EDINBURG, Texas – El Paso Locomotive FC will put its undefeated start to the season on the line on Wednesday night as it visits Rio Grande Valley FC at H-E-B Park with first place in the USL Championship’s Mountain Division at stake. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET.

@RGVFC (5-3-2, 17pts) will be hoping for a sharper attacking performance than in its most recent outing that saw it fall 2-1 to FC Tulsa last Friday night for its second loss in the past three games. The Toros outshot their visitors 27-3 during the contest but recorded only three shots on target including what turned out to be consolation goal in second-half stoppage time by Baboucarr Nike. Rio Grande Valley struggled in attack when it first faced El Paso this season at Southwest University Park on May 22 in a contest that saw forward Elvis Amoh sent off for two cautionable offenses and Locomotive FC take a 1-0 win on a goal inside the opening minute. The hosts will be hoping to turn the tables this time around as they try to defend their current position at the top of the division.

@EPLocomotiveFC (4-0-3, 15pts) returns to action for the first time since a 2-1 win against Real Monarchs SLC on June 16 that saw Macauley King score the winner, continuing the defender’s strong season so far. King has recorded goals in back-to-back games for El Paso, which has run its overall regular-season undefeated streak to 18 games dating back to the 2020 season. The side has also received solid production from 17-year-old playmaker Diego Luna, who sits alongside King with two goals to lead the side this season while also having notched one assist and nine key passes this season. Locomotive added to its attacking options with the signing of Sebastian Velasquez on Monday, a move that sees the Colombian return to the club he notched five goals for in the 2019 season as the club reached the Western Conference Final of the playoffs in its inaugural season.

FiveThirtyEight.com Match Predictor: Rio Grande Valley FC 34%, El Paso Locomotive FC 35%, Draw 31%

Most Recent Lineups

Rio Grande Valley FC (4-2-3-1): Tyler Deric; Erik Pimentel, Adrian Diz Pe, Adrian Vera, Roberto Albuquerque; Rodrigo Lopez, Juan Cabezas; Louis Ramsay, Wan Kuzain, Christian Sorto; Alexis Cerritos

El Paso Locomotive FC (4-3-1-2): Logan Ketterer; Macauley King, Mechack Jerome, Yuma, Eder Borelli; Bryam Rebellon, Richie Ryan, Nick Ross; Diego Luna; Josue Aaron Gomez, Luis Solignac

Discipline

Rio Grande Valley FC – None

El Paso Locomotive FC – Suspended: Bryam Rebellon