Star Wars night started with a bang. New Mexico United, back after another ten-day break, was looking to slow down El Paso Locomotive, who had been chugging up the standings with their hot start to the season. Coming into the match, the Locomotive had outscored even Louisville City. United wanted to carry over the momentum from the Cup win over AV Alta
It was clear early that El Paso was going to press hard and try to outplay United on second balls while limiting passing options. Despite the pressure, United found an early chance to go on a counter. An unlikely shooter emerged in the shape of Ousman Jabang. Very early, Jabang had a chance to shoot from the top of the area. Sebastien Mora-Mora was forced into action in just the 4th minute of the match, leaping to his own left. There wasn’t enough spin on the ball to direct it back into the goal as it rattled off the woodwork, inches from an opener.
Rubio Rubin, one of the stars for El Paso, was gifted an opportunity in the 12th minute that he couldn’t pass up. In their run forward, Rubin found space between Niko Hamalainen and Maliek Howell, opening a line for Alex Mendez to pass the ball into. Rubin settled the ball and cut around Hamalainen. Facing down Kris Shakes, Rubin put a right-footed shot across the face of the goal and into the left side netting for the opening goal in the Derby del Camino Real, 0-1.
Stadium deflated, United needed to get back into the match in a hurry. If they allowed El Paso to keep building momentum, there was a chance it would turn into a repeat of the Open Cup defeat earlier this season. In the 14th, Niall Reid-Stephen started to stretch the Locomotive defense into the wider areas. At the same time, Jake LaCava found space underneath, taking a pass from the winger. LaCava flicked the ball into the foot of Greg Hurst. Hurst put a backheel through the legs of a defender and past Mora-Mora to equalize, 1-1.
After finding his first goal of the season, Hurst would double that tally in the 25th. Splitting the defenders, Hurst had room in front of him as Jabang slid the ball forward. In stride, Hurst went to his left, pulling defenders and the goalkeeper with him. With a left-footed shot, Hurst went back across the goal to shake the net and put United ahead, 2-1.
The match took an odd turn in the 75th minute as United tried to make a triple substitution. There was a lengthy delay in the match, during which players that United had subbed on, Gedion Zelalem and Luther Archimede, were taken back off the pitch, while the players they were replacing were still made to come off. That decision left United playing with only 9 players for nearly three minutes. In what essentially amounted to a two-person power play, El Paso was kept off the score sheet temporarily, relieving what could have been a disaster for United.
That didn’t stop the night from being a disappointment for United. After 8 minutes of stoppage time were added due to the delays, the closing minutes of regular time were more than enough for El Paso to square the match. In the 86th minute of play, a cross was sent in from the left, destined for the center of the area, and Shakes came off his line to make a play. Unable to clear the ball, it instead popped into the air and came down for Diego Abitia. Abitia was able to pull off a bicycle kick and loop the ball over Shakes and multiple United defenders into the back of the net to pull level and salvage a point, 2-2.
Player of the Match
Greg Hurst – After a slow start to the season, Hurst finally got off the mark with his first two goals of the campaign. Hurst had chances for a third, but the second half was a tougher defensive display by El Paso. Even with that, United and Hurst showed signs of pulling out of the early season doldrums and making the most of the matches in hand.
Up Next
United is back on a quick turnaround, playing again on Saturday night at The Lab. Slated for a 7:00 start, United will host Las Vegas Lights FC in a battle to get back above the playoff line. Coverage of that match will begin with Adam Diehl and Andy Hageman on the pregame show starting at 6 pm. Kickoff will follow at 7 pm. Catch New Mexico United on ESPN Radio 101.7 FM The TEAM, The TEAM apps, and The TEAM website all season long.
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