It was always going to be hard to beat San Antonio FC for a fourth time. New Mexico United was willing to give it a go if it meant staying alive in the playoffs. Two goals from Mukwelle Akale and Valentin Noel gave United the edge they needed against a tough opponent on the way to a 2-0 win, and a spot in the Western Conference Semifinals.
After thirty weeks of regular season contests, United had a chance to start their playoff journey with a match at The Lab. The match was the fourth of the year between United and San Antonio FC, with the hosts winning each of the three previous matches. Both knew what was on the line, and with a loss by Louisville City earlier in the evening, the odds of hosting the final edged up ever so slightly for both teams.
Unlike United’s most recent matches, this one started slowly. The frenetic pace wasn’t there, and the clubs, as familiar as they were, were trying to feel each other out. Even within the feeling out phase, United had a chance early that had to shake the confidence of San Antonio goalkeeper Richard Sanchez. In the 5th minute, Valentin Noel took a gamble and shot from around twenty-five yards out, if not further. With a rocket off his foot, Noel rattled the crossbar, missing a goal by inches.
Falling into their usual rhythm, United was happy to burn up the time of possession and limit San Antonio’s chances to get forward. One of those chances ended with a turnover in the midfield in the Magic Minute, when Valentin Noel recovered the ball and immediately played it forward to Greg Hurst on the left of the area. The Scotsman put the ball across the face of the goal, where Sanchez was able to get a glove on it. He couldn’t gather the ball, and it fell to Mukwelle Akale at the near post, and he slotted it home for the lead, 1-0.
From that point, San Antonio woke up and began to chip away at the possession, getting themselves back into the match. The challenges got harder and the pressure from San Antonio started to mount. The visitors were able to create some turnovers in United’s defensive third and put pressure on Kris Shakes, who was getting his first playoff start. San Antonio came close in the 39th when Santiago Patino had a chance at a free header, but left it in a spot where Shakes was able to easily save the attempt.
In the early minutes of the half, San Antonio was the better of the two sides. They were pressuring United and pushing for an equalizer. It looked like they were on the verge of knocking down the door, but against the run of play, United was able to pick up a second goal in the 58th minute. Taking over possession just on their side of the pitch, United saw a window forward as Kipp Keller had the ball at his feet. He picked out a pass that led Noel into the right side of the goal area. With a tight angle to shoot, Noel took a chance with his right foot and seemed to cross up Sanchez, who may have been expecting a cross. The ball got past the keeper and into the left side netting to double the lead, 2-0.
United came close to a third in the 81st when Sergio Rivas was played free at the top of the area. As the match neared the end, United increased their forward pressure and forced a turnover in the attacking third. The ball would get played around to the top of the area for Rivas, who put a quality shot in low and to the left of Sanchez. The San Antonio keeper dove to his right and pushed the ball away, but only as far as his own post, where it deflected off the woodwork and away from danger.
There the scoreline would stand. United would see out the half and punch their ticket to the USL Western Conference Semifinals. The opponent is not yet known, but will be after the match between Sacramento Republic FC and Orange County SC on Sunday.
Attendance – 8,287
Player of the Match – Mukwelle Akale
Akale seemed to always be in the right spot on Saturday night. He collected a deflection for a goal in the first half and was nearly there for a second later in the night. His positioning kept San Antonio off guard and put United in quality positions all night long.
Up Next
Up next for United is the USL Western Conference Semifinal. Depending on the outcome of the match between Sacramento and Orange County, there are two possible destinations. If Sacramento wins, United will be off to California. If Orange County wins, United will host the semifinal match. On Sunday night, Sacramento and Orange County played 120 minutes of goalless soccer, sending the match to kicks from the mark. Orange County was able to outlast Sacramento, converting five penalty kicks to Sacramento’s four in order to advance. That result means that United will host a Western Conference Semifinal match this coming weekend against Orange County. United announced that the match will be on Saturday, November 8, with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m. (MT).