LEXINGTON, Ky. — Lexington Sporting Club knocked off first-place El Paso Locomotive FC Saturday night in commanding fashion, securing its fourth consecutive win with a 3-1 victory and continuing to close in on a playoff spot.
The deck flipped in favor of Lexington early when an early injury to an El Paso player and a red card immediately altered the gameplay for the visitors.
The Greens responded with a brilliantly worked goal in the 32’ minute. Malcolm Fry sucked two defenders in against the touchline, then showcased some spectacular skill to beat them both. He kicked it out to Xavier Zengue who rippled the side netting at the far post for his fourth goal of the season.
Ten-man El Paso would get one back before the half, but that would be all she wrote for the Texas side.
Phillip Goodrum scored his 12th goal of the season in the 62’ minute off a Blaine Ferri delivery. Excellent interchange play between Marcus Epps and Braudílio Rodrigues landed at the feet of Ferri near the top of the box. Ferri whipped a service across goal to Goodrum at the back post.
The goal marked the 73rd score of Goodrum’s USL Championship career to tie him for 11th-most in league history. Ferri picked up his ninth assist of the campaign on the play.
Just four minutes later, a deflection off the El Paso goalkeeper fell to the feet of Rodrigues, who smashed home his fourth of the season.
The 3-1 win tied the club record for consecutive matches with multiple goals at five, previously set in the 2023 season. It also marked Lexington’s sixth win at home in its last seven matches at The Stables.
When the final whistle sounded, Lexington sat in third place in the Western Conference standings. With an Oakland Roots SC loss or draw and a Las Vegas Lights FC draw or loss later Saturday evening, plus a Phoenix Rising FC draw or loss Sunday, the LSC men would clinch their first ever playoff spot.
GOALS
32’ LEX: Xavier Zengue (assist: Malcolm Fry)
37’ ELP: Amando Moreno (assist: Roberto Avila)
62’ LEX: Phillip Goodrum (assist: Blaine Ferri)
66’ LEX: Braudílio Rodrigues
LINEUPS
LEX: Oliver Semmle, Jacob Greene (69’ Marqes Muir), Javain Brown, Kendall Burks, Xavier Zengue, Blaine Ferri (83’ Cielo Tschantret), Aaron Molloy, Nick Firmino (57’ Braudílio Rodrigues), Marcus Epps, Malcolm Fry (69’ Milo Yosef), Phillip Goodrum (83’ Tarik Scott)
ELP: Abraham Romero, Tony Alfaro, Arturo Ortíz, Kenneth Hoban (67’ Kofi Twumasi), Gabi Torres (17’ Guillermo Diaz), Eric Calvillo, Robert Coronado (67’ Daniel Gomez), Ricky Ruiz, Amando Moreno, Roberto Avila (82’ Cristobal Fernandez), Alex Méndez (82’ Omar Mora)
UP NEXT
Lexington is home for its final home match of the 2026 USL Championship season on Friday, Oct. 9 to host FC Tulsa. The match will kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET.
