New Mexico United earns rare road point at San Antonio

Only one aim and a single level gathered, however they have been massive ones for New Mexico United.

Chris Wehan’s redirect within the 67th minute served because the equalizer, and United got here away with a 1-1 draw Saturday night time in robust place to get one. New Mexico snapped a three-match shedding streak by breaking even with USL Championship Western Convention-leading San Antonio FC at Toyota Area.

New Mexico (11-9-10, 43 factors) solidified its maintain on fifth place with 4 regular-season matches remaining. Sixth-place El Paso has 40 factors going right into a Sunday match at LA Galaxy II.

Whereas New Mexico actually would have most popular a victory Saturday night time, a draw with the convention leaders certified as a feather in its collective cap. SAFC (20-5-4) is 9-1-4 at residence this season and had gained 19 consecutive matches when scoring first.

United performed San Antonio toe to toe all through because the pictures have been even at 7-7 and NMU had 52% of the possession.

“We represented ourselves the suitable means tonight,” United coach Zach Prince mentioned in a postgame cellphone interview. “I assumed the final half-hour we dominated and put ourselves ready to get the complete three factors, however that’s a optimistic efficiency on the street towards a first-place workforce. I’m utterly happy with that efficiency.”

Wehan enhanced his status as a villain for SAFC followers, scoring his seventh aim of the season to tie Neco Brett for the membership lead. Wehan additionally netted the decisive aim in United’s playoff win in San Antonio in 2020 and scored once more in NMU’s 1-0 victory at Toyota Area final season.

His aim Saturday got here off a well-placed serve from Austin Yearwood from the left wing. Wehan, attacking towards the middle of the penalty space, redirected the ball together with his proper foot towards the far submit. It skimmed off the fingertips of SAFC goalkeeper Jordan Farr and into the web.

“Chris was in every single place tonight,” Prince mentioned. “Guys have been speaking and that aim was an ideal instance of that. Chris made his run and simply trusted Austin to place the ball in the suitable place.”

Protection dominated the primary half with high quality scoring probabilities few and much between. Sergio Rivas fired a topspin blast on aim within the thirteenth minute that Farr was in a position to seize, and United goalkeeper Alex Tambakis later snagged a header by Ignacio Bailone and a low shot by Cristian Parano. The rating remained 0-0 at halftime.

SAFC broke by means of within the 54th minute when Parano flicked a ball ahead to Bailone in a one-on-one place with Tambakis close to the highest of the field. Bailone rifled the ball residence to offer the house aspect a 1-0 lead.

However New Mexico pressed the motion from there. After Wehan’s aim, Rivas had one of the best alternative to interrupt the tie however his low shot from in entrance deflected off the again of a sprawling defender within the 87th minute.

Issues obtained chippy within the second half because the groups mixed for 25 fouls and 6 yellow playing cards within the match. NMU’s gamers and coaches have been notably sad with a warning referred to as on Kevaughn Frater after SAFC’s Jasser Khmiri was caught on digicam flopping to the bottom and grabbing his foot in obvious agony regardless of making no contact with Frater.

NM UNITED 1, SAN ANTONIO FC 1

New Mexico 0 1 — 1

San Antonio 0 1 — 1

Scoring: SA, 54th, Ignacio Bailone (Cristian Parano); NM, 67th, Chris Wehan (Austin Yearwood). Pictures: NM 7, SA 7. Pictures on aim: NM 2, SA 3. Nook kicks: NM 3, SA 3. Goalkeeper saves: NM (Alex Tambakis) 3, SA (Jordan Farr) 1. Information: NM 11-9-10, SA 20-5-4).