El Paso Locomotive (1 win, 2 draws, 1 loss) currently sits in 2nd place in Group C, one point clear of (but having played one game more than) Colorado Springs Switchbacks in 3rd.
The team is coached by Englishman Mark Lowry, who enjoyed a brief non-league playing career before making the switch to coaching. Lowry was part of the coaching staff at Orlando City’s academy and with Jacksonville Armada before being named as El Paso’s first head coach. He is known for expecting his teams to play a patient, possession-based style of football.
As El Paso only started play last season, they have met Rising just twice in their history. Phoenix has won both of those matches.
The most recent clash between the sides came in August 2019 at Casino Arizona Field. José Aguinaga gave the hosts the lead, but that was quickly cancelled out by Edson Partida. Just before the break, James Kiffe was sent off for violent conduct after elbowing Solomon Asante in the face. Despite the man advantage, Rising couldn’t create a winner from open play, but a penalty allowed Asante to claim all three points for Rising.
Rising coach Rick Schantz gave some insight on El Paso’s team in this week’s press conference:
LAST TIME OUT
El Paso’s last match saw them host New Mexico United for the second successive game. The visitors took control of the match before the break, with strikes from Chris Wehan and Devon Sandoval giving them a two goal advantage. Josué Gómez gave his side a chance with a late penalty, and Logan Ketterer saved one at the other end, but the hosts failed to find their equalizer.
Logan Ketterer was between the posts for that match, as he has been for each of El Paso’s games this season. Since joining Locomotive from Columbus Crew, he’s missed just two league games. He kept 13 clean sheets last season, and already has two under his belt this year.
Bryam Rebellón played at right back. Like Ketterer, he’s been with El Paso since the team’s first season. He’s more experienced in the US lower leagues, though, with previous clubs including Swope Park Rangers, Jacksonville Armada and LA Galaxy II. Expect to see Rebellón push forward where possible – he’s averaging two attempted crosses per game. Throughout his career, Rebellón has a good record against Rising when he plays. In fact, El Paso’s loss at Casino Arizona Field last season was the first time in four career appearances that Rebellón was on the losing end against Phoenix Rising or Arizona United.
Center-back Chiró N’Toko had the captain’s armband against New Mexico. Born in Congo DR, N’Toko has previously featured for Dutch sides ADO Den Haag and NAC Breda. He’s looked good in the air this season, winning six of seven aerial duels. That’s something of a surprise to those who saw him play last year, when the 6-foot-3 defender won just 42.1% of them.
Mechack Jérôme played alongside him last week. The Haitian international – who featured in his country’s Gold Cup campaign last summer and has over 70 caps – is yet another returnee for Mark Lowry’s side. He was a key player in the opening stretch of last season, appearing in ten of the club’s first 11 games. He didn’t make a single appearance for Locomotive after that until the start of this season, but has played in all four of his side’s games in 2020. With his physicality and aerial presence, Jérôme provides a strong presence at the back.
Andrew Fox, previously of Stevenage, Peterborough and Grimsby in the English Football League, played out at left back. After a lengthy spell of games in a more central position last season, Fox must be confident at returning to his more natural spot. In fact, he’s already recorded almost double the number of crosses from open play, despite only playing four games instead of 30. He also found the net against New Mexico, after scoring just two last year. His assist against Rising last year was the only one that he recorded in 2019.
Richie Ryan was identified by Rising coach Rick Schantz as the best passer in El Paso’s midfield, and with a completion percentage over 90% last season, it’s hard to argue. The 35-year-old Irishmen, who has previously featured for Sunderland, Royal Antwerp and Dundee United, brings experience to the side. While an important part of El Paso’s team from a defensive midfield position, don’t expect him to be dangerous in front of goal. Ryan’s last goal came five years ago with Ottawa Fury in NASL, and his last assist came in the 2018 season with FC Cincinnati.
Alongside him in the middle of the park against New Mexico was Nick Ross. Ross is yet to miss a minute this season, after being a key fixture in the Locomotive lineup last year. The 27-year-old Scot started his career with Inverness Caledonian Thistle, and picked up a Scotland U-21 cap during his time with the club. Prior to signing for El Paso, Ross was with semi-professional side Brora Rangers of the Scottish Highland League. Watch for Ross to look over to his right when passing, as he’s played the ball in that direction more than twice as often as the left during the four games this season.
Midfielder/winger Saeed Robinson has been in and out of the team this season, playing in two of the games and never managing more than 45 minutes. Robinson previously played for Grand Canyon University, and also under Rick Schantz at FC Tucson in 2013. He won’t be a stranger to Rising’s fans, either, featuring in eight games against either Phoenix or Arizona United while with Colorado Springs Switchbacks. He scored during three of those, and he’s been on the winning side for five.
Yuma has featured in all of El Paso’s games this season, although only two of those appearances were starts. Much like Ryan, he’s a solid passer in the middle of the park, but he isn’t that much of a threat in front of goal. Outside of NPSL, it appears that the Spaniard has never actually found the net. That shouldn’t be much of a surprise, as he only took five shots in 26 games last year, with none on target. He’s already managed to get one attempt on target this season, so maybe it’ll finally be the 34-year-old’s season.
Marios Lomis was the only new arrival among El Paso’s starters last week, joining from North Carolina over the winter. The striker has played in all four of Locomotive’s games this season, but has still to score his first goal. He only managed 11 over his two season spell in Raleigh, and the majority of those came off his right foot.
Lomis’ partner last week was Omar Salgado. An El Paso native, Salgado has previously played in the MLS with the Vancouver Whitecaps. The strong, 6-foot-4 forward doesn’t have the best goalscoring record, though. He’s never scored more than three in a season throughout his career, but is already off the mark this year, scoring against New Mexico after missing the first two games due to suspension.
Coming off the bench at the back last week was Drew Beckie. In the opening matches of this campaign, Beckie has somehow managed to earn himself two yellow cards, despite committing just three fouls. The former Canadian youth international joined El Paso mid-season last year from OKC Energy, but missed a lot of game time from September onwards. Beckie is a regular at second tier level in the US, playing in USL and NASL since 2013.
Think that two yellow cards from three fouls is bad? How about two from two? Dylan Mares boasts that dubious statistic through this early season. A new acquisition for El Paso, he was brought on at half-time against New Mexico last week. Mares impressed last season with Miami FC in NPSL and NISA, scoring 11 goals for the club. In just his second El Paso game, the attacking midfielder scored the winner to give his side a 1-0 victory over Rio Grande Valley.
Distel Zola is a new addition to the El Paso squad, and has appeared in all four games so far this season. Originally from Paris, but an international for Congo DR, Zola was courted by PSG and Auxerre as a youngster before joining Monaco’s academy. He never actually appeared for the club, and has since spent most of his career in the French Ligue 2, predominantly with Le Havre. He joined El Paso after a season in the Championnant National (French 3rd tier) with Tours.
Josué Gómez is back on loan with Locomotive this season. He scored eight goals in 2019 for El Paso, two of which came in the playoffs. Gómez hasn’t started this year badly either, converting the penalty that brought them back into the game against New Mexico last week, and setting up Mares’ winner over RGV. He’s currently on loan from FC Juarez, a team that Gómez has been on the books with for his entire professional career.
From the Ashes Prediction: El Paso’s playing style is unlikely to expose Rising’s weaknesses. Phoenix to take all three points.