San Antonio FC is absolutely buzzing right now, riding a two-game win streak right into the USL Championship playoffs against El Paso Locomotive FC. Our boys are heading to El Paso this Friday for an 8 p.m. kickoff at Southwest University Park, and the momentum couldn’t be stronger after that late-season push.
The Vibe Is Immaculate
SAFC, the sixth seed in the Western Conference with an 11-7-12 record and 45 points, snagged their playoff spot by beating Orange County SC 2-1 last Saturday at Toyota Field. That wasn’t just any win, either. It was the second straight victory for the club, the first time they’d won two in a row since way back in July. And get this: it was the first time they notched back-to-back home wins since March, after shutting down New Mexico United 1-0 two weeks prior. Midfielder Luke Haakenson summed it up perfectly, saying, “Everyone’s super positive, everyone’s super excited. This is where we want to be. It is now kind of one game at a time. We’re excited for it. It will be an awesome night. It’s Friday night lights, which makes it even better.” You can just feel the energy, right? Defender Emil Cuello put SAFC up early against Orange County with a goal in the 15th minute, holding a 1-0 lead at halftime. Forward Cristian Parano then gave the club a 2-0 advantage before the final whistle secured the playoff berth.
Locomotive’s Rough Patch vs. SAFC’s Grit
This first-round matchup against El Paso, the third seed with 15-10-5 and 50 points, is going to be HUGE. It’s the first ever postseason clash between these two Texas rivals, and their regular season series was a split. SAFC took the first game 3-2 in El Paso back on April 18, but El Paso got their revenge with a 3-0 win on August 18 at Toyota Field, snatching the Copa Tejas trophy from our grasp. Now, here’s where it gets interesting: El Paso is limping into the playoffs on a two-game losing streak, including a 1-0 home loss to New Mexico last Saturday that actually knocked them out of first place. New Mexico, with a 15-8-7 record and 52 points, now sits atop the Western Conference as the No. 1 seed. Despite El Paso’s struggles, SAFC coach Carlos Llamosa isn’t taking anything for granted. He knows El Paso played well for most of the year, even if their recent form is shaky. Llamosa put it best: “Now everything is in a different mode. It’s no more like if I tie or if I lose, we’re going to have another game to do better. No, we have to do it now this game.”
Our team’s resilience has been incredible, especially with “important guys sidelined because of injuries,” as Llamosa noted. The players who stepped in have been “tremendous, doing a great job on the field.” Haakenson echoed the sentiment, calling the playoffs a “brand-new season.” He knows there are “a lot of random variables you can’t account for,” so the key is “not overthinking it and being in the moment and stepping up on Friday night.” We’re going in open-minded and ready for the challenge! This Friday, it’s win or go home, and SAFC is bringing the heat.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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