Late-night drama gives United win over San Antonio FC

It was not a good night to leave Isotopes Park early.

New Mexico United capped a back-and-forth game with two stoppage-time goals and sent its fans home happy with a 4-2 win over San Antonio FC.

Things changed quickly and dramatically in the final minutes after SAFC’s Andres Paredes picked up his second yellow card and was sent off with red card in the final minute of regulation. United wasted no time capitalizing.

Luiz Fernando headed home the go-ahead goal in the first minute of stoppage time, and Marlon Vargas banged home a clincher two minutes later. Jaylin Lindsey and Mukwelle Akale also scored for the home team in front of 9,802 delighted fans.

No one was happier about the result than Fernando, who scored for a second straight week, netted the eventual game-winner and assisted on Vargas’ goal.

“It was my first goal at home, amazing,” Fernando said. “Scoring in front of our fans and winning at home, I’m just so happy right now.”

Akale had a similar reaction after a particularly eventful night. Akale was was whistled for a penalty that set up San Antonio’s first goal, but he scored an answering goal, assisted on Lindsey’s first of the season and created numerous chances on determined drives through the SAFC defense.

“I knew I’d conceded the tying goal,” Akale said, “so after that I had two options: I could hang my head or I could find a way to help my team. It felt really good to score and I knew this squad would keep pushing and find a way to win.”

The win kept New Mexico (8-4-1) on top of the tightly bunched USL Championship Western Conference standings, two points ahead of El Paso and four clear of San Antonio and Tulsa. United coach Dennis Sanchez was happy with the way his team bounced back after going 0-1-1 and scoring just two goals combined in its past two contests.

“This to me was a statement game,” Sanchez said. “I’m really happy with the hunger we showed, just a really good collective effort.”

United got the fans on their feet early when Lindsey headed the ball past SAFC goalkeeper Richard Sanchez on an Akale free kick in the 10th minute. New Mexico took the 1-0 lead to halftime, but only after coming up empty on some golden scoring chances. Fernando and Akale both had one-on-one chances but were turned away.

“I felt like we had some opportunities to put more balls in the net early,” Dennis Sanchez said. “The penalty obviously changed the momentum.”

San Antonio’s Mitchell Taintor converted a 52nd-minute penalty kick to even the score at 1-1. Akale answered seven minutes later, banging a shot off Richard Sanchez and into the net after a centering pass from Vargas.

SAFC once again found an equalizer when Rece Buckmaster tapped in a rebound to make it 2-2 in the 75th minute, but New Mexico wasn’t satisfied with the idea of a draw.

Sanchez managed to stop a bullet shot on frame from Vargas in the 78th minute, but United continued to pressure and gained an advantage when Paredes drew his second yellow card on an obvious call.

NMU got the go-ahead goal when Mc- Kinze Gaines found Fernando on the far post with a well-placed cross. His header gave the home team a 3-2 lead and set off a celebration in the stands.

Fans were still on their feet when Fernando found Vargas in front for a clincher just over a minute later. Vargas picked up a yellow card after ripping his jersey off in celebration. United finished with a 13-9 shot advantage and 60% of the possession.