Locomotive FC prevail 1-0 over physical Sacramento; lose Herrera for season

EL PASO, Texas - In what was certainly their most physical game of the season El Paso Locomotive FC weathered bruises, jabs, and injury to come away with three points.

"Clean sheets are so important, they're our building blocks," said defenseman Andrew Fox of El Paso Locomotive FC's 1-0 win over Sacramento Republic. "To win ugly is a necessary step for any team that wants to go on and achieve anything."

Fox scored the match's lone goal in the 75th off a corner kick set piece, and El Paso's back line did not allow a single shot on goal to preserve the win.

Fox, who came on as a substitute in the 66th minute, found the net off Dylan Mares curling cross from the back post. It was the Englishman's second goal this season.

El Paso controlled 65% of the game's possession, and Locomotive goalkeeper Evan Newton was not forced into any stress.

Locomotive FC have now won 4 of 5 matches. Through the team's last six matches, the team has secured 13 points.

Sacramento's fate was secured when striker Douglas Martinez got tangled up with El Paso defenseman Yuma Monsalves in the 81st minute. When both players went colliding to the ground, it appeared as if Martinez swung an elbow to the face of Yuma while the Argentinian defender was still down.

The referee quickly inserted himself to send off Martinez.

In victory however, El Paso also suffered defeat when midfielder Louis "Chapa" Herrera was carted off in the 40th minute with injury.

After the match, Locomotive FC Head Coach John Hutchinson said the El Paso native Herrera's season was likely over.

Next up: El Paso is at Orange County this Saturday with kickoff set for 8:00pm MT.