Seeing red: United goalkeeper sent away amid loss to Phoenix

One poor match can be seen as a blip. A second consecutive one, well, it just might be cause for some concern.

New Mexico United’s four-game home winning streak blew up in rather disastrous fashion Saturday in front of 10,844 fans at Isotopes Park, centering around normally stalwart goalkeeper Alex Tambakis.

As New Mexico lost 2-1 to USL Championship Western Conference foe Phoenix Rising, Tambakis figured in the game’s two pivotal plays.

Moments after a standout save, he failed to cover his post after the rebound remained dangerously deep and in Rising’s control. The result was a ball from Phoenix midfielder Hope Avayevu that squeezed through the opening and dribbled across the far goal line in the 12th minute.

While it was the first goal in USLC play that New Mexico had allowed at home this season, a second was to follow soon enough.

In the 57th minute, just after United was thwarted on a scoring chance during which New Mexico had its defenders pinching in offensively, Phoenix broke out with a counter. Darius Johnson collected the ball inside the United defensive end and had little but grass to the goal — until Tambakis took him down.

The United ‘keeper was sent off for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity, leaving New Mexico with 10 players and backup Kristopher Shakes in net.

It took Phoenix (2-3-4) just two minutes to take advantage with Johnson putting it away after a feed from Avayevu.

New Mexico (5-3) did show a late life, with McKinze Gaines putting away a left-footer from about 14 yards out in the 84th minute.

And United nearly got the equalizer in the final minute as Luis Fernando tried to get on the end of a floater at the top of the goalkeeper’s area, but he was unable to get a clear play as the Phoenix defense appeared to upend him as he made contact with the ball.

“I think that in a lot of ways, we gave them the game tonight,” coach Dennis Sanchez said. “I really commended our guys at the end of the game, the energy and effort that they had going down a player.”

While the result was not what New Mexico or Sanchez wanted, the coach was satisfied with the effort.

“Every time we step on the field, we talk about it every week, we’re learning more and more about each other,” he said. “I love the fight that they had tonight, but the reality is, I feel like we let one slip away. … We’re going to improve from this. And you know, we’re going to find ways to get better.”

The players came off the field thinking the outcome could easily have been different, despite playing down a man for the final 35 minutes.

“It’s really frustrating for the entire team,” said defender Talen Maples. “I think we’ll be a little bit stung from this, as we are from every loss. But especially this one, considering I thought we were playing well. I thought a little bit of a confusing or misfortunate red card, or unfortunate red card, but really, we need to take care of business way before then and we let it go in early. And that’s what happens when you do that. You let teams in the game too early, and it’s hard to get out of it.”

United, now third in the Western Conference standings, returns to action next Saturday at Orange County SC (3-4-1).

Take a look at NM United match against Phoenix Rising