We’re only two weeks into the USL Championship season, so there’s plenty of time to turn things around, and maybe they will - but there are two teams in particular who can’t seem to get unstuck from the preseason and they look to get unstuck this week. 0 and 3 El Paso head up to annual favorites Louisville City then the 0 and 2 Memphis 901 take a long trip out west to try to steal a point from The Roots.

No team has done less with as much opportunity to get started off with a bang than El Paso Locomotive. Likely due to their sharing of Southwest University Park with the local Minor League Baseball team, Locomotive have been given the advantage of starting their campaign with three home matches in a row. They lost all three. Brian Clarhaut has them lined up in a 4-4-2 and has been able to snag a couple of goals from the right side of his attack; Ricardo Zacarias in game two against Colorado Springs Switchbacks and then Denys Kostyshin in their third match when they hosted Detroit City FC. If possession is a silver lining, its the only one for El Paso, who have been able to hold onto the bulk of possession in this homestead. But I fear for them as they head away to what many consider one of the best attacks in the entire league, Louisville City FC.

If being outscored 2-6 at home in three matches was concerning, El Paso get to take the sad show on the road and play defending Eastern Conference Champions, Louisville City FC, who finished last year with a +37 Goal Difference and has beaten Locomotive both times they’ve ever played in the past: 1-0 in the 2022 Regular Season and 5-2 in the 2022 preseason Desert Classic exhibition. So Far, in Louisville City’s first two matches, they have four goals from four different goal-scorers - including; Niall McCabe, Cameron Lancaster, Enoch Mushagalusa, and Brian Ownby. Head Coach Danny Cruz, however, be without Ownby’s contributions for their home opener due to a red he received in their away win to Monterey. This may see Dylan Mares get the start, who has played that right winger in Cruz’ 4-3-3 setup before.

Look for Enoch Mushagalusa and Cameron Lancaster to break down El Paso’s packed 4-4-2 - the home side should be able to score first and get the visitors to chase an equalizer. If they lose their composure, however, El Paso could see themselves opening up too much and getting throttled on the road. It might just be about damage control this week.

If the internet is to be believed, El Paso Locomotive are headed up to Lynn Family Stadium for the very first time - fingers crossed they make a match of it.

Results from Saturday, March 15 - 19

El Paso Locomotive 1 - 2 Colorado Springs Switchbacks
Birmingham Legion 3 - 2 FC Tulsa
Memphis 901 1 - 3 Pittsburgh Riverhounds
Miami FC 0 - 1 New Mexico United
Colorado Springs Switchbacks 1 - 1 Hartford Athletic
El Paso Locomotive 1 - 3 Detroit City FC
Sacramento Republic 1 - 1 Charleston Battery
Orange County SC 1 -1 Tampa Bay Rowdies
Monterey Bay 0 -1 Louisville City
Loudoun United 1 - 1 San Antonio FC
San Diego Loyal 3 - 0 Phoenix Rising
RGV Toros 1 - 1 Oakland Roots

Oakland Roots have made the best of a rough start to the 2023 season - with an opening weekend match against the league champions, 1,700 miles away to San Antonio, where they predictably lost. Followed up with a 1,950 mile away trip to Edinburg, Texas, to take on a stout RGV Toros side, and steal a point with a 82’ equalizer from Johnny Rodriguez.
The Roots are set to host Memphis 901, who have had the pleasure of two consecutive home matches - both resulting in 1-3 losses despite out-shooting, out-possessing, and out-passing both sides. Look for Memphis to get Goodrum service at all costs and try to steal 3 points from a road weary Oakland Roots. But Roots’ Head Coach Noah Delgado isn’t messing around - he’ll come out with 3 at the back and look to overload Memphis at vulnerable moments. This match could be very entertaining.

Friday, March 24

Pittsburgh Riverhounds vs Miami FC - 4:00pm (PST) / 7:00pm (ET)
RGV Toros vs Monterey Bay - 5:00pm (PST) / 8:00pm (ET)

saturday, march 25

Hartford Athletic vs Birmingham Legion - 11:00am (PST) / 2:00pm (ET)
Louisville City vs El Paso Locomotive - 12:00pm (PST) / 3:00pm (ET)
Detroit City FC vs Indy Eleven - 1:00pm (PST) / 4:00pm (ET)
Charleston Battery vs Tampa Bay Rowdies - 4:30pm (PST) / 7:30 (ET)
San Antonio FC vs Colorado Springs Switchbacks - 5:30pm (PST) / 8:30pm (ET)
FC Tulsa vs Loudoun United - 5:30pm (PST) / 8:30 (ET)
Orange County SC vs Las Vegas Lights - 7:00pm (PST) / 10:00 (ET)
Sacramento Republic vs San Diego Loyal - 7:00pm (PST) / 10:00pm (ET)
Oakland Roots vs Memphis 901 - 7:00pm (PST) / 10:00pm (ET)

Tuesday, March 28

FC Tulsa vs Pittsburgh Riverhounds - 5:00pm (PST) / 8:00pm (ET)

by Josh Duder