USL El Paso Locomotive FC

El Paso Locomotive FC Tops FC Tulsa on 3-1 Victory

May 5, 2022 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
El Paso Locomotive FC News Release


EL PASO, Texas - El Paso Locomotive (3-5-1, 10 points, West-8) recorded a 3-1 win over Eastern Conference foe FC Tulsa at Southwest University Park on Wednesday night. Forward Lucho Solignac scored a brace while Midfielder Dylan Mares recorded a goal and an assist in the night.

"We created good chances," said Head Coach and Technical Director John Hutchinson "Of course we expect to win the game, but sometimes when teams go down to 10 men they sit behind the ball and it's hard to break them down. I thought we got behind and broke them down really well, we just didn't have too much luck in the front of goal. The goals we scored were very good. It's just about being professional and putting in a professional performance and we had done that tonight. We take the points, we'll come in tomorrow, look at the video, prepare Friday and have another difficult game Saturday.

The match got off a fiery start with Tulsa finding the opening goal within the first three minutes off a free kick opportunity. The cross from Matshidiso Moloto found the head of J.J. Williams to provide Tulsa with an early lead that was just as quickly nullified by Locomotive. After switching the play on the field, Midfielder Christiano Francois found Mares unmarked at the penalty spot to head the ball into the goal for an equalizer. Locomotive's offensive continued as the club tested Tulsa's goalkeeper Sean Lewis. Locomotive gained an advantage in the 33rd minute however as the referee showed Moloto a red card leaving Tulsa down to 10 men for the remainder of the match.

Locomotive ran away in the second half, testing the FC Tulsa defense with 7 shots on goal, finding two through Solignac. The first game in the 64th minute with a half volley within the six-yard-box that slipped through Lewis' legs and into the corner of the net for what ultimately became the game-winning goal. Lucho once again put the game to sleep with a goal in the 89th minute finishing a team goal that started with the flick from Francois before landing at Mares who cut the pass to Lucho to secure the 3-1 win and the three points at Southwest University Park.

UP NEXT: El Paso Locomotive has another fast turnaround as it welcomes LA Galaxy II to Southwest University Park on Saturday, May 7 in a match that will be closed out with a fireworks show. Fans can purchase tickets to Saturday night's match online at eplocomotivefc.com/tickets or by calling 915-235-GOAL.

GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN

TUL: J.J. Williams (Matshidiso Moloto), 8th minute: Off a set-piece, Moloto sent the ball in the far post where Williams jumped head above the rest to head it into the back of the net.

ELP: Dylan Mares (Christiano Francois), 11th minute: In a switched play, Locomotive caught FC Tulsa ball watching as Dylan Mares stayed front and center at the goal. Francois expertly chipped the ball to find Mares unmarked as he headed it in to equalize.

ELP: Lucho Solignac (Aaron Gomez), 64th minute: Starting from a cross from Christiano Francois that was headed into the air by an FC Tulsa defender, Gomez headed it back central to find Lucho who put in the half volley through the legs of the FC Tulsa goalkeeper into the back of the net.

ELP: Lucho Solignac (Dylan Mares), 89th minute: Again, beginning from a beautiful flick from Francois to find Mares, the Locomotive midfielder cut the ball back in the center to find Lucho on a run in the middle of the box. Lucho redirected in on an open net to put the game to bed 3-1.

NOTES:

- Forward Lucho Solignac scored another brace to make it five goals in three games.

- Locomotive recorded its first back-to-back wins in the 2022 USL Championship season after picking up two 3-1 wins over Loudoun United and FC Tulsa.

- Locomotive continues to move up in the rankings, claiming the 8th spot in the West immediately following the result on Wednesday.

Match: El Paso Locomotive vs FC Tulsa

Date: May 4, 2022

Venue: Southwest University Park

Weather: 85F and clear skies

Scoring Summary 1 2 F

El Paso Locomotive 1 2 3

FC Tulsa 1 0 1

TUL - J.J. Williams (Matshidiso Moloto), 8'

ELP - Dylan Mares (Christiano Francois), 11'

ELP - Lucho Solignac (Aaron Gomez), 64'

ELP - Lucho Solignac (Dylan Mares), 89'

Lineups:

El Paso Locomotive FC (4-3-3): Evan Newton; Eder Borelli (Nick Hinds, 91'), Andrew Fox, Yuma (Matt Bahner, 62'), Chapa Herrera (Harry Brockbank, 62'), Richie Ryan (Eric Calvillo, 91'), Dylan Mares, Diego Luna, Ricardo Zacarias (Aaron Gomez, 62'), Christiano Francois, Lucho Solignac

Subs not used: Philipp Beigl, Shavon John-Brown

FC Tulsa (4-2-3-1): Sean Lewis: Jorge Corrales, Ronald Rodriguez (Johnny Fenwick, 86'), Adrian Diz Pe, Matheus Silva, Eric Bird, Joaquin Rivas (Kembo Kibato, 69'), Matshidiso Moloto, Petar Cuic (Maduabuchi Obinwa, 80'), Rodrigo da Costa (Marlon Ramirez, 80'), J.J. Williams

Subs not used: Austin Wormell, Alberto Membrila, Jesus Hernandez

Stats Summary: ELP | TUL

Shots: 17 | 6

Shots on Goal: 11 | 2

Saves: 1 | 8

Corner Kicks: 12 | 0

Fouls: 10 | 10

Offside: 5 | 1

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:

TUL - Matshidiso Moloto (Ejection), 8'

TUL - Rodrigo da Costa (Caution), 11'

TUL - J.J. Williams (Caution), 55'

TUL - Petar Cuic (Caution), 74'

ELP - Eder Borelli (Caution), 84'

ELP - Matheus Silva (Caution), 85'

Check out the El Paso Locomotive FC Statistics



United Soccer League Championship Stories from May 5, 2022


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