After a long stretch at the top of the conference, New Mexico United is looking up. Sitting in 8th place, just above the playoff line, United’s poor run of form had them desperate for points. Their opponent, San Antonio FC, was also mired in poor form and needed a positive result as well. Despite their poor form, United could be hopeful since they had not lost to San Antonio since 2023. The match on Saturday was nothing short of a rivalry match, and a 10-man San Antonio fought to the very end before United could walk out with a 0-1 win.
Both clubs came into the evening in dire need of three points. United, having slid all the way to 8th place in the standings, was trying to get back on track to stay in the playoff race. San Antonio was trying to keep their grip on the top four. Neither club had won at all in the month of August and were facing a tough string of matches. United came out on top in each of the first two matches between the sides this season, first in a 4-2 win at The Lab on June 21, which was the last win in league play, then defeating San Antonio in penalties in the Jagermeister Cup on July 26.
San Antonio wasn’t just looking to get back on track in their league run, but also against United, whom they haven’t beaten since August 12, 2023. The hosts seemed to have the momentum for much of the first half despite giving up time in possession. San Antonio was able to break through a light press from United and didn’t seem concerned about the game plan from the Black & Yellow. It was a former United player who had an early chance to open the scoring but couldn’t beat the back line of Kalen Ryden and Kipp Keller.
In the 7th minute, Alexis Souahy had found a chance to shoot from just outside the left corner of the area. His shot would take a big deflection, and unlike the goal scored by Khori Bennett the week prior, the deflected shot went well wide and out of danger.
The series between these two clubs has felt more like the primary rivalry for United in recent years, the play on the pitch reflecting how physical the matches had become. Both sides would pick up yellow cards in the opening 30 minutes, but the match was upended right at the half-hour mark when a red card came out for San Antonio. Trying to recover a loose ball, Greg Hurst slid in and passed the ball wide, and as he was on the ground, Landry Walker came in late and stepped on the lower body of the Scotsman, picking up a straight red.
Normally, going up a man in the first half would give a club plenty of chances. Not for United. For twenty minutes United played with the advantage in the first half and only managed one shot that wasn’t even on target.
As the match continued, the referee never seemed to have control of the match and had several opportunities in which other red cards or even second yellows could have been shown. Carlos Moguel Jr, who picked up a yellow early in the first half, could have earned a second. Greg Hurst earned a yellow, that potentially could have been a red. Santiago Patino left his feet in the second half, fouling Kipp Keller with two legs, studs up, but only received a yellow.
The manner in which the match was controlled even caused both Luke Sanford and Dennis Sanchez to earn yellow cards.
All of the action on the pitch pointed to the match ending in a goalless draw. United still struggled to find chances until Dayonn Harris had an opportunity in the 64th. Harris was played into the area by Luther Achimede, when he finally found a gap to slip through in the San Antonio back line. Taking the ball on his right foot, from just left of the mark, Harris shot, but missed just over the bar.
Playing unafraid, San Antonio immediately pushed the ball back up the pitch to see if they could steal a win from United. Patino drifted wide right in the 67th minute and crossed the ball back into the middle of the area, but all he found was a swath of yellow jerseys. That one pass gave United an opening.
Surging forward, United passed the ball three times, ending up with Harris finding Archimede just inside the San Antonio half of the pitch. In stride, Archimede dribbled past a defender and rounded the keeper, Daniel Namani, who had come off his line. In doing so, Namani left the goal empty, and Archimede was able to score United’s first goal in 250 minutes to take the lead, 0 – 1.
Two minutes later, United appeared to have a second goal when Valentin Noel shook the net. This time, Hurst played the ball wide to Noel on the left, who initially appeared onside and shot with his right foot past Namani. But the flag went up, and the goal was kept off the scoreboard.
In a rare moment when the referee allowed a fast restart, San Antonio immediately played the ball down the pitch, looking for Patino. The San Antonio forward made it into the goal area of United as he shot in the 70th minute, low and to the left of Kris Shakes. Shakes reacted quickly, diving to his left and parrying the ball away, preserving the lead.
After the goal, the hosts tried their best to steal two points from United. They put more shots in than United after Archimede’s goal, but the stellar defensive play by Keller and company kept San Antonio out of the net, and earned United their first win since June 21, also against San Antonio.
Attendance – 6,210
Player of the Match
Dayonn Harris – Harris looked great once again since his return from the ACL tear in 2024. Harris was decisive going foward, made tracking runs defensively, and provided the assist on United’s goal.
Up Next
As it stands at the time of writing, United jumps into 6th place in the Western Conference, even on points with three other clubs. The brief road trip will end as United returns to The Lab for two matches next week. The first will see United host Detroit City FC on Wednesday, followed by FC Tulsa on Saturday, the 13th. Coverage of the match on Wednesday will begin at 6 p.m. with the pregame show starring Adam Diehl and Andy Hageman. Following the pregame show, the match will begin at 7 p.m. Catch every minute of every play all season long on ESPN Radio 101.7 FM The TEAM, The TEAM apps, and The TEAM website.