Could a draw have been what the doctor ordered for New Mexico United? That’s not the usual line of thinking when it comes to sports, but when a team is trying to recover from some incomplete performances, anything could be the catalyst for a turnaround. Against clubs like FC Tulsa and tonight’s opponent, Monterey Bay FC, positive results are absolutely necessary.
As with much of the West, inconsistency is the word of the year for Monterey. They came into the season with a great deal of hope, but they’ve been forced into a mid-season coaching change and some roster moves. Right now, they’re a club fighting for their playoff lives, but with a new coach being named recently, there’s always the chance of the new manager bounce that clubs often seem to see, case in point the hiring of Eric Quill. Jordan Stewart takes over the mantle for his first head coaching position within professional football. The former player spent time in both England and the US before retiring. In the short time he’s had with his club, there won’t be drastic changes, but it will be interesting to see how the club responds to his stepping in.
Rafael Baca is gone, which will limit some of the options for Stewart’s club. They’ll still look to play through Tristan Trager who is now their clear choice for the goal scoring opportunities. Their trouble will be getting the ball to him. Their midfield play has left them begging at times, which is a good thing for a United side that is clearly tired. The flip side is that it may be where they beat United.
Player to Watch
Walmer Martinez – He’s the guy in the midfield now for Monterey. He’s been around the league long enough that he knows how to play against different clubs and exploit their weaknesses. Martinez has the ability to pick out passes that others can’t and play through the gaps.
This could be a bit of a trap game for United. FC Tulsa certainly turned into one as well. Back at The Lab, United should have come out to a better start on Wednesday, but ended up having to play from behind to salvage a point. After a Sacramento win over El Paso, United’s lead shrunk to four points ahead of the weekend. United will no longer have matches in hand after Saturday and they need all the points they can get. One more win will give the club a new single-season wins record – 14.
But in order to get there, they have to clean up the play in the defensive half. They were undone on Wednesday by mistakes in their own half, which can’t continue if they want to secure a home playoff match. Monterey can be exploited through the midfield and should provide plenty of mistakes of their own. United just has to find a way to stay energized throughout this match and not back off, despite being at the tail end of three matches in seven days. This will be a test for Quill’s team to see how they manage the workload this late in the season, and a test for Quill to see if he’s made the right decisions for his team sheet.
Player to Watch
Mukwelle Akale – With the loss of Dayonn Harris, Akale’s role becomes even more important until a new face is brought in. Akale will need to be a disruptor and creator from the outside to help widen defenses and get the ball into dangerous areas. Harris was good at attracting defenders wide and Akale will be expected to do the same.
Coverage of Saturday night’s match against Monterey Bay FC will begin with the pregame show starring Adam Diehl and Andy Hageman at 6 p.m. (MT). Following the pregame show, the pair will bring every minute of every play starting with kickoff at 7 p.m. (MT). Catch New Mexico United all season long on ESPN Radio 101.7 FM The TEAM, The TEAM website, and The TEAM apps.