El Paso Locomotive FC announced its continuing partnership with Borderplex sister club, FC Juarez, welcoming Defender Eder Borelli and Forward Leandro Carrijo for the 2021 season, pending league and federation approval.
“We enjoyed having Leandro and Eder with us in 2020,” shared Head Coach and Technical Director Mark Lowry. “Their attitude and willingness to come in and integrate with the group and our work ethic was fantastic. They are open-minded to learning new concepts and approaches to the game and they were both big parts of our playoff run to our second Western Conference final in two years.”
Borelli, 29, continues into his second year with El Paso after making the jump from FC Juarez in early July just before the return to play from the temporary suspension of the 2020 season. Since adapting to Head Coach Mark Lowry’s system, Borelli fit into the Starting XI after Andrew Fox picked up a knee injury. Through the end of the season, Borelli came in big making key defensive stops and winning 59% of his duels. His work-ethic and end-to-end play as a right-back did not go unnoticed, as the Locomotive fans rewarded Borelli with the Locos Defender of the Year accolade in addition to Club Goal of the Year.
Carrijo, 35, enters his second year under the Locomotive banner, after making an incredible impact when it counted in the Western Conference Quarterfinals against FC Tulsa. The FC Juarez goal-scoring star tallied his first two goals in a Locomotive jersey against Tulsa to help send the game into a penalty shootout that ultimately continued El Paso’s historic playoff run. The Brazilian striker scored two goals and one assist behind five key passes to showcase his work rate that helped lift Locomotive to a second straight Western Conference Final appearance.
El Paso Locomotive is currently working on additional player announcements for the 2021 season and will announce the renewals and new signings once they are confirmed.
El Paso Locomotive FC returns to action for its third season in the USL Championship in 2021! Lock in your seats by visiting https://sportsengine-staging.go-vip.net/eplocomotivefc/seasontickets or calling/texting 915-235-GOAL and enjoy world-class Championship soccer at Southwest University Park!