Doused: United's offense fizzles in rain-soaked defeat

Stoppage-time lightning was not enough to save United this time.

For more than 90 minutes, New Mexico United could not find any answers against visiting Oakland Roots SC on a rainy Wednesday night at Isotopes Park. As a result, NMU trudged off the pitch lugging a costly 2-1 defeat in the opener of a four-game homestand.

Sergio Rivas finally broke through with a goal two minutes into second-half stoppage time, but it wasn't enough to change the outcome. New Mexico salvaged a draw four days earlier with stoppage-time goal in San Diego, but it found precious little success in two attempts against Roots SC this season.

Oakland goalkeeper Paul Blanchette pitched a 1-0 shutout against United in April, and he very nearly posted another clean sheet Wednesday. NMU's attack had its opportunities early and amped up the pressure over the final 10 minutes — with very little action in between.

"Disappointed," United coach Eric Quill said of his team's outing. "After a positive point on the road and getting some positive momentum, we didn't take advantage of it. Positive first 20 minutes but then we got a little complacent, sloppy and had too many extra touches. I'm not sure why but we've got to get it fixed before Saturday."

The defeat extended New Mexico's winless streak to five games (0-4-1) and left it in 10th place in the USL Championship Western Conference standings with 10 games remaining in the regular season. The top eight finishers qualify for postseason play.

NMU (8-11-5) could have moved into a tie for seventh place with a win Wednesday but its attack was not up to the task.

Oakland (11-7-7) did not pose much of a threat early as United sent several balls in front and had an Amando Moreno header sail just wide of the goal frame. But Roots SC began to control the pace midway through the first half and ultimately capitalized when Anuar Palaez banged home a cross from Danny Barbir in the 42nd minute.

"Guys wanted to respond, but the soccer wasn't there," Rivas said. "Chance creation and opportunities didn't happen nearly often enough."

Moreno nearly tied it with a long blast off a corner kick in the closing seconds of the half, but Blanchette came up with a big save to turn the ball aside.

Roots SC got an insurance goal and took some starch out of the home crowd in the 52nd minute. Barbir dribbled up the center of the field and passed left to Trayvone Reid, whose shot got past United goalkeeper Alex Tambakis for a 2-0 lead.

New Mexico had ample time for a comeback but showed little urgency over the next 20 minutes, passing the ball methodically without breaking down Oakland's defense. Roots SC came into the match having allowed 27 goals all season — sixth fewest in the USL Championship.

"I think when you get down like that there's some anxiety and you start getting away from what you do well," Quill said. "Oakland scored on the first opportunity they had and the momentum totally changed."

United did amp things in the final minutes, creating numerous free- and corner-kick opportunities and forcing Blanchette and his back line to make several big stops. It finally paid off when Rivas banged home his fifth goal of the season off a Justin Portillo corner kick.

"We had a couple of subs come on and they brought energy," Rivas said. "We changed our formation to a 4-4-2 and that helped us put more pressure on."

Rivas' goal proved too little, too late, as Oakland effectively milked the final minutes off the clock without a serious threat by the hosts.

United had 63% of the game's possession but had little to show for it. Oakland finished with a 12-11 edge in shots, though NMU led 7-6 in shots on goal.

Photos: New Mexico United fall to Oakland Roots SC