United erupts for 3 goals, extends unbeaten streak
NMU beats conferenceleading Sacramento FC
Statement victory? It certainly felt like one.
New Mexico United posted arguably its most impressive win of the season Saturday night, rolling to a 3-0 victory over first-place Sacramento Republic in front of an announced 10,813 energized fans at Isotopes Park.
Harry Swartz, Amando Moreno and Nicky Hernandez scored for New Mexico (8-7-4), which extended its unbeaten streak to five games and climbed
New Mexico United at Orange County SC, 8 p.m., 101.7 FM, ESPN+ (streaming)
back into a playoff position in the USL Championship’s Western Conference.
It was unfamiliar territory for Sacramento (9-3-8), which came into the match tied with Pittsburgh for the fewest goals conceded in the league (12). Republic had not allowed multiple goals in a match this season prior to Saturday.
Instead, it was New Mexico amping up its defense. Goalkeeper Alex Tambakis posted his fourth clean sheet of the season — three of them coming in NMU’s last four matches.
United felt like the aggressors from the opening kick but had little to show for it for most of the first half. Quality scoring chances ended with Sergio Rivas and Daniel Bruce hitting shots over the crossbar.
The highlight of the first half came in the eighth minute, when United original Josh Suggs officially surpassed 20,000 career minutes. Suggs played his first entire match of the season but did not move into first place in career minutes as two other USLC players also eclipsed 20,000 minutes Saturday.
Sacramento had a pair of its best scoring opportunities in the 42nd min
ute, but Tambakis batted away a header to keep the match scoreless.
That’s when New Mexico began to take over.
In the 45th minute, Moreno crossed the ball from the left wing to Swartz at the top of the penalty area. Swartz spun to his left and fired a shot past goalkeeper Danny Vitiello into the lower right corner of the net. New Mexico led 1-0 at halftime.
United hit the visitors with a stunning flurry early in the second half, scoring twice and very nearly putting away three goals.
Moreno capitalized in the 57th minute, coming open on the left wing thanks to a pass from Rivas. Moreno fired a cross-field shot into the right side of the net. His team-leading sixth goal of the season made it 2-0.
Just one minute later, Moreno came open again but his hard shot was blocked by Vitiello, who tipped Moreno’s rebound effort just over the cross bar.
But steady New Mexico pressure eventually put the ball at Hernandez’s feet. His one-timer from near the left corner of the box made it 3-0 in the 60th minute and sent the Meow Wolf Night crowd into celebration mode. It was Hernandez’s first goal since signing with NMU shortly after coach Eric Quill took over in June.
United outshot Republic FC 15-14 (101 in the second half) and finished with 54% of the possession in its most complete performance this season.
New Mexico will play its next two matches on the road at Orange County and Hartford before returning to host defending league champ San Antonio FC on Aug. 12.
NEW MEXICO UNITED 3 SACRAMENTO REPUBLIC FC 0
Sacramento 0 0 — 0
New Mexico 1 2 — 3
Scoring: NM, 45th, Harry Swartz (Amando Moreno); NM, 57th, Moreno (Sergio Rivas); NM, 60th, Nicky Hernandez. Shots: NM 15, S 14. Shots on goal: NM 8, S 4. Corner kicks: NM 4, S 7. Goalkeeper saves: NM (Alex Tambakis) 4, S (Danny Vitiello) 3. Records: NM 8-7-4, S 9-3-8.