From the very first goal back in the opening match on March 9, 2019, to the latest Goal #100 scored by Midfielder Jose Aguinaga against San Antonio FC this past Wednesday, there have been some incredible bangers, breathtaking freekicks, and just overall stunning goals that have made Locomotive a fun team to watch. Now that we have made put away that milestone club goal, I thought it would be fun to look back at ten of my personal favorite goals Locomotive has scored over its first three seasons.
By no means is it the prettiest goal the club has seen, but we would be remiss if we didn’t start with the goal that truly did start it all. A beautiful run down the left-hand side by Sebastian Contreras, getting the ball low towards the center of the box to find Derek Gebhard who had the simple task of redirecting the ball into the back of the net. It’s one of the most simple goals in the history of football, but it’s also one of the most effective. Contreras eliminated the goalkeeper from contention by rolling the ball past him leaving the net wide open for Gebhard to place it in the back of the net. Aside of course from the technical teamwork to get the goal in, the goal will always hold a special place in every Loco fan’s heart since it was the very first club goal to go in, and it went in at home.
Some out there might look at this goal and say “that was all luck.” At the very least, Head Coach Mark Lowry and I disagree with you. This goal from Lucho was all skill. To be able to read the game, see the opening, and press not only the goalkeeper but the defender as well, that’s skill. Lucho did just that here. He pressed the defender, forcing him to send the pass over to RGV goalkeeper Tyler Deric. Lucho wasn’t done there, pressing Deric, and forcing him into clearing the ball out. Of course, he was too late. Lucho’s speed and forward-thinking was just enough for him to get a foot in the way of the clearance and deflect the ball back into the RGV net for the fastest goal in Locomotive history, clocking in at 18 seconds.
Power and accuracy. That’s all I have to say about this penalty kick taken by Sebastian Velasquez in the Western Conference Quarterfinal against Fresno FC. Absolute power and accuracy. There was so much velocity behind this ball, that despite CJ Cochran making the right guess and diving the right way, there was nothing he could do. Velasquez put so much behind the ball that it was destined to find the back of the net and nothing was going to be able to stop it. There was a lot riding on the penalty kick too. The game was level 2-2 and it was this late-game PK that gave El Paso Locomotive the win and booked a ticket to the Western Conference Semifinal. There was a lot to celebrate with this goal.
The more I watch this goal, the more I absolutely love it. Not only was I excited to hit that historic milestone of 100 club goals, but the more you watch this, the more you see just how much went into making it happen. There is a sense of teamwork, understanding, and perseverance to hit the mark. Let’s break this down. Let’s start with Eder Borelli recognizing an opportunity to make a run down the left side as Diego Luna gets the ball and pulling defenders in towards him. Luna gets the pass off to Borelli, who now has nothing but time and space ahead of him. Borelli gets the low cross to Lucho, whose first touch is a little too heavy and the ball gets away from him a bit. Lucho has a great read of the game though and is able to recover quickly and save the ball from rolling over the touchline. He gets to the ball and to protect it from awarding a goal kick, he hits the ball back and into towards the center to create a chance from nearly nothing. Again, with an expert read of the game, Jose Aguinaga sees Lucho get the ball, and starts his run for the header. So much going into it to earn the goal that makes it a beautiful watch over and over.
I love myself a good-headed effort on goal. Even more so, when the goal can emphasize the vision of the game that every Locomotive player has on the game and the quality of player that Mark Lowry looks for. Eder Borelli really makes this goal something else. Before he starts his run, he notices the Monarchs defense ball-watching more than they should, giving him the time to make a run between the gap and press the goal. The split second that Memo Diaz takes to look up, assess the field, and see Borelli on his run was crucial before sending the cross in deep to the far post. Because of the timing and vision, Borelli was left unmarked to get a simple tapped-in header and to earn his first goal as a part of Locomotive.
As far as Diego Luna goals go, this one is by and far my favorite. It’s no secret that Luna has a talent for the game and he has a pretty high ceiling but look no further than his goal against San Antonio FC as proof. Luna takes the ball from a Velasquez pass/San Antonio defender deflection just at the penalty spot. Luna uses his dribbling skills to fake out his marking defender, sending him slightly to the left while using him as a shield to block the view Matt Cardone had on the play. After sending the defender left, Luna switches back right and gets his foot under the ball to put it up and over into the right side of the net. It was a class goal that was deserving of a spot on the shortlist of top 10 goals of the first 100.
Like I said before, I love a great headed effort on goal. this goal from Aaron Gomez is a textbook example of how to do it. Just shy of the hour mark, Locomotive earned its lone goal of the game through Gomez. First, the deep cross from Borelli with pinpoint accuracy found Gomez in the box, who jumped and headed the goal low, forcing the ball to take a bounce before finding the net. It’s the perfect header. The bounce makes the ball difficult to track and throws the Las Vegas Lights FC ‘keeper off its trail for the save. Essentially, Gomez made the perfect header to make the ball nearly impossible to save and give Locomotive a 1-0 win to guarantee one full calendar year without losing at Southwest Univesrity Park.
What a goal this was! I remember watching this game and letting out a yell my neighbors likely didn’t appreciate in pure excitement when this one found the net. Just under the hour mark, Locomotive was down by one in the Western Conference Final. You could feel momentum was in the corner of the Phoenix Rising. While Locomotive was fighting, the goal was just not landing. Until Bryam Rebellon wound up the kick and struck with absolute firepower that could not be stopped. It sent chills down my spine. That rocket of a strike that bounced directly back out of goal breathed life back into the Locomotive fight for the Conference Final. It was just enough for the Locos to take the fight into the added extra time and deep into penalties. While the game ended in heartbreak, this goal will always go down as one of my favorites in Locomotive history.
Another goal that took my breath away. Dylan Mares has a way of curving the ball into the net, which is why he is our resident freekick taker and typically the favorite to take the corners. His precision was in full display against New Mexico United in the Western Conference Semifinal in 2020. At the top of the penalty area, just off-center and with defenders standing between him and the goal, Mares lined up and took his shot. It was a beautiful curl that honestly, TV always has a hard time capturing. Around the defenders and towards the side netting of the far post, Mares created a goal that New Mexico United could do very little about. It was a goal that provided Locomotive with a critical lead and ultimately kept United from winning they scored in stoppage time of the second half. It was also a goal that set Southwest University Park alight as it meant the Locos had the advantage over its regional rival in one of the biggest most meaningful games of the year. It’s another goal that I will not be likely to forget any time soon.
The athletic beauty of bicycle kick is a sight to behold for sure. In terms of difficult goals to score, there might not be anything harder to pull off. With accuracy and athleticism, you have to be able to pick the ball out of the air and hit it just right to send it in the direction you would like, while essentially doing a backflip. There is a reason why so few players try to hop on their proverbial bike. For Edson Partida, it paid off. Clean and Precise, Partida masterfully met Yuma’s cross to strike the ball past Defiance goalkeeper James Lowell. At the end of the day, there was nothing anyone on the Defiance side could do to stop it. It was a strike that got the world talking even, as it ended winning USL Championship’s Goal of the Week and was featured on ESPN’s SportsCenter as the #1 Play. Even two years later and though he is no longer with Locomotive FC, respect where it is due, take a bow, Edson Partida!
These were my 10 favorite goals from the first 100 Locomotive has found. Do you agree? Disagree? Which goals were your favorite? Let us know!
In the meantime, I’m looking forward to what the next 100 goals have to offer for El Paso Locomotive, starting with Austin Bold FC tomorrow, Saturday, August 7 at Southwest University Park. Don’t miss a single goal and get your tickets at https://sportsengine-staging.go-vip.net/eplocomotivefc/tickets or by calling 915-235-GOAL.