Round 3: United, San Antonio search for breakthrough win

New Mexico United at San Antonio FC, 6:30 p.m., Radio: 101.7 FM; TV: KASY (English), Estrella (Spanish); Streaming: KRQE.com, ESPN+

The script has certainly changed for Saturday's third round between New Mexico United and San Antonio FC — and not for the better.

When the two USL Championship rivals met June 21 at Isotopes Park (a 4-2 NMU win), United was in first place in the Western Conference. New Mexico hasn't won since.

Round two was a July 26 Jägermeister Cup showdown with first place in group play at stake. The teams battled to a 2-2 draw with United winning the ensuing penalty shootout. SAFC got the last laugh, winning the group and advancing to the tournament's knockout round.

San Antonio is 1-3-3 in all competitions since and hasn't tasted victory since July 12.

Caught in the same whirlpool of misfortune, United and SAFC are now battling to keep their heads above water in the Western Conference playoff race. Both are in dire need of a win at Toyota Field on Saturday night.

"Context is everything," New Mexico coach Dennis Sanchez said. "We know we're not where we want to be right now, but this game is a great challenge for us. We've had a lot of changes in the last month and we're all ready for that aha moment where things come together. Thirty points are still on the table for us and this is a chance to get three."

With 10 regular-season games remaining (San Antonio has nine), United stands in eighth place in the Western Conference standings with 27 points — just above the playoff line. San Antonio is in fourth place but far from comfortable with 30 points and could slide several notches with a loss Saturday.

The similarities are striking. Both teams have scored 26 goals in league play but neither has been able to find the net with any sort of regularity lately. NMU has been shut out in its last two matches and three times in its last five. SAFC has scored just one goal in its last four outings.

Sluggish starts have been a big part of New Mexico's recent funk, with the team showing little fire until the closing minutes of matches.

"It's on us more than anything," defender Chris Gloster said. "We've got to have that desire to score, that urgency, and it needs to be from the starting whistle instead of just the last 15 minutes when we've got nothing to lose."

Forward Greg Hurst agreed, pointing to a 2-2 draw with Las Vegas as an example. NMU trailed 2-1 late but rallied to earn a point on Aug. 16.

"It doesn't matter if you lose 2-1 or 3-1," Hurst said, "so we started playing like we had nothing to lose. There has to be a mindset shift, start playing with the confidence we had at the start of the year. Go get that first goal and build from there."

Sanchez wants his team to take more risks in the final third instead of trying too hard to create highlight-reel goals. NMU has been outshot 33-11 combined over its last two matches with only two shots on target.

"We've got to get back to where we have control of the game," Sanchez said, "with more possession and giving our attackers more chances. We've got to be better on set pieces and ask more questions. It doesn't have to be a perfect shot, just put it on goal."

Despite a more direct approach, San Antonio also has struggled to put shots on frame and has two fewer (75-73) than New Mexico this season. Both teams have been looking for answers on the defensive end as well and have made recent changes at goalkeeper. Kris Shakes has started the last four games in place of Alex Tambakis for NMU. Daniel Namani has started San Antonio's last three games in place of Richard Sanchez.

United went 1-0-1 with a shootout victory in its previous encounters with San Antonio this season, and Dennis Sanchez believes setting an early tone will be critical in round three.

"San Antonio prides itself on playing with a physical edge," he said. "We need to come out with physicality, aggression and intensity, show what we're capable of right away."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

New Mexico (8-9-3): After last week's less-than-exhilarating performance against Sacramento, it's hard to predict which players will be in NMU coach Dennis Sanchez's lineup Saturday. Midfielder Mukwelle Akale now leads the club in minutes played (1,624) and ranks among the USL Championship leaders with 5 assists and 33 chances created, but he's been stuck on 2 goals and hasn't bagged an assist during United's recent winless skid. Akale and relative newcomer Valentin Noel are NMU's most creative forces up front and need to provide a spark. The same can be said of forward Greg Hurst, who shares the club lead with 4 goals scored. (Departed Luiz Fernando also has 4). Hurst has attempted just 12 shots in 11 appearances this season and has passed up potential shot opportunities during New Mexico's scoring slump.

San Antonio (8-7-6): SAFC has been enduring many of the same issues that have plagued New Mexico of late. Most notably, San Antonio's attack has been fizzling with just one goal scored in its last four matches. That one was netted by Jorge Hernandez, who has been the club's most reliable finisher with 8 goals on 18 shot attempts. Hernandez also leads SAFC with 35 chances created and ranks sixth in the USLC with 111 crosses this season. San Antonio also has capable scorers in Luke Haakenson (4 goals) and Juan Agudelo, who scored twice against United earlier this season. New Mexico fans will likely see a pair of familiar faces wearing opposing colors at Toyota Field. Former United players Nicky Hernandez and Alexis Souahy have been regulars for SAFC.

GOAL KICKS: NMU and SAFC have similar statistics in numerous areas but San Antonio has a significant edge in fouls conceded with 330 to United's 269. New Mexico led the league in yellow cards for much of the season's first half but now ranks sixth with 56. SAFC has a league-leading 71 yellow cards. ... Despite its recent on-field woes, United continues to lead the USLC in home attendance (10,106 per match) after drawing 9,752 against Sacramento. Republic FC (9,576) is second. San Antonio (6,086) ranks ninth.