EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) \u2014 El Paso Locomotive FC suffered a 3-2 loss to San Antonio FC on Saturday night at Southwest University Park.<\/p>\n
Before kickoff, both clubs lined up and locked arms for the first minute of the match as a form of protest, with negotiations ongoing between the USL Players Association and the USL Championship over a new collective bargaining agreement.<\/p>\n
Once play began, San Antonio struck first in the 16th minute. Alex Crognale launched a long-range effort that caught Locomotive goalkeeper Abraham Romero off his line, giving the visitors a 1-0 lead.<\/p>\n
San Antonio doubled its advantage in the 43rd minute, putting El Paso in a 2-0 hole late in the first half. However, the Locos responded just before the break. Rubio Rubin found the back of the net to cut the deficit to 2-1 heading into halftime.<\/p>\n
In the second half, El Paso continued to push for an equalizer, and it came in the 55th minute in spectacular fashion. Beto Avila fired a shot from well outside the box that beat the keeper, leveling the match at 2-2. The goal marked Avila\u2019s second highlight-reel strike of the week after his performance against Houston in U.S. Open Cup play.<\/p>\n
With the match appearing headed for a draw, a costly turnover in the 90th minute proved decisive. San Antonio\u2019s Cristian Parano capitalized on the mistake, scoring the go-ahead goal to give the visitors a 3-2 lead.<\/p>\n
The late strike held up as the game-winner, as San Antonio secured all three points.<\/p>\n
With the loss, El Paso saw its four-match winning streak in league play come to an end and suffered its first defeat of the USL Championship season.<\/p>\n
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