Overview: SAC @ ELP
- Date: Saturday, October 17
- Kickoff: 6:00 p.m.
- Location: Southwest University Park (El Paso, Tecas)
- Watch at Home: FOX40+, FOX40.com, ESPN+
Know Your Club – Republic FC
With the postseason just weeks away, Republic FC heads out on the road for its final away match of the regular season – a key late-season test against current Western Conference leader El Paso Locomotive FC.
Last weekend, the Indomitable Club clinched its 12th playoff berth with a 1-1 draw against Colorado Springs Switchbacks. After conceding a goal early in the second half, Republic FC fought its way back into the match and with the energy of the sold-out home crowd behind it, the club got its equalizer in the 75th minute. Memo Rodriguez was brought down in the box, setting up Kyle Edwards to add his ninth goal of the season from the penalty spot.
“This was like a playoff game, a playoff atmosphere,” said Republic FC Head Coach Neill Collins after the match. “That’s what it’s going to be like. I don’t think anyone in the Western Conference is going to go into the playoffs without that intensity and experience because there have already been a lot of games like this across the board.”
The result marked Republic FC’s 11th straight undefeated match – tied for the longest streak in club history – and was the fourth straight come-from-behind performance. So far this season, the squad has gained 12 points from a losing position – double last year’s tally.
“Each game is not over until it’s over. We fight to the end,” said forward Kyle Edwards. “If we go down, we just keep the same mentality. We don’t try and do anything different or out of the ordinary. We keep the same momentum.”
Know Your Opponent – El Paso Locomotive FC
El Paso enters the match with a clear path to securing the West’s #1 seed with home field advantage for its final two regular season matches. But with Republic FC (currently #3) and New Mexico United (currently #2) slated to come into Southwest University Park the last weekend of the regular season, this will be a crucial stretch for El Paso as it looks to finish atop the table.
The Locomotive clinched a home playoff match following last week’s 2-1 win over Orange County SC. Amando Moreno put Los Locos on the board first. A long cross from Beto Avila was headed toward goal by Ricky Ruiz, and Moreno got his foot out to tap it past the keeper. El Paso doubled the lead just before halftime. With a two-on-one advantage in transition, Eric Calvillo slotted a lateral pass to Jimmy Farkarlun who found the back of the net.
The Locomotive offense is among the top in the league. They currently lead the Western Conference with 48 goals and have only been shut out three times, the best mark across the USL. Much of this success has come from offseason addition Rubio Rubin, who leads the Golden Boot race with 16 goals.
Last Time Out
These two Western Conference contenders met all the way back in Week 4 of the season. After El Paso found the back of the net twice in the first half, Republic FC cut the lead in half in second half stoppage time, but ultimately the clock ran out and the Locomotive came away with all three points.
