'Cage match' with San Antonio: 5 things to know ahead of NM United's match against defending USLC champion

Ken Sickenger Ken Sickenger Ken Sickenger Journal Staff Writer

Published August 12, 2023 - 1:03 a.m. Modified September 15, 2024 - 2:00 a.m.

The challenge facing New Mexico United on Saturday night will be formidable.

Defending league champ San Antonio FC rolls into Albuquerque for a USL Championship Western Conference battle and the visitors appear to be rounding into postseason form. SAFC (11-4-7) has won five of its last six matches sparked by the midseason addition of prolific goal-scorer Tani Olywaseyi (14 tallies in 13 games).

United, meanwhile, is looking to shake off a pair of dispiriting road losses that pushed it below the Western Conference playoff line. Coach Eric Quill has been impressed with his club’s resolve last week but wants to see it translate to on-the-pitch performance against a top-quality foe.

“This will be a different kind of match, more of a cage fight,” Quill said. “Who wants it more? San Antonio is very direct and won’t spend a lot of time trying to break us down. It’s a hard style to play against. Our mentality has to be as strong as theirs.”

United (8-9-4) will be tested on both ends. San Antonio leads the USLC in scoring with 44 goals and has been particularly hard to stop since Olywaseyi came over on loan from Minnesota United of the MLS.

“His athleticism is off the charts,” Quill said, “and he’s multi-dimensional. We have to keep our lines nice and tight and keep a body on him. If you just let him drift and go where he wants to go, he will hurt you.”

New Mexico also has to find ways to score against a solid defensive side that has given it fits in recent meetings. United dropped a 2-1 decision at Toyota Field on May 27 and is 0-3-1 in its last four matches against SAFC with a pair of shutout losses.

Quill said his players spent extra time working in front of the goal last week and he’s confident NMU will have its share of scoring chances. Remaining focused and producing quality finishes — things United did not do in its two road losses — will be crucial.

“We went into those games off a five-game unbeaten streak,” Quill said, “and sometimes you can start feeling pretty good about yourself and get a little complacent. When you do that the soccer gods will bring you back in line.

“But last week is the best we’ve trained since I’ve been here,” he added. “I’m excited to see how we play after these last few days.”

Here are five key factors to consider going into Saturday’s showdown.

High-altitude cooking

United has played better at Isotopes Park this season (5-2-2) and put together arguably its best performance (a 3-0 win over Sacramento) in its last home appearance. Midfielder Justin Portillo hopes NMU’s fan base and Albuquerque’s thin air will provide a boost Saturday.

“It’s a big advantage playing at home and we need to use that,” Portillo said. “The altitude is in our favor and you can see it, especially with teams from the South. In the 60th or 70th minute, they start to lose their legs a little and you can see it on their faces. We need to try to take advantage of that.”

Familiarity factor

NMU midfielder Nicky Hernandez expects an emotional night facing SAFC, a club he played for during last season’s championship run. But Hernandez said he’ll be fully focused on helping his new side once the contest begins.

“We have to treat it like just another match,” he said, “play our style and stay focused. I’m really enjoying playing here and I have to give credit to the team and the fans for welcoming me. I have a lot more to give and i want to show that.”

Now or never?

Saturday’s match begins a stretch of six games in a three-week span for NMU with five of them coming at home. United comes in one point behind eighth-place and just five points out behind fifth-place Orange County and has played the fewest games of any Western Conference team. It’s fair to call the coming three weeks crucial.

“Our backs are against the wall,” Quill said.

Hot and cold

United’s series with San Antonio has been streaky. United started 3-1-0 including a playoff win at Toyota Field, but SAFC has turned the tide with a 3-0-1 run over the past four meetings.

Red and yellow

United will get captain Sam Hamilton back Saturday after he served a one-match suspension (red card) against Hartford. Hamilton, who never received a red card at any level prior to this season, is tied for the USLC lead with two. San Antonio’s Lamar Batista leads the league with nine yellow cards.

Game time

Saturday, 7 p.m., 101.7 FM, Estrella TV, ESPN+ (streaming)

Players to watch

San Antonio (11-4-7): Rarely has a loan paid bigger dividends than the one SAFC signed off on to bring Tani Olywaseyi to Texas this season. Olywaseyi, on loan from MLS’s Minnesota United, leads the USL Championship with 14 goals scored — accomplished in just 13 games played. The 23-year-old striker netted four goals in a recent 5-2 win over Hartford and scored eight overall in July on his way to being named USLC Player of the Month. Olywaseyi also has five assists and a team-leading 40 shots in his brief tenure and has helped San Antonio move into the league lead with 44 goals and 336 shots. SAFC has other weapons, including Samuel Adeniran (4 goals) and Jorge Hernandez, who shares the league lead with 7 assists and paces his team with 25 chances created. Goalkeeper Jordan Farr has 48 saves and 23 goals conceded.

New Mexico (8-9-4): United will be looking to jump-start its attack after managing just one goal over two disappointing losses to Orange County and Hartford. Midfielder Nicky Hernandez netted the lone goal and he’ll undoubtedly be motivated to play well against San Antonio, his former team. Hernandez has quickly become a key figure in the lineup for NMU, posting two goals on seven shots with one assist in six games since his midseason signing. United’s other attackers will be looking to regain their finishing touch after two frustrating outings. United attempted 28 shots in the two losses with little to show for it. Amando Moreno, Sergio Rivas and Daniel Bruce combined for 11 shots, just three on target with four blocked. United was outshot 21-12 in a 2-1 loss in San Antonio on May 27 with Kyle Colonna netting the lone goal.

Noteworthy

New Mexico continues to lead the USL Championship in home attendance, averaging 10,046 fans per game. Sacramento (9,789), Indy (9,364) and Louisville (9,505) are the only other teams above 9,000 per home contest. San Antonio (7,130) ranks sixth. … Saturday’s game features two of the league’s top defenders in terms of clearances. SAFC’s Fabien Garcia ranks third with 100, NMU’s Kalen Ryden is fourth with 99.