Soccer Roundup: Locos Split, Bravas Romp and Bravos Eliminated

It was a weekend that saw two of the three MountStar Sports Group soccer teams get wins. El Paso Locomotive FC picked up its first win at home this season on Saturday night against Miami FC. The Friday night before, the FC Juarez Bravas traveled to Mazatlan to pick up their second win in a row, while the Bravos fell short losing to the Colorado Rapids being eliminated from the 2024 edition of the Leagues Cup in the process.

El Paso Locomotive pick up first home win but lose on the road

El Paso Locomotive FC fans breathed a sigh of relief Saturday night when El Paso defeated Miami FC by the score of 2-1. The one goal difference in the final score does not give justice to how dominant the Locomotive were in the process to their first home win of the 2024 season.

The score at halftime was 1-0 as a result of a stoppage time goal by Robert Coronado (45+1). A corner kick found its way to Coronado’s left foot, getting it past Miami goalkeeper Khadim Ndiaye. It was a first half that was completely dominated by the Locos. A two or three goal lead wouldn’t have surprised anyone, there were several close calls on goal by El Paso.

The second goal came in the 66th minute of the match. A diagonal through ball found Amando Moreno who was in an all out sprint toward the opposing goal. Once he took control of the ball he did not hesitate to take a right footed strike that he put away just to the left of the right post.

The clean sheet was ruined for El Paso goalkeeper Jahmali Waite with seconds to go in the match when Luisinho scored from well outside the Locomotive goalbox. The goal was an absolute banger, a left footed strike that has to be nominated for the goal of the week.

After the match Locomotive head coach, Wilmer Cabrera, stated he felt that a piano had been lifted from his and his team’s shoulders. Cabrera dedicated the win to the fans and acknowledged that they were indebted to the fans. As for the the team’s performance Cabrera said, “The team was really solid. The team executed well what we were practicing throughout the week. We were practicing to be more solid with the ball, to control (all aspects) and today we controlled the game.” El Paso is now on the road for three matches in a row in the state of California. They will no longer play any matches at home for the remainder of August.

Lat night, the Locomotive were shut out 2-0 by Sacramento Republic FC. Sacramento scored first in the 31st minute courtesy of Kieran Phillips. El Paso would manage to keep the game tight in the second half but in the final minutes, Republic's Jared Timmer struck one in to double the lead and secure three points for Sacramento. El Paso remains at the bottom of the table in the Western Conference with 16 points. With the win, Sacramento has sole possession of second place in the West, just four points behind New Mexico.

The Locos will play again this Saturday night in Southern California against Orange County SC. The Western Conference Quarterfinal rematch will kickoff on CBS Sports Golazo Network at 8 p.m. MT.

Bravas put blank Mazatlan enroute to their second straight win

Utter domination. That is the only way to describe FC Juarez’s win over Mazatlan on Friday night in the state of Sinaloa. The Bravas destroyed Mazatlan by the score of 6-0 to give the Bravos second straight victory.

The Bravas scored two goals in the first half and four in the second. The nearly two hour weather delay at halftime did not affect FC Juarez at all whatsoever. Annia Mejia was the player of the match scoring two goals and she is a defender for the Bravas.

The win moves the Bravas up the general standings table to 10th place, two places and only 1 point out of the last playoff spot (8th place which is currently being held by Chivas with 7 points on the season). Juarez has currently six points on the season as a result of their last two wins

Up next the Bravas will host Monterrey on Friday night at Benito Juarez Olympic Stadium. Match is scheduled to kickoff at 9 p.m. MST.

Bravos fall in Colorado to Rapids, eliminated from Leagues Cup

FC Juarez fell just short last Friday night, losing to the Colorado Rapids by the score of 3-2 in what was arguably one of best matches thus far in the 2024 edition of the Leagues Cup.

The Bravos took the lead in the 18th minute when Angel Zaldivar scored off a rebound. 10 minutes later a juvenile mistake by Bravos captain Francisco Calvo led directly to the first goal by the Rapids. Colorado took the lead toward the end of the first half (45th minute) when a handball was called on Juarez awarding the home team a penalty kick that was converted. To give Colorado a 2-1 lead at halftime.

The lead for the Rapids was extended in the 59th minute when on cross from a corner kick led to a soft header the went in between the legs of Calvo to make the score 3-1. A penalty kick was called in Bravos’ favor in the 70th minute when a Colorado defender took out Aviles Hurtado in the goalbox. Hurtado converted to make it 3-2.

The Bravos had chances right up to a pair of shots on goal in stoppage time but it was not meant to be as Juarez was sent packing in the round of 32 for the second year in a row.

The team from the Borderland must now wait until Saturday, August 24 to return to Liga BBVA MX action when they travel to Auguascalientes to face Necaxa.