United attack stalls again
NMU plays to tie for 4th consecutive game, this time vs. Oakland
Ever feel like you’re spending too much time spinning your wheels?
Such is the predicament for New Mexico United, which played to a 1-1 draw with visiting Oakland Roots SC in front of 6,047 fans at Isotopes Park on Wednesday night.
It was the fourth consecutive draw for New Mexico, which has struggled mightily to finish on its attack of late. United has netted just two goals over its last five matches, going 0-1-4.
Devon Sandoval headed home the lone goal for United (6-6-6) on Wednesday, part of a dominant first 30 minutes for the home side. But NMU was unable to cash in on several other early opportunities, and Oakland did enough to head home with a point.
“It hurts,” Sandoval said of the outcome. “Playing to a draw at home is not what you want.”
Sandoval and United coach Troy Lesesne lamented missed scoring chances — both early and late — that their squad was unable to put away. New Mexico had one apparent goal wiped away by an offside call and sent numer
ous balls into Oakland’s penalty area without getting a finishing touch.
“We had guys trying desperately to get that second goal,” Lesesne said. “The whole team was fighting extremely hard to get a win and it’s coming, believe me. If you keep playing that hard, it’s going to come and it’ll come in waves.”
New Mexico did control most of Wednesday’s match, finishing with 61% of the possession and outshooting Oakland 16-5. Roots SC (2-11-5) came into the match ranking last in the USL Championship in goals and shots.
Nonetheless, the visitors capitalized on a perfectly placed 30-yard free kick to even the score in the 34th minute and it proved to be enough to earn a draw.
The result was a missed opportunity for United (6-6-6), which plays its next two matches on the road against contending Austin Bold and Phoenix Rising teams. But the recent run of draws is not enough to dampen Sandoval’s optimism.
“Things haven’t totally gone our way but I still have a lot of faith in the group,” he said.
Things certainly seemed encouraging for United early on Wednesday. Sandoval headed in a goal in the sixth minute on David Najem’s well-placed entry from the right wing, giving the hosts an early lead and firing up the home crowd.
Another goal seemed imminent as NMU continued to push the action, regularly sending balls into the Oakland box. Sandoval twice came close to scoring, including on a bicycle kick just left of the goal, and Amando Moreno forced Roots goalie Paul Blanchette to make a pair of early saves.
“Our chance creation was good and we had opportunities,” Sandoval said, “but goals are what change games. If we get that second goal early, it’s a different game. It just didn’t fall.”
Oakland gained momentum in the middle portion of the match and scored the equalizer on Wil Fall’s free kick. His shot over United’s player wall deflected off the under side of the crossbar.
United got a second-half spark when midfielder Chris Wehan checked into the match, drawing a roar from the crowd. The exLobo and two-time United MVP re-signed with the club this week. But neither Wehan nor his teammates could convert the tiebreaking goal fans were hoping to see.
NOTES: New Mexico was without starting defender Kalen Ryden for a second straight game. He remains day to day with a lower-body injury, Lesesne said. … NMU was also without reserve goalie Philipp Beigl (upper body injury) on Wednesday and signed goalkeeper Will Palmquist to a contract Wednesday.