The El Paso Locomotive’s turnaround from the 2024-2025 is one only comparable to a ‘Crazy Train’, as just last year they had won only three matches midway through the United Soccer League Championship’s (USL) season. Despite a rally late in the year, the Locomotive ended up with eight wins, earning them last place in the USL’s Western Conference.
One season later, the Locomotive has revved up and are in the fight for a spot at the top of the USL table, holding six wins halfway through the season.
Yet the Locomotive’s attempt to go from worst to first came to a screeching halt after suffering a 2-1 defeat to in-state rival San Antonio FC, knocking them down from second place in the Western Conference, to third.
“Today was in my opinion the worst game that we have played of the season,” Head Coach of the El Paso Locomotive William Cabrera said. “[We] continued making individual mistakes in the back. It’s sad, with the ball we were unrecognizable.”
San Antonio FC came into the match sitting at fourth place in the Western Conference trailing El Paso in the table only by goal difference. That stat quickly changed, as in the 10th minute of the match, striker and Major League Soccer (MLS) veteran Juan Agudelo took advantage of an inaccurate pass by Alvaro Quezada to knock the ball through the top of the left crossbar to earn San Antonio a 1-0 advantage.
At the 41st minute San Antonio FC had another chance to score off the leg of former MLS player Luke Haakenson, but Locomotive defender Wahab Ackwei’s challenge denied Haakenson the opportunity to score.
Trailing by a goal right before the end of the half, Head Coach Cabrera’s son, William Cabrera Jr., formerly drafted by MLS club Chicago Fire in 2023, took a chance with a shot from the top of the penalty box but was rejected by means of a leaping save by San Antonio goalkeeper Daniel Namani, protecting San Antonio’s 1-0 lead through halftime.
Arriving at the 66th minute, Locomotive midfielder Frank Daroma decided to shoot outside the penalty box, causing Namani to make another leaping save to the left of the goal. Right after the shot, speeding in came Amando Moreno, a former MLS and Liga MX player. Moreno shot to the right post while Namani was attempting to get back up to challenge the shot but it was too late, as Moreno claimed the Locomotive’s first goal of the night to draw both teams at one.
At the 82nd minute a costly foul committed by the Locomotives set up San Antonio with a free kick to the right of the goal. Initially, El Paso cleared it out of the goal box, but the clearance sent the ball right to San Antonio midfielder Dominick Hernandez, who in one touch made a high pass across the goal and into the possession of a wide-open teammate Alex Crognale.
Crognale, who was acquired by San Antonio this past offseason, aimed for the far-right post and finished, quieting the record breaking 8,432 fans in attendance, the largest crowd the Locomotive has ever drawn in their seven-year franchise history.
The pressure was back on El Paso, but what unfolded in the final minutes were missed shots and a red card given to Moreno.
“Some players were really below the level that we are used to,” Cabrera said after the game. “Today was a really poor performance by the team.”
San Antonio FC now sits at second place in the USL Western Conference with seven wins as well as an easier path to claiming the division two Copa Tejas– a trophy that is given out to the best Texas team in the USL. The cup also has a division one trophy given to the best Texas team in the MLS.
As fireworks crackled through the night sky overlooking Southwest University Park on the USA’s 249th Independence Day, all that occupied the minds of the Locos was how to respond after their loss.
“I think today is one of those days that the team, in fairness, didn’t play well. Now we have to somehow forget about this game. We need to prove to ourselves that we are a better team,” Head Coach Cabrera said.
The El Paso Locomotive will play away, July 12 against Sacramento Republic FC, who is currently fifth in the USL’s Western Conference.
Sebastian Perez-Navarro is the multimedia editor for The Prospector and can be reached at [email protected] or Instagram and X @sebastianpn8, and on LinkedIn @sebastianperez-navarro.