NM United advances past San Antonio FC on PKs in Jägermeister Cup

It was a result that almost bordered on the ridiculous, or perhaps it just left fans incredulous.

Either way, New Mexico United, whose USL Jägermeister Cup chances looked less than dim when entering stoppage trailing San Antonio 2-0, rallied for two scores to force a game-deciding penalty-kick shootout.

United then won the shootout to grab two points and finish with eight points in group play. That, however, still left New Mexico shy of the necessary points to advance to the knockout stage of the tournament.

Nevertheless, United showed amazing resiliency in the match, and for the second time in five weeks, stunned San Antonio with two goals in stoppage time.

“This was a like a playoff game,” United coach Dennis Sanchez said. “We fought back and to get this type of penalty shootout win is a great experience that we went through together. At the same time, how do we avoid going down 2-0 in the first place? There is definitely some lessons to draw upon.”

This time around seems particularly noteworthy as a newcomer and a familiar face making a season debut brought New Mexico back after entering as substitutes in the second half.

In the 92nd minute, midfielder Valentin Noel, who United acquired in a trade with Las Vegas on Friday, found himself just outside the penalty area when a ball came right to him and he delivered a perfect strike into the near corner.

“I got used to seeing that last year,” said Sanchez, who coached Noel in Las Vegas last season. “He’s a very good player.”

Then in the 99th minute, midfielder Dayonn Harris, who has been out all year after suffering an ACL tear in his knee last season, volleyed in a header from Talen Maples to knot it up.

“Dayonn, out for over a year and scoring,” Sanchez said. “I loved the guys who came on as subs, their energy. And I love the fight, the urgency that we showed after the first goal, after we scored. We need that from the first whistle. Happy on one hand and lot to improve upon on the other.”

After Juan Agudelo scored his second goal of the game for San Antonio in the 51st minute, New Mexico was searching for answers.

“There were a lot of ups and downs,” Sanchez said. “I think it was two sides of the coin. We have to find a way to stop conceding the easier goals and giving teams life, especially early on.”

An early mistake cost New Mexico a goal in the eighth minute. Budding San Antonio star Luis Paredes, who later the game with on a stretcher after a knee injury, rolled one through the penalty area that did not seem to be much of an issue as United centerback Ousman Jabang was in position to defend it.

But he somehow got crossed up and the ball continued on its way to a closing Agudelo on the back door unmarked. His shot back toward the opposite post beat New Mexico goalkeeper Alex Tambakis.

“First and foremost, I want more,” Sanchez said. “A key thing in general is how can we do more every single day to keep improving. It’s very clear the things we need to keep improving.”