New Mexico United’s trips beyond the Mississippi River continue to confound the club. Some mental errors in the first half put the club in an early deficit that they couldn’t get out of before falling by a final of 2-1.
United should have felt confident heading into Memphis. After a win at home and getting back to the healthiest they had been all season, it should have been a night ripe for three points. Instead, United fell behind early due to a major mental mistake in their own box and couldn’t recover their footing, literally and figuratively in the first half.
Despite looking like the better side and having more final third entries, United couldn’t find the back of the net. Harry Swartz worked the right wing from the opening minutes and tried to find Daniel Bruce in the middle of the area. One such opportunity came in the 10th minute. Swartz’s ball looked to be perfect for Bruce, but his leg went over the ball and clear of any danger.
The first mental error proved to be extremely costly for United. In the 11th, after Memphis played the ball over the top, instead of letting it run out of play Alex Tambakis gathered it and proceeded to pass it to Talen Maples. Maples, who hadn’t been paying attention after the ball went over their heads, appeared to think that the referee had blown the play dead for a goal kick. That led the centreback to pick the ball up, thinking he was to restart it, and was called for a penalty. Bruno Lapa was sent to the mark, and as Tambakis went to his left, Lapa went the other direction to convert for the lead, 1-0.
United kept trying to work the right side of the pitch from the outside in, but the attacks kept failing. There were opportunities, but the failures were due to slips, misplayed balls, or just poor connections.
In the 34th, the hosts would double their lead. This time around Lapa was able to work the ball up the left wing and drew some attention away from the six-yard box. In the open space, Lucas Turci found room between Anthony Herbert and the goal. Turci turned and shot, nutmegging Tambakis and doubled the lead, 2-0.
Not much would change in the second half. United continued to press and looked like they were the better side. The second half even saw the returns of Kalen Ryden and Sergio Rivas as Quill did everything he could to try and get his side back even. Ryden came onto the pitch and played a position that he hadn’t been seen at in quite some time. Replacing Daniel Bruce, Ryden took hit spot up top alongside Greg Hurst.
United would keep trying to cross the ball into the area, but they weren’t finding enough room to connect, turn and shoot. It wasn’t until the 87th minute that United had a glimmer of hope. After stealing the ball deep in United’s defensive third, Hurst charged up the pitch, splitting defenders. After his layoff didn’t result in a goal, Hurst ended up with the ball again to the left of the mark. This time, he took the shot himself, the first was deflected by Tyler Deric and right back to Hurst, who shot again with his left, this time deflecting off the keeper and into the net to cut the lead, 2-1.
That was as close as they would come. They didn’t have a serious threat on goal in the final minutes of regular or in stoppage time as they fell on the road once again.
Player of the Match
Bruno Lapa – The Memphis midfielder had a field day against United. With a goal and an assist to his credit, Lapa was difficult for United to deal with all night. He nearly notched a third goal late in the second half that would have iced the affair, but a save from Tambakis kept United within striking distance.
Up Next
United returns home for a series of matches, the first of which is an international friendly against FC Juarez from Liga MX on Wednesday, June 19th. Coverage of that match will begin at 6 PM with the pregame show on ESPN Radio 101.7 FM The TEAM, The TEAM website, and the TEAM apps. Adam Diehl and Andy Hageman will be on the airwaves for the pregame as well as every minute of every play once the match kicks off at 7 PM.