El Paso Locomotive FC Rescue Draw Against Phoenix Rising FC After Heroic Comeback
USL El Paso Locomotive FC

El Paso Locomotive FC Rescue Draw Against Phoenix Rising FC After Heroic Comeback

Published on August 30, 2025 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
El Paso Locomotive FC News Release


PHOENIX, Arizona - In the first two meetings between El Paso and Phoenix this season, the club from Arizona found late equalizers to prevent Los Locos from securing three points. Tonight, Locomotive flipped the script.

In a wild come-from-behind affair, El Paso Locomotive FC fought back from three goals down to secure a 3-3 draw on Saturday night at Phoenix Rising FC Stadium.

After a red card brought Phoenix down to ten men, Locomotive took advantage and found the back of the net three times in the final 25 minutes. Ricky Ruiz found himself with the tying goal in the 98th minute to keep Locomotive in the third place in the Western Conference.

The hosts came out of the gate firing scoring just seven minutes into the first half. Locomotive dominated chances and possession but could not cut into the early deficit. Things looked even more bleak for Los Locos when Phoenix scored two goals within the first eight minutes after the break. A red card in the 63rd minute, however, would turn the match on its head.

Amando Moreno got the scoring started for Locomotive in the 73rd minute with a sensational volley off a cross from Ruiz. Gabi Torres turned in another goal just eight minutes later to put the hosts on red alert. After several threats in stoppage time, Ruiz then found himself in the right place at the right time to save a point for Locomotive.

GAME NOTES

Amando Moreno scored his seventh goal in league play this season.

Gabi Torres continued to torment his former club as he scored his third goal against Phoenix this season across all competitions.

Ricky Ruiz recorded his first goal and assist in league play this season.

FORECAST: 87ºF, partly cloudy

SCORING SUMMARY

- ELP - Amando Moreno 73' (Ricky Ruiz), Gabi Torres 81' (Kofi Twumasi), Ruiz 90'+8'

- PHX - Ihsan Sacko 7' (Daniel Flores), 47' (Kelvin Arase), Darius Johnson 53' (Arase)

LINEUPS

ELP - (4-3-3) Jahmali Waite, Ricky Ruiz, Kofi Twumasi, Palermo Ortiz-C, Alvaro Quezada, Gabi Torres, Frank Daroma (Emiliano Rodriguez 60'), Eric Calvillo, Amando Moreno, Beto Avila (Noah Dollenmayer, 79'), Christian Sorto (Robert Coronado 60')

Subs Not Used: Sebastian Mora-Mora, Wahab Ackwei, Tony Alfaro, Bryan Romero

PHX - (4-2-3-1) Patrick Rakovsky, Daniel Flores (Rafael Czichos 76'), Carl Sainté, Ascel Essengue, Pierce Rizzo, John Scearce, Noble Okello, Darius Johnson (Ryan Flood 76'), Hope Avayevu (Pape Boye 65'), Ihsan Sacko (Xian Emmers 76'), Kelvin Arase (Charlie Dennis 57')

Subs Not Used: Triston Henry, Dariusz Formella, Tristan Shaw, Remi Cabral

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

ELP - Palermo Ortiz (Yellow) 9', Frank Daroma (Yellow) 55', Amando Moreno (Yellow) 81'

PHX - Ascel Essengue (Yellow) 25', John Scearce (Yellow) 58'), Essengue (Red) 62', Patrick Rakovsky (Yellow) 72', Noble Okello (Yellow) 82', Carl Sainté (Yellow) 90'+9'

MATCH STATS: ELP | PHX

GOALS: 3|3

ASSISTS: 2|3

POSSESSION: 38|62

SHOTS: 21|4

SHOTS ON GOAL: 5|3

SAVES: 0|2

FOULS: 23|11

OFFSIDES: 1|2

CORNERS: 1|13

UP NEXT: El Paso Locomotive FC return home to face Loudoun United on Saturday, September 6 at 7 p.m. MT. at Southwest University Park. The match will be streamed on ESPN+, KVIA.com and the KVIA News app.

Check out the El Paso Locomotive FC Statistics

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United Soccer League Championship Stories from August 30, 2025


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