Back in form: United blasts Detroit City 4-0 for second straight win

New Mexico United fans were treated to some rare sights Wednesday at Isotopes Park.

The home side couldn't have scripted it much better.

Zico Bailey scored from beyond midfield, Alex Tambakis tied the USL Championship's career shutout record and United sent its fans home happy with a decisive 4-0 win over Detroit City FC.

The victory, NMU's second straight but first at home since June 21, lifted it to third place in the USL Championship's Western Conference standings. It also put the club's recent seven-game winless streak firmly into the rearview mirror.

Chris Gloster, Greg Hurst and Valentin Noel also scored for United, which matched its season high for goals.

"That felt great," NMU coach Dennis Sanchez said. "You see what confidence can do. Our (1-0) win the other night at San Antonio wasn't pretty but it got us started and we really had a complete performance tonight. Great job by everybody."

No one enjoyed it more than Tambakis, who got his first start since a 4-0 loss at Hartford on July 30. He made the most of it, recording his 58th career clean sheet to equal the record of since-retired Evan Newton. It was New Mexico's ninth shutout of the season overall, six of them by Tambakis.

"It was very rewarding," Tambakis said. "I wanted to get a win for the team and I wanted to get the clean sheet as well. I was thinking about it the last couple minutes, I'll admit, but wins are the big thing. Wins are what we need."

Wednesday's first half proved magical indeed for the home side — despite nearly getting stung by a Detroit City shot from in front just 13 seconds into the game. Tambakis managed to turn the threat aside with a sliding save, and NMU soon started to impose its will.

The tide officially turned when Bailey took a pass from Will Seymore near midfield and looked up to see Detroit goalkeeper Carlos Herrera well outside his team's penalty area. Bailey let a shot fly from 55 yards out that sailed just over the hands of a retreating Herrera and found the back of the net.

The long blast ignited New Mexico's 7,347 fans in the 5th minute.

"Zico's a great player and he showcased that tonight," forward Dayonn Harris said. "That goal got us going, gave us confidence to go get the next three."

Steady United pressure paid off in the 20th minute — also known as the Magic Minute, during which fans stand and cheer from 19:12 to 20:19 on the stadium clock. The numbers represent the years of New Mexico's statehood and United's inaugural season.

Magic Minute goals have been few and far between for NMU, but Gloster cashed one in when a shot from Harris deflected off Herrera's hands in front of the goal. The ball found Gloster and he promptly drilled it home for a 2-0 New Mexico lead.

That margin remained until halftime, and with his team facing a Saturday match against first-place FC Tulsa, Sanchez sent several substitutes onto the field early in the second half. Still, he wanted to see his team continue to press against Detroit.

"We talked about the importance of that third goal at halftime," Sanchez said. "It took us a while to get it, but I felt like everyone who came into the game was still pushing forward and keeping our intensity up."

Hurst made the score 3-0 by heading home his team-leading fifth goal on a Harris corner kick in the 69th minute. Noel later capped the evening with a blast from the left wing late in stoppage time.

United finished with a narrow 11-10 edge in shots but held 56% of the possession and seemed well in control through most of the match. NMU hosts Tulsa for its annual Meow Wolf Night on Saturday at 7 p.m.

United vs Detroit: Photos