For the first time in 2025, New Mexico United surrendered a goal at home. One goal turned into two and multiple red cards before the visiting Phoenix Rising FC claimed victory at The Lab, 1-2.
Despite controlling the early pace of the match, United wasn’t the first on the board. Against the run of play, Rising had two chances in quick succession before they found the back of the net in the 12th minute of the evening. The first of the two chances saw a cross come in from the right by Noble Okello, and Hope Avayevu put a strong header on frame. The ball appeared destined for the top left corner, but a leaping save by Alex Tambakis saw the ball punched away.
The punched ball kindly fell to the feet of Rising and from a very tight angle, a shot came across the face of goal and bounced off the near post. Before the ball could settle, Avayevu tapped it home to open the score, 0-1. The goal was the first conceded at home in league play by United this season.
United would come inches away from leveling the match in the 23rd, but some small miracle kept the ball out of the net. Mukwelle Akale drove the right wing, making it all the way to the byline before trying to square the ball. United would get a couple chances inside the area, coming within an eyelash of finding the net before the ball was cleared.
As the first half continued, shades of the rivalry continued to rear their head. The match became increasingly chippy as Ousman Jabang was a clear target of the defensive efforts of Rising. After drawing multiple fouls, the referee finally showed a card to Damian Rivera for a foul on Jabang near midfield that turned into a scuffle between the two sides.
Rising’s defensive game plan was to play narrow and allow United to operate in the wide areas of the pitch. The visitors were willing to give up crosses to United, sensing that they couldn’t finish the chances that came from them. It worked well and United was held without a single shot on target in the first half.
Things did not improve for United after the break. In the 56th, United was looking for another chance to equalize and as Will Seymore and Marlon Vargas were working the right side of the area, contact was being made, but no fouls were called. Even on a cross into the area in which Fernando was pushed down didn’t seem to interest the referee. The failed attack led to a breakaway for Rising, forcing Tambakis to come well off of his line to make a stop. Although Talen Maples was also there in defense, the sliding tackle from the keeper, which seemed to make no contact at all, was deemed to be a Denial of Goal Scoring Opportunity. None of the criteria for DOGSO – distance, direction, defenders – were met, yet Tambakis received a red card for his efforts.
Forced into action, Kris Shakes was sent on to replace Akale while Tambakis was sent to the showers. In his first league appearance of the season, Shakes had a tough go of it in his opening minutes. In the 62nd minute, Darius Johnson was played to the left by Avayevu and given a chance to shoot from the side of the area. His shot went into the top left corner, extending the lead, 0-2.
Down to 10-men and down by two, it would have been easy to count United out of the evening. But, the change saw United become more aggressive than they’d been the entire night. After a first half that saw them not put a single shot on frame, they finally managed to get one in the 79th minute. A continued press gave substitute McKinze Gaines a chance in the 84th to cut to his left across the top of the area before pulling a goal back with a shot into the top left corner, 1-2.
Undeterred, United kept the pressure on the Rising defense, making multiple entries into the final third, specifically the goal area in the final minutes of the match. In the 90th minute a cross came in from the right, seeking out Fernando who was in the middle of the area. As he went to play the ball, he was taken down by Adcel Essengue with what appeared to be a clear foul and should have amounted to a penalty for United. No call would come, but in the aftermath, Marlon Vargas was shown a straight red card, for what was presumably foul or abusive language in a reaction to the non-call.
In stoppage time there was an additional shout for a penalty when Daniel Bruce was seemingly fouled in the area, but once again, no call was made and that would be the last moments of the match.
Player of the Match
McKinze Gaines – Gaines gave United hope with his 84th minute goal. He saw a chance and took it. The goal kept United alive and put them in a chance to at least earn a point.
Up Next
With their only home match of the month of May under their belts, United goes back on the road. Their next match will be on Saturday, May 17th when they play Orange County SC at Champions Soccer Stadium in California. Coverage of that match will begin with the pregame show starring Adam Diehl and Andy Hageman at 7 P.M. MT. The match will follow with opening kick scheduled for 8 P.M. MT. Catch every minute of every play all season long on ESPN Radio 101.7 FM The TEAM, The TEAM website, and The TEAM apps.