomotive FC | 7–0 | Texas United | El Paso, TX |
Zola  Herrera , Unannounced Player Rebellón Trialist Trialist |
Report |
| February 5 Preseason 2 | El Paso Locomotive FC | 0–1 | FC Cincinnati | Tucson, AZ |
Makinde  24'Zola 71' |
Report | Alashe 81' |
Stadium: Kino Sports Complex |
| February 7 Preseason 3 | El Paso Locomotive FC | 6–2 | San Antonio FC | El Paso, TX |
| 1st half' Salgado 2nd half'Lomis 2nd half'Bosetti 2nd half'Beckie 2nd half' 2nd half' |
Report | Di Renzo 1st half' Gallegos 1st half' |
| February 15 Preseason 4 | El Paso Locomotive FC | 1–4 | New Mexico United | El Paso, TX |
| Zola 2nd half' |
Report | Parkes 5' Makinde 35' (o.g.)Sergi 2nd half'Sergi 80' |
Stadium: Westside Training Fields Attendance: closed-door |
| February 19 Preseason 5 | FC Juárez | 0–2 | El Paso Locomotive FC | Juarez, Mexico |
| Report | Ross 10' Robinson 32' |
| February 22 Preseason 6 | El Paso Locomotive FC | 0–1 | North Texas SC | Texas |
| Report | Fazio 2nd half' |
| February 26 Preseason 7 | OKC Energy FC | 0–3 | El Paso Locomotive FC | Tucson, AZ |
| Report | Lomis 20' Bosetti 2nd half'Salgado 3rd period' |
|||
| Note: 120-minute scrimmage. | ||||
USL Championship edit
Standings — Group C edit
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | PPG | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | El Paso Locomotive FC | 16 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 24 | 14 | +10 | 32 | 2.00 | Advance to USL Championship Playoffs |
| 2 | New Mexico United | 15 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 23 | 17 | +6 | 27 | 1.80 | |
| 3 | Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC | 16 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 19 | 28 | −9 | 13 | 0.81 | |
| 4 | Real Monarchs | 16 | 3 | 2 | 11 | 14 | 25 | −11 | 11 | 0.69 |
Source: USL
Match results edit
On December 20, 2019, the USL announced the 2020 season schedule, creating the following fixture list for the early part of El Paso's season.[5]
| March 6 1 | Orange County SC | 0–0 | El Paso Locomotive FC | Irvine, CA |
| 8:00 PM (MST) | Report | Fox 53' Rebellón 58' |
Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 3,188 Referee: Michael Radchuk |
In the preparations for the resumption of league play following the shutdown prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the remainder of El Paso's schedule was announced on July 2.[6]
| July 11 2 | El Paso Locomotive FC | 1–0 | Rio Grande Valley FC Toros | El Paso, TX |
| 7:30 PM | Beckie 30' Monsalvez 38' Mares 78', 83' |
Report | Murphy 79' Castellanos 85' Legault 90+5' |
Stadium: Southwest University Park Referee: Ismir Pekmic |
| July 15 3 | El Paso Locomotive FC | 2–2 | New Mexico United | El Paso, TX |
| 8:00 PM MDT | Rebellón 37' Salgado 40', 43' Fox 45+5' Jérôme 84' Mares 90+6' |
Report | Wehan 11' Tinari 49' Parkes 53' Sandoval 76' (pen.) |
Stadium: Southwest University Park Referee: Chris Ruska |
| July 24 4 | El Paso Locomotive FC | 1–2 | New Mexico United | El Paso, TX |
| 7:30 PM MDT | Beckie 69' Gómez 86' (pen.), 87' N'Toko 90+6' |
Report | Wehan 35' Sandoval 45+4' Guzmán 76' Mizell 87' |
Stadium: Southwest University Park Referee: Matthew Thompson |
| August 1 5 | Phoenix Rising FC | 3–1 | El Paso Locomotive FC | Scottsdale, AZ |
| 7:30 PM MDT | Dadashov 19' (pen.) Asante 36'Flemmings 45+6'Lambert 67'Dick 90+6' |
Report | Gómez 15' Yuma 21'Beckie 40' |
Stadium: Casino Arizona Field Referee: Alan Martinez |
| August 8 6 | El Paso Locomotive FC | 4–2 | Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC | El Paso, TX |
| 7:30 PM MDT | Mares 15', 90+2' Gómez 21' Diaz 23' Herrera 66', 68' |
Report | Reaves 14' Quintero 36' Luna 82', 90+1' Burt 87' |
Stadium: Southwest University Park Referee: Jonathan Bilinski |
| August 15 7 | Real Monarchs | 0–1 | El Paso Locomotive FC | Herriman, UT |
| 8:00 PM MDT | Brown 44' Moberg 65' Blake 76' Powder 80' |
Report | Herrera 34' Ross 50' Ketterer 89' |
Stadium: Zions Bank Stadium Referee: Brad Jensen |
| August 22 8 | Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC | 0–0 | El Paso Locomotive FC | Colorado Springs, CO |
| 6:00 PM MDT | Quintero 18' Volesky 89' |
Report | King 16' Rebellón 51' Ryan 82' |
Stadium: Weidner Field Attendance: 1,000 Referee: Laura Rodriguez |
| August 29 9 | El Paso Locomotive FC | 2–1 | Real Monarchs | El Paso, TX |
| 7:30 PM MDT | Rebellón 24', 86' Zola 49' Kallman 53' |
Report | Blake 24' Powder 34' Coffee 81' |
Stadium: Southwest University Park Attendance: 801 Referee: Elton García |
| September 2 10 | Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC | P–P | El Paso Locomotive FC | Colorado Springs, CO |
| 5:00 PM MDT | Stadium: Weidner Field | |||
| Note: Match postponed due to the COVID exposure of a person in the Switchbacks' organization.[7] | ||||
| September 5 11 | El Paso Locomotive FC | 3–2 | New Mexico United | El Paso, TX |
| 7:30 PM (MDT) | King 25', 40' Yearwood 60' (o.g.) Fox 82' Mares 88' Beckie 90' |
Report | Estrada 13', 44' Sandoval 41', 52' Muhammad 70' Wehan 89' |
Stadium: Southwest University Park Attendance: 1,519 Referee: Malik Badawi |
| September 12 12 | El Paso Locomotive FC | 2–1 | San Antonio FC | El Paso, TX |
| 7:30 PM MDT | Gómez 40' (pen.) Fox 43' Salgado 84' King 90+4' Taintor 90+4' (o.g.) |
Report | Montgomery 39' Solignac 45' (pen.) Marcina 52' PC 69' Perruzza 83' Taintor 90+3' |
Stadium: Southwest University Park Attendance: 1,519 Referee: Michael Radchuk |
| September 16 13 | El Paso Locomotive FC | 2–0 | Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC | El Paso, TX |
| 7:00 PM MDT | Robinson 53' King 57' Salgado 74' Monsalvez 85' |
Report | Daniels 26' |
Stadium: Southwest University Park Attendance: 1,519 Referee: Marco Vega |
| September 19 14 | El Paso Locomotive FC | 1–0 | Real Monarchs | El Paso, TX |
| 7:30 PM MDT | Borelli 45+3' Ryan 79' |
Report | Blake 47' Moberg 78' Ávila 87' Brown 89' |
Stadium: Southwest University Park Attendance: 1,519 Referee: Ismir Pekmic |
| September 26 15 | El Paso Locomotive FC | 0–0 | New Mexico United | El Paso, TX |
| 7:30 PM (MDT) | Borelli 28' Rebellón 41' Ryan 52' Carrijó 68' |
Report | Moreno 36' Tetteh 88' |
Stadium: Southwest University Park Attendance: 1,669 Referee: Ricardo Fierro |
| September 30 10 | Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC | 0–0 | El Paso Locomotive FC | Colorado Springs, CO |
| 7:00 PM MDT | Quintero 11' |
Report | Robinson 57' |
Stadium: Weidner Field Referee: Elvis Osmanovic |
| Note: Reschedule of postponed match from September 2nd.[8] | ||||
| October 4 16 | Real Monarchs | 0–4 | El Paso Locomotive FC | Herriman, UT |
| 2:00 PM MDT | Davis 48' Jasso 50' Giménez 86' Flores 90+3' |
Report | Mares 8' Gómez 68' King 70' Robinson 78', 87' Diaz 83' |
Stadium: Zions Bank Stadium Attendance: 343 Referee: Brad Jensen |
USL Championship Playoffs edit
| October 10 Conf. Quarterfinals | El Paso Locomotive FC | 2–2 (a.e.t.) (4–2 p) | FC Tulsa | El Paso, TX |
| 7:30 p.m. MDT | Carrijó 19', 82' Borelli 67' Rebellón 96' |
Report | Bird 24' da Costa 38' Chapman-Page 61', 68',  101' |
Stadium: Southwest University Park Attendance: 1,659 Referee: Brandon Stevis |
| Penalties | ||||
Ross  Rebellón Ryan Robinson |
Altamirano  Moloto Martínez Bourgeois |
|||
| October 17 Conf. Semifinals | El Paso Locomotive FC | 1–1 (a.e.t.) (5–3 p) | New Mexico United | El Paso, TX |
| 7:30 p.m. MDT | Mares 30' Borelli 50' Gómez 52' Diaz 112' |
Report | Hamilton 38' Moreno 53' Parkes 90+5' |
Stadium: Southwest University Park Attendance: 1,659 Referee: Jon Freemon |
| Penalties | ||||
| Borelli Ross Ryan Robinson Zola |
Sandoval Wehan Ryden Parkes |
|||
| October 24 Conf. Final | Phoenix Rising FC | 1–1 (a.e.t.) (4–2 p) | El Paso Locomotive FC | Scottsdale, AZ |
| 7:30 PM MDT | Schweitzer 18' Farrell 95'Asante 109'Lowe 113' |
Report | Yuma 4' King 54'Rebellón 59', 94'Herrera 105+2'Diaz 106'Ryan 108'Carrijó 111' |
Stadium: Casino Arizona Field Referee: Elton García |
| Penalties | ||||
| Bakero Whelan Farrell Moar |
Carrijó Ross Ryan Gómez |
|||
U.S. Open Cup edit
As a USL Championship club, El Paso will enter the competition in the Second Round, to be played April 7–9.[9] It was announced on 29 January that their first opponent would be NISA side Detroit City FC.[10]
| 8 April 2020 Round 2 | Detroit City  | P–P |  El Paso Locomotive FC | Hamtramck, Michigan |
| 19:30 EST | Stadium: Keyworth Stadium | |||
| Note: Match postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic[11] | ||||
References edit
- ^ "Copa Tejas". Archived from the original on August 12, 2020. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
- ^ "Austin Bold FC Announces Full 2019 USL Championship Schedule". Retrieved February 16, 2019.
- ^ "USL Championship Unveils 2020 Schedule". Retrieved February 1, 2020.
- ^ "Roster". www.eplocomotivefc.com.
- ^ "USL Championship Unveils 2020 Schedule". Retrieved January 22, 2020.
- ^ "El Paso Locomotive FC Unveils 2020 Return To Play Schedule". eplocomotivefc.com. July 2, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
- ^ "Switchbacks FC Match Against El Paso Rescheduled". USLChampionship.com. August 31, 2020. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
- ^ "Switchbacks FC Match Against El Paso Rescheduled". USLChampionship.com. August 31, 2020. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
- ^ "Restructured Competition Format For 2020 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Provides Opportunity For More "David vs. Goliath" Matchups In 107th Edition Of U.S. Soccer's National Championship". U.S. Soccer Federation. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
- ^ "2020 U.S. OPEN CUP SECOND ROUND PAIRINGS AND HOST SCENARIOS". Retrieved January 29, 2020.
- ^ "U.S. Soccer Temporarily Suspends 2020 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Due to COVID-19 Outbreak". ussoccer.com. March 13, 2020. Retrieved March 15, 2020.