Locomotive Heads to Albuquerque for Derby Del Camino Real Matchup against New Mexico United
USL El Paso Locomotive FC

Locomotive Heads to Albuquerque for Derby Del Camino Real Matchup against New Mexico United

Published on May 6, 2026 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
El Paso Locomotive FC News Release


EL PASO, TEXAS - El Paso Locomotive FC returns to Derby del Camino Real action on Wednesday, May 6, traveling to Albuquerque, N.M., for a 7 p.m. MT showdown against New Mexico United at RGCU Field at Isotopes Park. Locomotive enters the rivalry matchup looking to bounce back in league play while carrying momentum from a dominant 4-0 victory over New Mexico in Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup action earlier this season.

Watch: CBS Sports Golazo Network & ESPN+

Listen: SiriusXM Channel 157

Be sure to follow @eplocomotivefc on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook for live updates of the match. Additionally, fans are encouraged to download the team's official mobile app on the Apple App Store or Google Play for instant access to mobile tickets, team content, and match notifications.

MATCH NOTES

FULL STEAM AHEAD

El Paso Locomotive FC hits the road for the second of four matchups in the Derby del Camino Real on Wednesday, May 6 at RGCU Field at Isotopes Park in Albuquerque, N.M. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. MT and will be televised on CBS Sports Golazo Network. The match will also be streamed on Sirius XM channel 147.

Locomotive FC is looking to bounce back from back-to-back USL regular season losses against San Antonio FC (L, 2-3) and FC Tulsa (L, 1-4).

BY THE NUMBERS (USL Championship)

Record: 4-2-1

Goals: 17 scored, 12 conceded

Shots: 68 total, 39 on target (25.0%)

Rubio Rubín & Amando Moreno: 9 combined goals (team leaders); Rubín-5, Moreno-4

Clean Sheets: 2

Fouls: 98 drawn, 101 committed

Discipline: 20 yellow cards, 2 red cards

LAST TIME OUT

USL Championship Regular Season

El Paso Locomotive FC fell 4-1 to FC Tulsa on April 29 at Southwest University Park, dropping their second straight league match. Down to 10 men after a Gabi Torres red card in the 11th minute, El Paso trailed 1-0 at halftime before Alex Méndez converted a 57th-minute penalty to level the match. Tulsa responded immediately with Rémi Cabral's second goal of the night, then added two more through Nelson Pierre and Kalil ElMedkhar to secure the result. The loss marks a season-high four goals conceded in regular season play for Locomotive.

LAST TIME OUT VS NEW MEXICO UNITED

El Paso Locomotive FC earned a commanding 4-0 road win over New Mexico United in the first 2026 Derby del Camino Real meeting at UNM Soccer Stadium, advancing to the Third Round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Álvaro Quezada opened the scoring in the 37th minute, and after New Mexico was reduced to 10 men early in the second half, Alex Méndez, Rubio Rubín, and Eric Calvillo each added goals to seal the dominant result.

ALL-TIME SERIES VS NEW MEXICO UNITED

El Paso Locomotive FC holds a 6-7-8 record across all competitions against New Mexico United, with a +2 goal differential (29 GF, 27 GA). Locomotive has found recent success in the series, winning two of the last three meetings, including a dominant 4-0 road victory in the 2026 U.S. Open Cup. Matches between the clubs have been tightly contested, with eight draws and 10 of the 21 meetings decided by one goal or fewer, highlighting the competitive nature of the Derby del Camino Real.

DERBY DEL CAMINO REAL

El Paso Locomotive FC enters the matchup with one of the top scoring attacks in the USL Championship, featuring multiple players ranked among the league leaders (three total) in goals, while New Mexico United does not have a scorer producing at that same level. Locomotive earned a 4-0 victory over New Mexico on April 1 in U.S. Open Cup play, with four different goal scorers showcasing the club's attacking depth.

The matchup will feature El Paso's high-powered offense, which has produced 15 goals in six matches, going up against New Mexico's defensive structure. Locomotive has also found success on the road, scoring 10 goals in three away matches this season. Key factors to watch include the impact of Rubio Rubín and Amando Moreno against the New Mexico back line, Alex Méndez's influence on set pieces, and Locomotive's ability to convert chances early away from home.

HOME VS AWAY SPLIT

El Paso Locomotive FC has found strong success on the road in 2026 league play, posting a perfect 3-0-0 record away from home while outscoring opponents 10-2, including two shutouts and a +8 goal differential. In contrast, Locomotive has faced challenges at Southwest University Park with a 1-1-2 record, conceding 11 goals while scoring eight for a -3 goal differential. Despite controlling possession in multiple home matches, recent results have tilted in favor of opponents, highlighting a stark contrast between the club's road dominance and home form early in the season.

STRONG START vs. RECENT FORM

El Paso Locomotive FC opened the 2026 campaign unbeaten through its first five matches (4-0-1), outscoring opponents 15-6 with a +9 goal differential and recording two shutouts. During that stretch, Locomotive averaged 3.0 goals per match while allowing just 1.2, showing balance on both sides of the ball, particularly in road wins where they scored 10 goals and conceded only two. However, momentum has shifted in the last two matches, both at home, where Locomotive has suffered back-to-back losses while conceding seven goals and scoring just three (-4 GD).

STAYING ON RED

El Paso Locomotive FC has been issued three red cards during the 2026 campaign, with two coming as straight dismissals and one via accumulation. Eric Calvillo was sent off in the 55th minute at Sacramento Republic FC after receiving a second yellow card, while Kofi Twumasi saw a straight red in the 25th minute at Houston Dynamo FC in U.S. Open Cup play. Most recently, Gabi Torres was shown a straight red just 11 minutes into the match against FC Tulsa. The early dismissals have played a significant role in recent results, forcing Locomotive to play extended stretches a man down.

PLAYING THROUGH ADVERSITY

Despite being reduced to 10 men in multiple matches this season, El Paso Locomotive FC has continued to push the tempo offensively, generating 21 combined shots in matches against Houston and FC Tulsa while maintaining near-even possession. However, early red cards (coming as soon as the 11th and 25th minutes) have proven decisive, forcing Locomotive to play extended stretches with 10 players and contributing directly to recent results.

MÉNDEZ DELIVERS FROM SET PIECES

Alex Méndez's converted penalty in the 57th minute against FC Tulsa marked his third goal of the 2026 season, with all three coming from set pieces. Méndez previously found the net on a free kick in the 63rd minute at New Mexico United in U.S. Open Cup play on April 1, and converted a penalty in the 37th minute at Sacramento Republic FC on March 28, continuing his strong impact in dead-ball situations.

ATTACKING LEADERSHIP

Rubio Rubín leads El Paso Locomotive FC with five goals and two assists in six matches, pacing a balanced attack that has seen five different players find the back of the net. Amando Moreno adds four goals, while Alex Méndez has contributed three goals and one assist, with his impact largely coming from set-piece opportunities.

CHANCE CREATION & VOLUME

Locomotive continues to generate strong attacking numbers, led by Rubio Rubín's 15 shots (eight on target) and Alex Méndez's 12 shots (eight on target). Amando Moreno (nine shots, seven on target) and Diego Abitia (six shots) have also been active in the final third, highlighting a multi-layered offensive approach.

LOCOMOTIVE AMONG LEAGUE LEADERS

El Paso Locomotive FC features one of the most productive attacks in the USL Championship, with both Rubio Rubín and Amando Moreno ranking among the league's top scorers. Rubín sits tied at third in the league with five goals and adds two assists to rank tied for sixth, while Moreno has four goals - tied for eighth, placing both players firmly among the league's leading attackers.

MULTI-THREAT ATTACK

Locomotive is one of six teams with multiple players in the league's top scoring group, highlighting its depth in the final third. Alongside Rubio Rubín and Amando Moreno, Alex Méndez has also contributed from midfield with multiple goals, giving El Paso three players ranked among the league's top attacking contributors early in the season.

OFFENSIVE FIREPOWER

As a team, Locomotive ranks among the most dangerous offenses in the league, averaging 2.8 goals per match and leading the USL Championship in total goals scored early in the season. This attacking output has been a key factor in the club's strong start and ability to generate results, particularly on the road.

Check out the El Paso Locomotive FC Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



United Soccer League Championship Stories from May 6, 2026


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central