El Paso Locomotive FC cruised past Loudoun United FC 4–1 on Saturday night, powered by a Rubio Rubín hat trick that effectively settled the contest before halftime. Carl-Fred Sainte added a stoppage-time fourth, while Abdellatif Aboukoura grabbed Loudoun's lone reply.
Rubín needed just five minutes to open the scoring, giving El Paso an early lead that set the tone. Loudoun responded well, though, and pulled level in the 17th minute when Aboukoura finished from a Richard Aman pass to make it 1–1.
The equalizer didn't rattle El Paso. Rubín restored the lead on the half-hour mark, then completed his hat trick in the 40th minute to send the hosts into the break with a commanding 3–1 advantage. Three goals in 35 minutes from the striker — the kind of first-half performance that leaves little room for a comeback.
The second half was a more subdued affair. El Paso picked up a pair of yellow cards, with Alex Méndez cautioned in the 65th minute and Arturo Ortíz following him into the book in the 85th. Loudoun, needing at least three goals, never seriously threatened a way back into the match.
Sainte put the finishing touch on the result in the first minute of stoppage time, converting from a Gabi Torres assist to round out the 4–1 scoreline.
The emphatic victory gives El Paso valuable points in the USL Championship standings and underlines their attacking potency at home, with Rubín's hat trick a statement performance as the season enters its stretch run.
USL Championship