After a 3-0 loss on the road to San Diego, the Patriots were thinking revenge. The El Paso Patriots gained 4 points in league play on Saturday night with a decisive 3-1 victory over San Diego F.C. The victory also counted in the Group 8 standings of the U.S. Open Cup qualifying tournament. Former San Diego player and current El Paso Patriot Carlos Farias scored two goals. Luis Macias added the third and final goal for the Patriots. San Diego substitute Jerome Watson scored his team’s only goal.
San Diego played the game wearing the Patriots 2000 season uniforms due to the team's real uniforms not arriving on time. The game started off the same way Friday night’s 3-0 loss ended, with neither team scoring and neither team really threatening. However it was visible that both teams had not fully recovered from Friday night’s clash, with both teams starting off slowly. The Patriots best opportunity of the half came in the 29th minute, when the Patriots caught San Diego goalkeeper Matt Hall off guard. Physical and rough play was a part of the first half with four yellow cards issued. San Diego players Joey Martinez and P.J. Brown along with Patriots Carlos Farias and Guillermo Mc Farlane each received a yellow card. The first half ended in a nil - nil tie. San Diego replaced Emmanuel Ayim with Miguel Luna at the half.
The second half started off with the Patriots normal up tempo level of play. Six minutes into the second half, Carlos Farias scored his first goal of the night with a well taken free kick. SDFC goalkeeper Matt Hall had no chance at stopping the hooking shot that went in to the upper right corner of the goal. Fourteen minutes later, Farias struck again, when he followed Salvador Mercado into the box. Taking a pass back, Farias tucked the ball into the upper left corner of the goal for what proved to be the game winner.
With a comfortable two goal lead in favor of the Patriots, both teams began an onslaught of substitutions. First up were the Patriots when they replaced Federico Juarez with Luis Macias. San Diego then sent Jerome Watson in for Joey Martinez, in addition to sending forward T. Martins in for Miguel Suazo. With the game in the bag, the Patriots then countered by sending in Jose Lomeli for the night’s hero, Carlos Farias. Finally, SDFC player Erin O’Connor went in for Simon Livett. Patriot Victor "Omar" Mora went in to the game as well, replacing Mark Rowland.
Just before the game was to end, Justin Pratt received a yellow card. At the 42nd minute mark, El Paso substitute Luis Macias scored the Patriots third and final goal of the night. However, San Diego was not about to go out quietly. Jerome Watson headed in Nate Hetherington's corner kick past goalkeeper Patriot goalkeeper Jesse Llamas. The Patriots outshot San Diego 11- 6. Pat’s goalkeeper Jesse Llamas ended the night with five saves while SDFC goalkeeper Matt Hall only had one. After seven games, El Paso is in second place of the Western conference and in first place of Group 8 of the US Open Cup qualifying tournament. Next up for the Patriots is 2000 A-League finalist Minnesota Thunder at 7:30 at the SAC.
El Paso Patriots 3
Carlos Farias 51, 65
Luis Macias 87
San Diego Football Club 1
Jerome Watson 90
Starting Lineups
San Diego F.C.
Matt Hall GK
P.J. Brown D
Adam Maurer D
Joey Martinez D (Jerome Watson)
Nate Hetherington M
Brian O'Connor M
Simon Livett M (Erin O'Connor)
Carlos Calderson M
Miguel Suazo M (Thiago Martinez)
Chugger Adair F
Emmanuel Ayim F (Miguel Luna)
El Paso Patriots
Jesse Llamas GK
Guillermo McFarlane D
Justin Pratt D
Esmundo Rodriguez D
Michael Griego D
Carlos Martinez D
Salvador Mercado M
Carlos Farias M (Jose Lomeli)
Federico Juarez M (Luis Macias)
Paul Cabrera M
Mark Rowland F (Victor Mora)
Cards
SDFC Joey Martinez
EPP Carlos Farias
EPP Guillermo McFarlane
SDFC P.J. Brown
EPP Justin Pratt
SDFC Brian O'Connor
Shots
EPP 11
SDFC 6
Attendance - 3,370
