EL PASO, Texas – El Paso Locomotive FC will return home to host Austin Bold FC on Wednesday night at Southwest University Park after both sides suffered tough weekend outings that saw El Paso fall for only the third time this season and Austin concede a late goal as it saw its postseason hopes delivered another blow. Kickoff is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET.

@EPLocomotiveFC (16-3-10, 58pts) was dealt a 5-0 defeat by the LA Galaxy II on Sunday evening at Dignity Health Sports Park as the hosts scored early and then gradually pulled away to hand El Paso the heaviest defeat of its short history. Locomotive FC had not conceded more than three goals in an official USL Championship or Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup game prior to Sunday as its short-handed defense absent center backs Yuma and Mechack Jerome was unable to contain the talented Los Dos attack. Although it has clinched the Mountain Division title, Locomotive FC will be aiming to rebound on home turf where it currently holds a 23-game undefeated streak across the regular season and playoffs dating to July 2020. Should the hosts maintain that streak with a win or a draw, it would clinch a playoff berth for both San Antonio FC and Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC as the side continues to gear up for its own playoff drive in November.

@AustinBoldFC (10-9-10, 40pts) suffered a second consecutive defeat on Saturday afternoon as it rallied from a three-goal deficit against Real Monarchs SLC but ultimately fell 4-3 at Zions Bank Stadium. Goals by Gilbert Fuentes eight minutes into the second half, Collin Fernandez and Amobi Okugo brought the side back before the hosts rallied to score a late winner. Austin will be without Jorge Troncoso for its remaining three games of the season following his red card late in the game against the Monarchs as the side looks for its first win since a 1-0 result against Tacoma Defiance on October 6 when Omar Gordon’s goal proved the difference between the sides. The visitors did earn a result when they last faced El Paso at Bold Stadium on September 22 as Sonny Guadarrama scored in second-half stoppage time to pull the side level in a 2-2 draw. A similar result on the road would be a small boost to Bold FC’s postseason hopes as it battles New Mexico and Rio Grande Valley FC for the final spot in the bracket.

FiveThirtyEight.com Match Predictor: El Paso Locomotive FC 51%, Austin Bold FC 23%, Draw 26%

Most Recent Lineups

El Paso Locomotive FC (4-3-1-2): Logan Ketterer; Ricardo Zacarias, Matt Bahner, Andrew Fox, Eder Borelli; Jose Aguinaga, Cole Turner, Dylan Mares; Diego Luna; Leandro Carrijo, Luis Solignac

Austin Bold FC (3-5-2): Hugo Fauroux; Gustavo Rissi, Casey Walls, Nick Hinds; Kofi Sarkodie, Amobi Okugo, Juan Pablo Torres, Xavier Baez, Collin Fernandez, Nathaniel Adamolekun, Jorge Troncoso

Discipline

El Paso Locomotive FC – Caution Accumulation Warning: Yuma

Austin Bold FC – Suspended: Jorge Trocoso; Caution Accumulation Warning: Alassane Ates Diouf