GAME DAY: NM UNITED AT OAKLAND ROOTS SC
PLAYERS TO WATCH New Mexico (6-2-4):
United’s share-the-wealth attack has upped its production during the team’s fourmatch winning streak. Neco Brett, Harry Swartz and Justin Portillo lead the club with four goals apiece in USLC play, and Chris Wehan is close behind with three. All of Portillo’s goals have come in NMU’s last three matches. Defense remains New Mexico’s strength, as it has allowed a USLC-low nine goals all season. Goalkeeper Alex Tambakis has 23 saves and just six goals conceded. His winpreserving stop of a late penalty kick at Orange County on June 4 was selected as the league’s save of the week.
Oakland (4-4-8): Roots SC has been on an extended climb in the USL Championship’s Western Conference, going 3-0-4 in its last seven matches to move into playoff contention. Forward Ottar Magnus Karlsson has been a focal point during the surge, moving into the league lead with 10 goals scored. The Iceland native, on loan from Italy’s Venezia FC, also ranks sixth with 29 shots. Forward Charlie Dennis, who scored a goal in Oakland’s 2-2 draw with New Mexico on March 30 in Albuquerque, has a team-best 25 chances created. Goalkeeper Benny Diaz has 24 saves but 19 goals conceded thus far this season.
NOTEWORTHY: United enters Wednesday’s match in fifth place in the USLC’s Western Conference despite having played fewer matches (12) than all but one (Colorado Springs) of its competitors. Oakland and fourth-place El Paso have played 16 matches. The remaining nine clubs have played between 13 and 15 . ... Defender Raddy Ovouka, who played 90 minutes in Congo’s 1-0 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying win over The Gambia last week, is expected to rejoin NMU on Wednesday. ,,, United’s home match against LA Galaxy II, long listed as TBA, will be Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. at Isotopes Park.