EL PASO, Texas – El Paso Locomotive rallied twice from a one-goal deficit to take their first victory against regional rival New Mexico United in the all-time series between the clubs as Dylan Mares’ late winner earned a 3-2 victory at Southwest University Park.

New Mexico looked to get out to a typical fast start and within a minute Amando Moreno had fired a looping shot that forced El Paso goalkeeper Logan Ketterer into the first save of the night. In the 13th minute, though, Moreno controlled well on a counterattack before beating a defender to get into the penalty area and then played a pass to David Estrada to finish after drawing Ketterer into a potential one-on-one.

Locomotive FC almost answered in the 25th minute when a cross from the right by Bryam Rebellon eluded Omar Salgado at the near post but ran to Andrew Fox in the left side of the penalty area for a low shot to the near post that United goalkeeper Cody Mizell turned behind. Off the ensuing corner, however, the hosts struck as Macauley King was left alone at the back post to head home Mares’ corner kick to even the score.

The hosts immediately threatened to take the lead as Josue Aaron Gomez found space in the left side of the penalty area for a narrow-angle shot that flashed through the six-yard area and wide of the far post.

Five minutes before halftime, however, New Mexico regained the lead. After turning possession over in El Paso’s half the ball was worked to Moreno, and he was brought down from behind by King, resulting in a penalty kick. Devon Sandoval stepped up to the spot and shot straight down the middle as Ketterer dove early to put United back ahead.

New Mexico threatened to add to its lead in first-half stoppage time as Josh Suggs joined the attack on the left and was found by Sandoval for a curling shot that was kept out by Ketterer. King then got another chance from a corner kick for the hosts eight minutes into the second half, but his reaction finish from the right side of the penalty area went wide of the right post.

Locomotive FC got back on level terms on the hour-mark, though, as United defender Austin Yearwood saw a cross by Gomez deflect off him and into his own net. Mares then almost gave El Paso the lead with 17 minutes to go as he flashed a shot just wide of the right post from the top-left edge of the penalty area.

Both teams went on the hunt for a winner late on as New Mexico’s Romeo Parkes fired a curling shot that drifted well wide in the 84th minute. With two minutes remaining, though, Salgado got free on the left side and cut back a cross for Mares that the midfielder drove home into the left corner of the net.

United had one final chance to notch an equalizer as Parkes delivered an angled cross from the right channel into the penalty area, only for Kalen Ryden to not get full purchase on his header allowing the hosts to clear, and that would be enough for El Paso to clinch a key victory in the postseason battle for first place between the two rivals.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Dylan Mares, El Paso Locomotive FC – Mares notched the late game-winner for the hosts and had an assist, three key passes and completed 29 of 35 passes overall in a strong attacking performance.