El Paso Locomotive currently sit in 13th spot in the Western Conference, with 5 points from 4 games. Rising are in 17th position with 4 points.
This is the first ever meeting between the two sides as El Paso only joined USL this season. They will meet again in Arizona in August.
Rising are the fourth team to visit Southwest University Park in 2019. El Paso’s only road game to date was a goalless draw against Real Monarchs in week 2 (March 16).
El Paso leads USL in passing accuracy at 84%. Rising trail just behind in 2nd place with 82%.
This high passing accuracy has enabled El Paso to average almost 60% possession in their 4 league games to date. Expect them to control the ball on Saturday.
So far, they have a goal difference of zero. Four of the five goals they’ve conceded were shot from the goalkeeper’s left side. Four of the goals scored were shot close to or within the six-yard box.
The Usual Faces
Logan Ketterer has played every minute of this season in the El Paso goal. The former Columbus Crew benchwarmer has kept two clean sheets, but the stats suggest that’s more a reflection of El Paso’s strong defense than his shot-stopping prowess. In fact, he’s conceded five goals while making only four saves for Locomotive in the first four games.
Full back Bryan Rebellón has won the most tackles for El Paso (13 – almost double the second-placed player) and committed the most fouls (9). Nevertheless, he’s still to pick up a card this season. The 27-year-old Colombian moved to Texas in January from Swope Park.
From a disciplinary perspective, it’s a completely different story on the other flank. James Kiffe has picked up two yellow cards so far – one every other game – despite winning more fouls than he concedes. No stranger to the Western Conference, Kiffe featured for Sacramento and Reno before joining El Paso from the Charlotte Independence in the close season. Back in 2017, he featured in every single match for Sacramento, and was rewarded with a spot in the all-USL second team.
Chiró N’Toko, El Paso’s captain, is unlikely to give the ball away cheaply. He leads the team with an impressive 93.2% passing accuracy. Born in Congo DR, N’Toko boasts Eredivisie trio ADO Den Haag, Eindhoven and NAC Breda among his former clubs. He joined El Paso from Slovakian side FK Senica ahead of this season.
Melchack Jérôme is likely to complete the back four, having missed only one game due to international duty. An experienced defender with over 60 caps for Haiti, Jérôme is well regarded by his coaching staff for his ability to defend one-on-one. He joined Locomotive from the Jacksonville Armada, and has previously featured at MLS level for Sporting Kansas City.
Richie Ryan can be expected to pull the strings in the middle of the park. Like N’Toko, Ryan boasts a passing accuracy over 90% and has yet to miss a single minute of play. The 34-year-old Irishmen, who has previously featured for Sunderland, Royal Antwerp and Dundee United, brings added experience to the side.
Yuma has featured in central midfield for three of El Paso’s matches to date. The 33-year-old Spanish player began his career with Rayo Vallecano, and first moved to the U.S. with Rayo OKC in 2016.
Nick Ross has appeared in each game, but one of those appearances came off the bench. He’s scored once this year off his only shot – a left-footed strike from outside the area that opened the scoring in El Paso’s 2-2 draw against RGV. The 27-year-old Scot started his career with Inverness Caledonian Thistle, and picked up a Scotland U-21 cap during his time in the Highlands.
Omar Salgado has started all four games. He has been capped by the U.S. at various age levels, but struggled to score goals with any regularity throughout his career. This season has proven no different. He’s taken ten shots, half of which were on target, and none of which resulted in a goal. Salgado was signed by El Paso in June 2018, and loaned to Las Vegas Lights until the club made its USL bow.
Sebastian Contreras may not have the best passing accuracy, but he makes them count. So far, he has two assists to his name, and has completed 12 key passes – double that of his closest rival on the team. Expect the Argentinian attacking midfielder to test Rising’s back line.
Derek Gebhard is the final consistent starter in the squad, but is a doubt after leaving his last game with a hamstring injury. The 23-year-old forward joined from Jacksonville Armada. He is joint top scorer with two goals so far, coming against OKC and RGV.
The Rest of the Roster
With his performance against Orange County, Edson Partida made his case to be part of the starting XI. Partida’s brace off the bench, in just his second game of the season, lifted El Paso to a 2-0 victory. On loan from Mexican club Toluca, he has a dangerous left foot.
Winger Jerome Kiesewetter will be looking to immediately break into the side after joining earlier this month. Kiesewetter has been capped by the U.S. national team, and spent his career in Germany with Hertha Berlin, Stuttgart and Fortuna Düsseldorf. Pundits are tipping him as a key cog in any El Paso playoff push.
Andrew Fox dropped to the bench in El Paso’s last match. The left back joined the club from English Football League Two Grimsby Town. Fox made history in January 2019 as the first player in English football to be sent off after VAR review.
Josh Castellanos has featured off the bench in all four matches, but has struggled to impress. Less than half of the midfielder’s passes have been on target, and he hasn’t created very much.
Local 22-year-old midfielder Louis Herrera featured for ten minutes off the bench against RGV. He was picked up after scouts saw him at a local invitational tournament in December, and impressed in tryouts with the side.
Jermaine Fordah is the backup keeper. Not too much is known about Fordah. There are no records of him having played a single competitive match, but his previous clubs include New York Red Bulls II and West Ham United U-23.
From the Ashes Prediction: Rising to remain unbeaten, albeit with another 0-0 draw.