AUSTIN, Texas – Austin Bold FC will get back in action on Thursday night as it plays host to an undefeated El Paso Locomotive FC side at Bold Stadium in a Copa Tejas clash that will air on ESPN Deportes. Kickoff is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET.

@AustinBoldFC (1-1-1, 4pts) will be hoping for better weather after its most recent scheduled contest against Tacoma Defiance was washed out due to heavy rain and lightning in the area, but the hosts are coming off their first win of the season in their last outing, a 2-0 victory against Real Monarchs SLC on May 26 that saw Sean Okoli and Jorge Troncoso each find the net. Bold FC has built its way into the new season, and has been solid defensively over its past two outings with goalkeeper Elliot Panicco conceding only one goal while recording six saves. In a series that has seen drawn outcomes in the two prior meetings between the teams in 2019, Austin will be hoping to draw first blood and move ahead of El Paso in the standings.

@EPLocomotiveFC (1-0-2, 5pts) was in action on Sunday evening as it played to a 0-0 draw with Sporting Kansas City II at Children’s Mercy Park that saw the visitors stymied by a six-save shutout from SKC II goalkeeper John Pulskamp. Locomotive FC has posted back-to-back shutouts itself behind goalkeeper Adrian Zendejas, who is currently on loan from Minnesota United FC, but Thursday night could see the return to action of regular starter Logan Ketterer, who has spent the past three weeks with the Portland Timbers on an emergency short-term loan. Whichever goalkeeper gets the start will be playing behind a back line that is set to be without center back Mechack Jerome, who was called up for international duty by Haiti for its World Cup Qualifying matches this week, but El Paso has been impressive so far in its three games while allowing an Expected Goals Against mark of only 2.38, third-lowest in the league so far this season, which could make for a tight affair in Austin.

FiveThirtyEight.com Match Predictor: Austin Bold FC 38%, El Paso Locomotive FC 34%, Draw 28%

Most Recent Lineups

Austin Bold FC (3-4-3): Elliot Panicco; Amobi Okugo, Fabien Garcia, Gustavo Rissi; Xavier Baez, Emilio Ycaza, Juan Torres, Collin Fernandez; Sean Okoli, Stefano Pinho, Omar Gordon

El Paso Locomotive FC (4-3-1-2): Adrian Zendejas; Macauley King, Mechack Jerome, Yuma, Eder Borelli; Jose Aguinaga, Richie Ryan, Nick Ross; Dylan Mares; Luis Solignac, Josue Aaron Gomes

Discipline

Austin Bold FC – None

El Paso Locomotive FC – None