Jabang and Harris lead United to victory in home opener

ALBUQUERQUE — Despite the obstacles, like giving up two penalty-kick opportunities, New Mexico United was absolutely determined to come away from Saturday’s home-opening matinee at Isotopes Park with some points in USL Championship league play. And thanks to some last-moment heroics from Ousman Jabang and Dayonn Harris, United (1-2-0) made sure it was three points that got added to their total.

Jabang’s banger with about a minute of stoppage remaining gave New Mexico a 3-2 win over Colorado Springs (1-2-1) and it came moments after the Switchbacks tied it on the second of Khouri’s Bennett’s two penalty kick conversions.

“We can fight, we can play, we can do whatever is needed to be successful,” United coach Dennis Sanchez said. “And I think that you saw that in the group, you know, it had been very easy to be deflated after the second PK, and we were hoping that there’d be one more opportunity. And, fortunately for us, it came, and Ous was composed and took his chance.” 

Jabang had his chance because Harris, who came on as a substitution in the 60th minute, was able to slide a service into the middle that slithered about until it fell into a dangerous spot.

“It’s tough, because you feel like it’s not a PK and you feel like you’re getting screwed and all that,” Jabang said. “But I think it was Valentin (Noël) that said, ‘Two minutes left, so that’s more than enough time.’ And as soon as he said that, we all walked back in and we knew we’d get at least one more. So luckily, it fell to me, and I just finished the job from there.” 

That’s just the mentality New Mexico brings into the games, said Harris, who scored United’s first goal and assisted on the second. 

“We were taught to never, never give up, and that’s just the mentality that all the guys have,” he said. “So after that, we didn’t put our heads down. We kind of just went right back at it, and we were looking for the next one.” 

That’s the attitude that Sanchez loves to see out of his players. 

Saturday’s “message to the group was find a way,” he said. “And they did that. … Our response as a group when those things happen was fantastic. So it doesn’t always have to be perfect. And I think this is going to be a game that we build momentum off with.” 

For late arriving fans, well that was probably not such a bad thing as there was not much going on in the opening 45 minutes. 

The second half, however, more than made up for the lackluster first half. After Bennett cashed in Colorado Springs’ first penalty kick chance in the 57th minute, Harris came in and got on the end of an exquisite through ball from Greg Hurst to equalize in the 62nd minute. 

Harris then set up the go-ahead score two minutes later, feeding it into Noël, who slotted it in. After scoring just one goal in its first two games, United was due to put a couple away.

“Obviously we haven’t been as prolific as we should be, but we know we have the potential to create so many chances,” Jabang said. “So it’s all about the next one. I think if you get caught up in the misses, stay in that moment, then you kind of lose yourself … when your teammates need you.” 

And then it’s a matter of taking advantage of those opportunities, Harris said. 

“Just to be a difference maker when I come on, just to bring that spark,” he said. “Obviously, it was just maybe a little bit flat from both sides, but just to bring that spark, and that’s just what all the guys coming on did.”