EL PASO, Texas – El Paso Locomotive FC rebounded in impressive fashion as Josue Aaron Gomez and Luis Solignac each had a goal and assist in a 3-0 victory against Austin Bold FC on Wednesday night at Southwest University Park to keep its chances of claiming the best record in the Western Conference alive.

The visitors had the first good opportunity of the game in just the fourth minute as a clever pass by Beto Avila sent him in behind the El Paso defense only for his shot to be too close to Locomotive FC goalkeeper Logan Ketterer to test him. The hosts also went close six minutes later as off a corner kick that was half-cleared by the Austin defense, Luis Solignac caught a finish on the half-volley but sent it just over the crossbar from the top of the penalty area.

Locomotive FC took the lead in the 23rd minute, however, as Solignac lifted a pass into the left side of the penalty area for Josue Aaron Gomez, who brilliantly sent his finish home with a scissor-kick from a narrow angle at the near post.

Gomez had another chance seven minutes before halftime after a free kick wasn’t cleared properly by the visitors allowing him to fire a turning shot that was saved by Bold FC’s Arshia Aghababazadeh, but three minutes into the second half El Paso doubled its lead when Solignac received a pass from Dylan Mares in the left channel that allowed him to cut onto his right foot and curl a beautiful finish into the right corner of the net. Mares then went close to a third a few minutes later, forcing a good save from Aghababazadeh, while Austin’s Amobi Okugo had a strike from long range that went over the crossbar as he tried to pull the visitors back into the contest.

El Paso threatened to add a third with nine minutes to go when Gomez sent a near-post corner kick from the right by Mares just wide of the left post with a header, while four minutes later Jose Aguinaga hit the crossbar for the hosts from 14 yards on another chance to close out the game. In the 90th minute, however, Diego Luna added the capper as he received a pass from Gomez just to the left of center outside the penalty area and drove onto his left foot for a low shot into the bottom-right corner of the net as Locomotive FC extended its home undefeated streak to 24 games.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Josue Aaron Gomez, El Paso Locomotive FC – Gomez produced an outstanding strike to open the scoring and was active all night, with four shots and four key passes that included an assist on Diego Luna’s late finish.

Scoring Summary
ELP – Josue Aaron Gomez (Luis Solignac) 23’
ELP – Luis Solignac (Dylan Mares) 48’
ELP – Diego Luna (Josue Aaron Gomez) 90’

Full Box Score