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El Paso, Texas: Locomotive Beat San Antonio FC 2-1 to Reach USL Playoff Semifinals

Rubio Rubin scored in the 14th minute and Tony Alfaro headed in a second nine minutes after halftime at Southwest University Park on Friday night. Diogo Pacheco pulled one back late, but El Paso held on for its first postseason win since 2020.

By Orbit Post2 min read
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El Paso, Texas: Locomotive Beat San Antonio FC 2-1 to Reach USL Playoff Semifinals

Key points

  • El Paso Locomotive FC beat San Antonio FC 2-1 at Southwest University Park on Friday night, October 30, in the Western Conference Quarterfinals of the 2026 USL Championship Playoffs.
  • Rubio Rubin put El Paso ahead in the 14th minute.
  • Nine minutes into the second half, Tony Alfaro powered in a header from a Robert Coronado cross off a short corner routine to make it 2-0.

El Paso Locomotive FC beat San Antonio FC 2-1 at Southwest University Park on Friday night, October 30, in the Western Conference Quarterfinals of the 2026 USL Championship Playoffs. The No. 3 seed scored early in each half, survived a late San Antonio push, and advanced to the conference semifinals for the first time since 2020.

Rubio Rubin put El Paso ahead in the 14th minute. Alex Mendez played a through ball to Beto Avila breaking down the left, Avila crossed low, and Rubin tucked the ball home from close range. Rubin then saved his own team at the other end in the 28th minute, clearing a Mitchell Taintor effort off the line after a San Antonio corner.

A second goal, then a tense finish

Nine minutes into the second half, Tony Alfaro powered in a header from a Robert Coronado cross off a short corner routine to make it 2-0. The league report said it was Alfaro's second goal of the season. Locomotive goalkeeper Abraham Romero tipped a long-range Emil Cuello shot over the bar four minutes after the Alfaro goal. Romero finished with five saves.

San Antonio scored in the 84th minute. Cristian Parano crossed deep from the right, Luis Paredes trapped the ball and set up Diogo Pacheco, who shot into the opposite corner. Omar Mora hit the crossbar from eight yards a minute later for El Paso, and Amando Moreno had an effort cleared off the line by Curt Calov, but the hosts saw out the closing minutes.

What the win means

The league said the win was El Paso's first home victory over San Antonio since August 4, 2021, a span of 1,913 days. Rubin was named player of the game, with the opening goal, two chances created and four of five duels won, according to the league report. San Antonio logged 14 shots and seven on target, according to the league, but could not find a second goal.

For San Antonio, the loss ended a seventh playoff appearance in 11 seasons and a second straight first round exit. Head coach Carlos Llamosa said his team fell asleep on two plays and that cost them the game. Defender Alex Crognale said finishing sixth, after spending much of the season near the top, forced San Antonio to open the postseason on the road, and that came back to hurt them.

El Paso now plays a Western Conference Semifinal next, with a first trip to the Western Conference Final since its second season in 2020 in reach, the league said.

Timeline

  1. Aug 4, 2021El Paso's last home victory over San Antonio FC before Friday night, a span of 1,913 days, according to the league.
  2. Oct 30, 2026Rubin scores in the 14th minute and Alfaro heads in a second in the 54th at Southwest University Park. Pacheco scores for San Antonio in the 84th, and El Paso holds on 2-1 in the Western Conference Quarterfinal.
  3. Oct 31, 2026The league publishes its match report at 1:28 a.m. EDT, confirming El Paso's first postseason victory since 2020 and a place in the conference semifinals.

Sources