A late goal by Tristan Trager earned Monterey Bay F.C. a 1-1 draw against El Paso Locomotive FC on Wednesday night at Southwest University Park to earn a point in its opening game of the 2024 USL Championship season after Amando Moreno had opened the scoring for the hosts with the first shot of the game.

Here are three things we took away from the contest.

1. MONTEREY BAY GETS ITS REWARD

The early setback for Monterey Bay by El Paso’s Moreno certainly could be attributed to first-game speed, or a lack of it, for the visitors, but they quickly got up to tempo after going behind. MBFC held possession more consistently – and in a more enterprising manner – for much of the first half and after some misfires in the final third began to apply good pressure in the final 15 minutes before the break. Walmer Martinez was unfortunate not to pull his side level as a great flicked header was deftly turned over the crossbar by El Paso’s Jahmali Waite in the 43rd minute, and then two minutes later Martinez powered a free kick from 30 yards off the top of the crossbar as it aimed for the top-right corner.

The halftime break arrived in time for Locomotive, which was able to gather itself defensively and close down the chances Monterey Bay was able to create more effectively in the second half, but the visitors’ persistence paid off with three minutes to go. A nicely worked move between second-half substitute Tristan Trager and Alex Dixon set up Trager for a first-time shot from 12 yards out that he emphatically struck home into the roof of the net, earning Monterey Bay a point that on balance it deserved.   

2. MORENO BREAKS ICE FOR EL PASO

After drawing a blank in its opening game, Locomotive couldn’t have asked for a better start than the one it got on Wednesday night. A quick transition move showed off the qualities of three of the club’s newcomers with Tumi Moshobane’s smart pass upfield being expertly played on by Justin Dhillon into the path of Amando Moreno, who simply had too much speed for Monterey Bay’s Kai Greene and benefited from some poor positioning by MBFC goalkeeper Antony Siaha to slot home his finish into a wide-open left side of the net.

Of the trio, Moreno was a player who had a big spotlight on him after his offseason move from New Mexico United, and getting his first goal in El Paso’s colors will feel good for the El Salvador international. With another game to come against Louisville City FC on Saturday before he heads for international duty next week, the 28-year-old should carry a good level of confidence into La Selecta’s camp.

3. LOCOMOTIVE NEEDS TO GET ON TRACK

If there’s one thing El Paso Locomotive FC can take away from Wednesday night, it has at least earned one more point now than it did when it played a three-game homestand to open the season a year ago and suffered three consecutive defeats. At the same time, after taking an early lead this felt like an opportunity missed for the hosts to get a first win on the board, especially after winning only five times at Southwest University Park a season ago.

Saturday afternoon’s clash at home with Louisville City FC will offer positive memories of the last time these sides played. Coming off those defeats at the start of 2023, El Paso promptly went on the road and handed LouCity a 3-0 defeat at Lynn Family Stadium. Chances are the returning Louisville players will remember that result and be aiming for some payback, which will give Locomotive work to do with a visit to rival New Mexico United coming early in of April as it looks to contend in the Western Conference.