El Paso Locomotive FC's tenacity paid off in a dramatic showdown against New Mexico United in the third round of the U.S. Open Cup, clinching their first victory over their rivals and a maiden spot in the competition’s Round of 32. The match took a high-stakes turn when El Paso scored in stoppage time and secured their progress with a 4-1 win in penalty kicks, as reported by KTSM.
Daniel Carter and Andy Cabrera were the heroes for the Locomotive with a goal each, the latter's crucial equalizer in the 96th minute forcing the match into extra time. Despite a commanding lead by United earlier in the match, with goals from Marlon Vargas and Jaylin Lindsey, they were unable to maintain their advantage, eventually falling to the pressure of penalty kicks. According to KRQE, the defeat sends United out of the Cup but does not affect their standings in the USL, where they are currently tied for second place.
In a detailed match recap, TheCup.US depicted the match as a tale of two halves. El Paso showed an aggressive front from the onset, marked by Carter’s 20th-minute header. The encounter was not just a test of skill but also composure, with several yellow cards and emotional flare-ups punctuating the play. New Mexico responded with a 39th-minute equalizer from Vargas, and Lindsey's second-half go-ahead goal, which seemed to set the stage for a United win until Cabrera's last-gasp strike sent the game to extra time.
Neither team could break the deadlock in the 30 minutes of extra time, leading to a penalty shootout that saw El Paso showcase their accuracy from the spot. As KTSM described, El Paso outscored New Mexico 4-1 in PK’s, while United's attempts were in vain, with misses from Gedion Zelalem and Kalen Ryden. The victory sets El Paso Locomotive on a path to face an as yet unnamed MLS opponent, a significant step for a club continuing to build its momentum and history in the sport.
