New Mexico United should have had some sort of confidence about them after coming from behind to win on Saturday. Hartford Athletic, who have beaten United at home before, had been getting healthy and improving in recent weeks. But once again, the East Coast proved to be too much for United. The club surrendered three first half goals before losing, 4-0.
Hartford may have come into the match at the bottom of the standings. But they didn’t play like it to open the match. It was clear what their match plan was, and that was to play direct and try to get Michee Ngalina in behind United’s defense. Three times in the first fifteen minutes Ngalina was able to speed past the United back line and put himself in position to receive the ball in space and run at Alex Tambakis.
While the first attempts didn’t result in a goal, it showed that United couldn’t handle the pace being thrown at them. United was slow to passes and lacked coordination defending. Hartford would open the scoring in the 17th minute after a giveaway by Gedion Zelalem in the defensive half. Failing to gather a pass, Zelalem allowed Marlon Hairston to take it away and find Mamadou Dieng at the top of the area. Dieng cut to his right before shooting back to the left side of goal, beating Tambakis, 1-0.
Dieng would double the lead just seven minutes later. In the 24th minute, Dieng took advantage of another misplay by Ousman Jabang in the defensive third. Similar to his misplay on Saturday against San Antonio, Jabang misread the situation and played a pass that was too soft for the oncoming pressure. That pass was intended for Tambakis, but never got there as Dieng took it, dribbled around the Greek goalkeeper and easily tapped in for his second, 2-0.
The woes continued for United as they surrendered a third goal in two minutes later. While Dieng didn’t score, he created the chance for Hartford. In the 26th, Dieng used the possession he created on the right wing to dribble through and around multiple United players. His ability on the ball pulled attention away from Ngalina, who was sent a pass across the box. Ngalina shot to the bottom right corner and put the hosts well in front, 3-0.
Dieng nearly had a first half hat trick in the 41st minute. As he was played in behind, the ball fell in between the defense and Tambakis and no one from United could get to it. Dieng brought it down and chipped the ball from distance. Instead of going in, the ball ricocheted off the post and denied Dieng a third goal.
After halftime, Head Coach Dennis Sanchez started to make changes in the hopes of getting some sort of spark ignited for his side. Throughout the half, United would pull Greg Hurst, Valentin Noël, Zelalem, Fernando, and Jaylin Lindsey. In their places, Sanchez would send on Thomas Amang, Tomas Pondeca, Dayonn Harris, Will Seymore, and Marlon Vargas. United would have more chances created, but the lack of any real threat on goal and the continued threat of Dieng were too much.
Dieng had another chance in the 70th for a hat trick, but was once again denied. The direct play of Hartford did not allow United a chance to breathe and that was the chance presented to the forward. Receiving the ball at pace, Dieng was one-on-one with Tambakis and put his shot off the post again.
After finally being subbed off, Dieng’s replacement, Kyle Edwards, got a goal for himself as well. In the 82nd, another mistake by Jabang from just inside the defensive half led to the chance. Passing the ball from the right touchline, Jabang’s pass failed to reach two different United players and was intercepted by Edwards. Driving at the defense, Edwards had both Talen Maples and Jabang in front of him. Cutting left, Edwards forced Jabang to ground before shooting back across goal and shaking the right side of the net, 4-0.
Player of the Match
Mamadou Dieng – Dieng dominated against United on Wednesday night. He made all the right runs and all the right decisions. If not for the woodwork, Dieng could have finished the night with four goals.
Up Next
United has 10 days to regroup. After the brutal loss, the club has plenty of work to do before they get back on the pitch. The next time out, they’ll face off against FC Tulsa on Saturday, August 9. That match will take place in Tulsa, OK with kickoff scheduled for 6:30 P.M. (MT).