EL PASO, Texas – Dylan Mares scored his first goal for Locomotive FC to hand the hosts a late victory against the Toros at Southwest University Park on Saturday night.
Chances were limited in the first half with the Toros’ Robert Castellanos sending a header wide of the left post off a free kick the only serious opportunity for either side. El Paso picked up the pace to start the second half and almost took the lead in the 50th minute when Mechack Jerome launched a long-range free kick just wide of the right post.
Andrew Fox also had a low shot saved midway through the second half by Toros goalkeeper Paul Blanchette, and Mares saw a free kick deflect off the defensive wall and clip the outside of the right post with nine minutes to go. Two minutes later, however, Mares broke forward to run onto a knockdown by Josue Aaron Gomez and fired a low shot just past Blanchette for Locomotive FC’s first goal of the campaign, and that proved the difference between the Texas rivals.
