AV Alta is a club that few folks were familiar with until Saturday night against New Mexico United. The California-based club was founded in 2023 and first took to the pitch in 2025. In only their second year of existence, they were put into one of the toughest groups in the 2026 Prinx Tires USL Cup. United was looking to get back on track after a rough outing in Phoenix and start their Cup path strong. Goals from Dayonn Harris and Justin Rennicks gave United a come-from-behind win in front of 9,605 fans and 237 dogs, 2-1.
AV Alta came in and didn’t look concerned at all with what they saw out of United. They accepted that United was going to invite pressure and found ways to work the ball in and around the United players, stretching them across the already narrow pitch. Their pressure forced United into early defensive action after Jake LaCava surrendered a foul in the 8th minute, just outside the United goal area. Jerry Desdunes went for goal from his mark and forced a save out of Kris Shakes after asking a question of the goalkeeper.
The visitors were the ones to find the first goal in the 18th minute of the match. After taking possession in their own defensive half, AV Alta worked the ball around the back before Cristian Ortiz was able to release Ilias Aoumaich up the right wing. The midfielder sprinted up the pitch, daring United to challenge his run. Will Seymore tried, but was left in the dust as Aoumiach rounded him before cutting inside. The sudden change of direction gave him space to turn his hips and shoot at United’s goal. With his left foot, he put the ball into the far left side of the goal for the lead, 0-1.
Unfortunately for AV Alta, Aoumaich would leave the match in the 27th minute after sustaining an injury in the infield area. It appeared to be a non-contact injury, slipping and was grabbing at his hamstring or thigh area. He would make way for Goodwin Anwti for the rest of the match.
It took more than 30 minutes for United to put a shot on target. When they finally did, they made it count. Starting to find some teeth in their actions, United had a chance to break in the 36th minute with Greg Hurst and Dayonn Harris got out ahead of everyone else. Hurst had the vision to pick out a pass to Harris in the goal area. With a slight touch to settle the ball, Harris put his right foot to the checkered sphere and shook the back of the net, 1-1.
For much of the match, Alta midfielder Desdunes was playing with fire. Having picked up a yellow card in the 4th minute for a hard foul, he wa having to play with some amount of caution for the rest of the night. That early foul would haunt him and his club in the second half. In the 64th, Desdunes attempted to challenge Zico Bailey in the Alta defensive half, but caught too much of Bailey and not enough of the ball, earning a second yellow and a trip to the showers after being shown a red card.
Down to 10 men, Alta was forced to play more defensively and dropped into an extremely low block for the rest of the match. United worked the ball around the edges of where Alta was trying to play, looking for chances to break through the block. It was after the return of Gedion Zelalem that United found an opportunity to do so. With his first appearance since the season opener against Oakland, Zelalem was a welcome sight and proved to have an instant impact on the outcome of the match. Zelalem entered the match in the 70th minute and in the 74th, provided a hockey assist as United found their match winner.
From the left wing, Zelalem and Harris worked to pull Alta out of position before finding a chance to get the ball into the area. Zelalem played a big cross from the left to the near post, where Niall Reid-Stephen was waiting for service. Reid-Stephen saw a chance to head the ball back to the middle of the area, where Justin Rennicks was able to slot home behind the keeper, 2-1.
With the win, United opened the homestand with three points and put themselves atop Group 2 in the Prinx Tires USL Cup group stage for the time being.
Player of the Match
Dayonn Harris – Harris proved that, as always, he is dynamic and dangerous when he’s allowed to work in space on the left of the pitch. Harris scored the opener for United and created two additional chances for his side. Harris’ return from injury has been nothing short of outstanding, and he is a game-changer for the club.
Up Next
United is now facing another week and a half between matches that will likely see them garner another match in hand against the rest of the West. The club will return to the pitch on Wednesday, May 6th for Star Wars night. On the 6th, United will play host to El Paso Locomotive in a return match from their Open Cup meeting a few weeks ago. United will be looking for a measure of revenge after losing to El Paso and being eliminated from the Cup by a final of 0-4. Radio coverage of that match will begin with the pregame show at 6 p.m. with Adam Diehl and Andy Hageman. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m MT. Catch New Mexico United all season long on ESPN Radio 101.7 FM The TEAM, The TEAM apps, and The TEAM website.
Comments