United expecting different look from Austin

NMU beat Bold in home opener May 15

Round one was a lot of fun for New Mexico United.

The story line for Saturday’s rematch with Austin Bold FC could be entirely different, however.

Thanks to a USL Championship scheduling quirk, United (3-2-1) will host Austin (2-2-1) for the second time in three weeks at Isotopes Park. The Mountain Division rivals will square off two more times in Austin later this season.

New Mexico won the first encounter 3-1 in what doubled as its home opener and Austin Bold’s season opener May 15, but studying video of that recent match might not be as instructive as one might think.

“A lot can change in three weeks. You’d be amazed,” NMU coach Troy Lesesne said. “I watched (Austin) play at Pittsburgh and they looked very different. They do a great job defending and they’ve very dangerous on the counter.”

Lesesne was referring to Austin Bold’s 1-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on Sunday, one in which Collin Fernandez scored just 53 seconds into the match. It was Austin’s fourth match in a 16-day span, during which it also had a game postponed because of inclement weather.

Austin went 2-1-1 in those contests, allowing just two goals total past goalkeeper Elliot Panicco, who moved into the starting 11 after the club’s loss in Albuquerque.

United players acknowledged Austin’s improvement during Thursday’s media conference

but pointed out NMU has made some effective adjustments of its own. New Mexico has won two of its three matches since its first meeting with Austin, allowing a total of two goals and recording the season’s first clean sheet in last week’s 1-0 win over Real Monarchs.

“I wish our first clean sheet would’ve come before week six,” defender Kalen Ryden said. “But we’ve continued to grow and learn each other’s tendencies. Our chemistry with (first-year goalkeeper Alex Tambakis) has been great since the beginning.”

Forward Amando Moreno agreed, adding that United’s attack is still adjusting to several offseason personnel changes.

“Alex and the back line have stepped up and made plays,” Moreno said. “Our attack has so many weapons, but we’re still coming together a little bit as far as timing. I’ve been trying to figure out exactly when to come forward and get closer to the box to be in position when our wings serve the ball. We work on it every day, and I feel like our timing keeps getting better.”

Moreno and Sergio Rivas have two goals apiece to lead NMU, while four other players have scored once.

Attendance for Saturday’s match and Wednesday’s home contest against San Antonio FC remains limited to 75% of capacity (roughly 9,000 fans) under the state’s public health order. As of Friday afternoon more than 7,600 tickets had been sold for Saturday.