The Phoenix Rising edged out the El Paso Locomotive 1-0 in a tightly contested Round of 16 match at Southwest University Park on November 2, 2025. The victory not only propelled Phoenix into the quarterfinals but also served as a critical boost for their playoff positioning, as both teams entered the match separated by just one point in the standings.
Fans were treated to a tense encounter where each side displayed moments of promise and vulnerability. The decisive moment came in the 86th minute when a penalty was awarded to Phoenix after a foul in El Paso's box. The tension in the stadium was palpable as an unknown player from Phoenix stepped up. In what could be considered the turning point of this clash, he successfully converted, sending the visitors home with a hard-fought victory.
Much of the match revolved around resilient defensive displays from both teams. F. Daroma from El Paso received a red card in the 73rd minute after receiving two yellow cards within quick succession, leaving his side down to ten men and amplifying their struggles heading into the closing stages of the match. This crucial decision impacted El Paso's ability to maintain pressure on their opponents and ultimately shifted momentum toward Phoenix, who capitalized on their advantage late in the game.
Looking back at recent performances, both teams had fluctuating trajectories leading into this knockout round. The Locomotive faced significant challenges prior to this match, having suffered a heavy defeat against San Antonio just days earlier, while Phoenix managed to stabilize their form with consecutive draws and a narrow win against San Antonio before today's contest. Sitting fourth before kick-off with 41 points, every game grew more critical for El Paso as they sought to secure their position in the playoffs. Meanwhile, Phoenix entered as sixth place with 40 points-a win would not only lift them above El Paso but solidify their own playoff aspirations heading into the final matches of the season.
In terms of head-to-head history, these teams have experienced fierce battles before, often leading to thrilling draws and hard-fought victories on either side. Their most recent meeting showcased an offensive showcase by Phoenix; however, today's clash took a different turn as it reflected tighter defenses instead.
As excitement built leading up to this knockout stage, I must admit my own pre-match predictions may have been overly optimistic for goals galore based on previous encounters-instead we witnessed tactical nuances that ultimately stifled scoring chances throughout most of regulation time.
With this victory, Phoenix Rising finds itself well-positioned moving forward while El Paso must regroup quickly ahead of remaining fixtures if they hope to retain their playoff hopes amidst adversity-and knowing how closely matched these sides are becomes even more evident. As both clubs continue towards what lies ahead-understanding how pivotal each moment will become-the intensity within USL Championship play remains high as ever looking to crown its next champion.