ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Matt Bahner scored an equalizer in the eighth minute of second-half stoppage time as El Paso Locomotive FC grabbed a 1-1 draw with New Mexico United at Isotopes Park on Saturday night despite the visitors being reduced to 10 men with just over 10 minutes to go.

Looking to add to their lead at the top of the Mountain Division, El Paso appeared to have got off to a flying start as after 90 seconds Luis Solignac had the ball in the net with a header, only for the offside flag to be raised. After the early chance, though, both sides looking to try and establish control as New Mexico held more possession as they tried to break down the visitors. The work almost paid off in the 26th minute as Josh Suggs controlled an angled ball out to the left and drove into the penalty area near the goal line before cutting back a cross for Amando Moreno, but the forward sent his finish wide of the left post.

Solignac almost put Locomotive FC three minutes later as he was the beneficiary off a misguided pass by United defender Rashid Tetteh inside his own penalty area, but the Argentine’s turning finish was denied by New Mexico’s Alex Tambakis. In the 33rd minute Moreno made no mistake to put New Mexico ahead, however, as Sergio Rivas played him into the left side of the penalty area for a low finish that got through Locomotive FC goalkeeper Logan Ketterer.

Locomotive FC tried to level before halftime as Dylan Mares fired from long range twice, the second of which was saved by Tambakis after the first had gone high of the crossbar. After the teams exchanged half-chances early in the second half, the visitors threatened again in the 68th minute as Sebastian Velasquez played a give-and-go with Macauley King to set up a shot from inside the right part of the penalty area that Tambakis punched away.

New Mexico had a chance to doubled its lead with 16 minutes to go as Rivas fired over the crossbar from the left side of the penalty area, but Locomotive FC was then reduced to 10 men in the 77th minute when Diego Luna was shown a red card for an elbow on Andrew Tinari as the temperature between the two rivals began to rise as the second half progressed.

Despite being down a man, El Paso had the better pressure in the closing stages and almost grabbed an equalizer in the final minute as the ball was headed down by Andrew Fox to Josue Aaron Gomez in the left side of the penalty area for a driven shot to the far corner that hit the right post and caromed away before New Mexico was able to find a clearance. With the last gasp, however, Locomotive FC grabbed a late equalizer as a corner from the left was sent in and headed down by Gomez, and after Ketterer’s effort was stymied, the ball popped loose to Bahner, whose low shot deflected off a defender and into the left corner of the net to give the visitors a point.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Sergio Rivas, New Mexico United – Rivas provided a fine assist on United’s opening goal and had two shots and two key passes overall while completing 35 of 45 passes and winning 3 of 4 duels.

Scoring Summary
NM – Amando Moreno (Sergio Rivas) 33’
ELP – Matt Bahner 90+8’

Full Box Score