Amang, Shakes lead United to 1-0 win over FC Juarez

It wasn’t exactly a typical night at the park, but New Mexico United was more than happy to take it.

Thomas Amang netted a first-half goal and United made it stand for a 1-0 win over FC Juarez in an International Friendly at Isotopes Park on Wednesday.

Both teams substituted liberally and neither generated many legitimate scoring threats after halftime. Still, United got everything it wanted from the midweek match in front of 8,006 fans — many of whom bought walk-up tickets at the gate.

Goalkeeper Kris Shakes posted a clean sheet for United, turning away a handful of threats and coming off his line as needed to thwart FC Juarez’s attack. Shakes, who gets relatively few opportunities playing behind Alex Tambakis, was all smiles after Wednesday’s win.

“It’s tough playing as second goalkeeper,” he said, “but I don’t see myself as a second keeper. I’m always staying ready for when my number is called, and getting a clean sheet proves I’m ready. It feels great.”

NMU coach Dennis Sanchez employed nearly two distinct units, substituting nine players in off his extended bench at halftime. Shakes and forward McKinze Gaines were the only 90-minute players for United.

The strategy allowed Sanchez to balance playing to win with keeping his regulars fresh for Saturday’s Jagermeister Cup home game against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC.

“It’s such a balance,” Sanchez said, “wanting to keep everyone in rhythm, wanting to give guys minutes and still trying to approach every game as the most important game. We basically used two different groups tonight but I thought we stayed true to our approach and had a good performance overall.”

The exhibition every bit like a league match for the first 45 minutes with regular lineups and full intensity. For United, Shakes started in goal and forward Luiz Fernando was not in uniform, but those were the only notable lineup changes.

Official statistics were not kept but New Mexico appeared to have the better of things for most of the first half. Mukwelle Akale had two close calls from inside the Juarez box, one of them forcing goalkeeper Benny Diaz to lay out for a diving save.

The Bravos had fewer opportunities but forward Angel Zaldivar twice threatened to get the visitors on the board. Zaldivar, who scored twice in FC Juarez’s 4-2 win at Isotopes Park last summer, sent one rocket just inches over the NMU crossbar, and Shakes jumped to punch another just over the top.

After being pinned back in its defensive end for several minutes, United broke through in the 32nd. Akale worked the ball in front from the left wing to Vargas, who chipped the ball between two defenders. Amang got possession and sent a low shot past Diaz, starting a celebration in the stadium’s south stands.

“It was very important for me,” Amang said. “It’s been a while.”

Amang, who slipped in just behind the Bravos’ defenders, quickly looked to the sideline before celebrating his goal.

“I was trying to stay onside,” he said with a grin, “but I had to make sure the flag was down before I started celebrating.”

Starters for both teams shook hands before leaving the field when the first half ended, largely turning things over to substitutes and a handful of academy players. FC Juarez employed two players with triple-digit uniform numbers (237 and 203) used to signify academy players in Mexico’s Liga MX.

Things got chippy in a second half that featured more yellow cards (seven) than shots on goal (none). Both teams missed the frame on attempts from outside the box, but United’s 1-0 lead remained fairly safe to the final whistle.

“It was more intense in the first half, very intense,” Shakes said. “It was basically their first team against our first team, and I felt like the better team won.”