It was billed as two of the hottest clubs in the Western Conference, if not the league, as New Mexico United headed East as their road-packed July continued on Wednesday. United came into the trip against Lexington SC on a seven-match unbeaten run across all competitions. Despite a win over El Paso at the weekend, and missing out on the Cup knockouts, United was positive that they could continue to push for the top of the Western Conference. Lexington, after a rough start to the season, had won four of five in league play and were just outside the playoff line. United doused the fire behind a Greg Hurst brace and a stunning performance by Melto on the way to a 1-4 win on the road.
Both clubs struggled in the first half to retain any sort of meaningful possession and found themselves turning the ball over in bad areas. It was a frantic start and resulted in some entertaining end-to-end action. Just as the teams seemed to be settling into the rhythm of the evening, United broke the deadlock and never looked back.
In the 40th minute, Arturo Ordonez conceded a foul right outside of the Lexington goal area giving United a chance in a dangerous area. Greg Hurst was given an atypical chance on a free kick and tried to put the ball over the wall. The wall was able to get vertical and appeared to block it, but Braudilio Rodrigues extended his arm away from the body and conceded a penalty for United. Hurst was given the nod and stood at the penalty mark. The Scotsman would go to the top right corner, beating Oliver Semmle and taking the lead, 0-1.
That opened the floodgates for the yellow-clad United.
Right before the end of the half, Valentin Noel put in a world class strike, that Semmel had no chance at saving. It was the second minute of stoppage time and Ousman Jabang played Noel into space to the right of goal, around 28 yards out. Noel saw his opportunity and put his right laces through the ball, sending it into the left side of the goal, doubling United’s lead, 0-2. The goal was the first of the season for Noel.
The plague that has been flatness at the start of halves avoided United tonight and they came out hungry after halftime.
Not to be outdone by the strike of Noel, Hurst decided he wanted to add his own goal of the week nominee in the 62nd minute. Hurst and Joseph Melto Quiah got out front and were pushing the back line of Lexington. From the far left side of the pitch, Melto had eyes up and searching for Hurst, who was drifting to the right. Melto’s left sent a cross to the far post where Hurst was waiting. On the volley, Hurst placed a shot back across the goal into the left netting, with Semmle nowhere close to making a save, 0-3.
United would add a fourth and more than secure three points on the road in the 68th. After getting his first goal with United in the friendly against Atlante FC, Melto grabbed his first in league play. Played near the top of the area, Melto shot from distance and skipped the ball into the bottom left corner of the net, 0-4.
Two minutes later in the 70th, Lexington would earn a consolation goal so they didn’t go home empty-handed. A ball came in from the right that took a deflection off of a United defender. In the cleanup, Philip Goodrum was able to tap the ball into the goal cutting the lead, 1-4.
Player of the Match
Melto – Melto finally got a chance to show what he could do a few weeks ago, and now he got it in league play against one of the hottest teams right now. The moment wasn’t too big for Melto and he made the most of it. He was a joy to watch on the pitch and he picked up a goal and an assist. Melto and United are putting the league on notice.
Up Next
United has a ten day gap before their next match and will certainly try to keep the momentum going. Now with an eight-match unbeaten run, United is finally showing the end result of the promise they’ve shown all season long. They’ve charged up the table and sit solidly in third place in the West. Their next match out will be on Friday, July 24 when they go back East to play Birmingham Legion, who are underperforming to this point in the year. That match is scheduled to kickoff at 5 p.m. MT on that Friday. Catch New Mexico United all season long on ESPN Radio 101.7 FM The TEAM, The TEAM apps, and The TEAM website.
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