New Mexico United needed to become the protagonist more, according to Head Coach Dennis Sanchez. Against Charleston Battery that would always be a tough task. But on Saturday night at The Lab, Sanchez’s squad did more than that. The turquoise jerseys proved to be too much for Battery, controlling 60% of the possession in the first half and peppering the goal area of the visitors. Even without a first half goal, United picked one up in the second half and had one of their most complete performances of the season in a 1-0 win behind a Kipp Keller goal.
It’s rare to say that both clubs started brightly in a sport where momentum and confidence have such an impact. But in this match, that was the case as both were productive with the possession they were able to hold. Despite coming in with the better record, Battery had a back line of five in defense, but didn’t play in a low block. They were still high, which left chances for United’s pace on the wings to get in behind and force the visitors into making decisions.
Dennis Sanchez appeared to have directed his club to spread the pitch and try to get the ball into wide areas. Both Niall Reid-Stephen and Dayonn Harris were the target men throughout the half, with both pushing the visitors deeper into their own half. This led to the first significant chance for United in the 30th minute. A cross from Ousman Jabang found Chris Gloster outside the left post. Gloster put the ball back into the middle, where Harris gathered the loose ball and shot on frame, but the ball was deflected out.
United would follow that up with what should have been a sure goal in the 38th. After taking the ball in transition in their own half, United worked the ball forward to Greg Hurst at midfield. Ahead of him, Harris was making a run behind the Battery defenders. Hurst picked him out with a gorgeous through ball, and Harris bore down on the goalkeeper. Harris attempted to shoot around the keeper, Sean Suber, instead of dribbling around him as he came off his line. The shot had too much rotation on it and carried wide right of goal.
The turquoise-clad United kept the momentum for the rest of the half and earned another chance in the 44th. Getting forward for this attack, Valentin Noel and Hurst pushed the action with the midfielder playing a pass in from the right to Hurst who was more central. Hurst cut to his right, but couldn’t quite let the shot go. Defenders slipped in front of him as he continued to try and round them. When he finally did, he let the shot fly, but defender Joey Akpunonu was there to clear the ball off the goal line, keeping United off the scoresheet.
All of that momentum seemed gone in the second half, or at least was more tempered by the defensive efforts of Battery. United couldn’t find the same lanes they had before and Battery was preventing them from getting into opportune positions. Conversely, it was United that made the first real mistake of the second half and managed to escape no small amount of danger. As Kris Shakes tried to play the ball out of his own area, the ball went directly to Langston Blackston who took a chance to shoot from outside the area. A sliding Chris Gloster stuck his body in the way and prevented the danger from coming to fruition.
Neither side could find the goal they were searching for until the 81st minute of the match. United was being patient, working the ball up the left wing, trying to find an opening against an almost impregnable Battery defense in the second half. United looked like they lost the ball into the left field corner, but regained possession and worked the ball from the left corner all the way to the right corner of the goal area. Niko Hämäläinen left the ball for Kipp Keller who took a chance from 25 yards out. The driving, right-footed shot leapt off the top of Keller’s foot and was a frozen rope into the bottom left corner of the net for the lead, 1-0.
United wasn’t out of the woods and had to withstand the final agonizing minutes under constant duress from Battery. With increasing regularity, Battery was finding better crosses into the area and nearly found their equalizer in the 94th minute. Nathan Messer, who had subbed on in the 58th, played a cross from the left wing into the area, where Graham Smith was able to take the last best chance for the visitors. From that angle, any attempt would be tough, but Smith was able to get enough force behind a header for it to be dangerous. On the edge of the six-yard box, Smith’s header was upon Shakes almost instantly, but the Penn State alum was up to the challenge and made the save, giving United the clean sheet and the win.
Player of the Match
Kipp Keller – After getting back to form from his injuries, Keller has become a stalwart, much like he was for United in 2025. Keller made key plays at both ends of the pitch. His goal will be one of the goals of the week and gave United the win.
Up Next
With the win, United moves back into the top half of the table and level on points with both Phoenix Rising and Sacramento Republic. Closing out a tough week, United heads into another road trip, this one across the country. Next Saturday, United will play against Hartford Athletic at Trinity Health Stadium, a place that United has never won. In 2025, United lost 4-0 and in 2023, 2-1 away to Hartford. Coverage of that match will begin at 4 p.m. MT with Adam Diehl and Andy Hageman on the pregame show. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. MT from Hartford, Connecticut. 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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