United returns to USL league play with road trip to Pittsburgh

Friday, 5 p.m., TV: KASY (English), Estrella (Spanish); Streaming: KRQE.com, ESPN+; (No radio)

A few Independence Day sparklers would brighten New Mexico United’s Fourth of July when it meets host Pittsburgh on Saturday in a return to USL Championship league play.

United (8-4-1, 25 points) sits atop the Western Conference and is playing a Riverhounds squad that has not been up to its usual standards with a 5-6-2 record. With 17 points, Pittsburgh resides in sixth in the East.

Still, New Mexico coach Dennis Sanchez said, the Riverhounds are well-coached and should put up a challenge.

“Pittsburgh is going to be a really difficult opponent. I have a lot of respect for the head coach, Bob Lilly,” he said. “He's arguably one of the winningest coaches in American history. (He) has never missed a playoff. So we're going to come into a place that notoriously is difficult to play at. They're going to be organized. They're going to be gritty. It's going to challenge us in ways that we've been challenged before, but as always, we respect our opponent, but we're coming in full of confidence, so we're going to play our way.”

The players understand that the record can be deceiving with the Riverhounds, who had a nice run in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, reaching the round of 16.

“I think Pittsburgh is a good team that we've seen the results, obviously in Open Cup,” said defender Jaylin Lindsey. “And you know … the last couple years they've been a dominant side in the USL. So I think going over there, (and) we can give them a good challenge, and my full faith (is) in the guys to come out of there with three points.”

New Mexico has been playing somewhat sporadically of late, winning three of its last seven and drawing one, but United did win both of its USL Jägermeister Cup matches in overtime shootouts.

And the Riverhounds, who are 4-1-0 at home this season, are built and play in a manner much like United, Sanchez said.

“Everybody attacks, everybody defends,” he said. “There's really nobody (who's) bigger than the team. So again, you just have a lot of blue-collar, working-class players.”

Pittsburgh prizes ball possession and will greedily hold on to it to for long stretches to squelch opposing attacks, Sanchez added.

“They have a good skill set as well. They're a team that notoriously doesn't give up a lot of opportunities,” he said. “So we're going to have to value the ball, find our moments to break them down, make sure that we're sound defensively and know that it might come down to a set piece or one play that's going to be the difference in the game.”

With the tighter confines at Highmark Stadium — something United is used to with its play at Isotopes Park — the difference could very well be off a set play, the coach said, adding that is something New Mexico has addressed.

“They have a smaller field, so that tends to bring out more set pieces,” Sanchez said. “So that's going to be something that we hit on this week.”

Finally, Pittsburgh is adept at flooding the offensive third and New Mexico defenders will have to be wary of extra attackers up top.

“I'd say that if there's one area that they're very good at in terms of attacks, it is creating wide overloads and also service into the box and arriving with a lot of numbers,” Sanchez said. “So they can break you down a lot of different ways, but I would say coping with their attack or how we cope with our wide defending and our box defending is going to be really important.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

New Mexico (8-4-1): New Mexico's attack continues to generate quality scoring chances with Mukwelle Akale (25) and Marlon Vargas (22) both among the league leaders in chances created. Luiz Fernando (4 goals, 10 chances created) has also become a catalyst of late with assists in each of his last two appearances. But with injured Greg Hurst (lower body) still out, Thomas Amang has begun to capitalize on increased playing time. Amang netted the game-winner in NMU's 1-0 win over FC Juarez last week and scored again in Saturday's 2-2 draw with Colorado Springs. Amang's direct runs into the box provide a different option for United's playmakers and the timing between them is improving. New Mexico's back line remains in flux since Kalen Ryden (clavicle) was injured, with Zico Bailey taking on more of a defensive role.

Pittsburgh (5-6-2): Opponents should expect a tight, low-scoring affair when they face the Riverhounds, especially at Highmark Stadium. Pittsburgh has kept its head above the USLC Eastern Conference playoff line despite scoring just 11 goals (second fewest) in 13 league games. Defense has kept the Hounds afloat. They've conceded just 12 goals (third fewest) and have more clean sheets (5) than games with multiple goals allowed (4). Pittsburgh has not conceded more than two goals in a match all season. Goalkeeper Eric Dick has been an anchor, playing every minute in USLC competition, but he's faced relatively few shots thanks to support from defenders like Sean Suber (75 clearances) and Luke Biasi (72 duels won). Daniel Griffin (3 goals, 11 shots) and playmaker Robbie Mertz (2 goals, 22 chances created) pace the attack.

GOAL KICKS: United will be making its second visit to Pittsburgh where it lost a 2-1 decision in a rain-soaked match in 2023. NMU is 1-0-1 against the Riverhounds in Albuquerque. Pittsburgh ranks 14th in USLC home attendance at 4,553 per game, but Highmark Stadium's capacity is 5,000 and club officials are anticipating a sellout Friday as the club offers prime viewing for a nearby city fireworks show. … Ryden attended United's home match versus Colorado Springs with his right arm in a sling. He said surgery was necessary to repair his clavicle after a portion of the bone was "obliterated" during NMU's June 14 game at Lexington. Ryden said his recovery is progressing well and he expects to return to action later this season.

JACKSON DUBOIS: On Thursday, New Mexico United announced the team has come to an agreement with North Texas SC on a loan for NMU defender Jackson DuBois through the end of the 2025 season.

North Texas SC plays in MLS Next-Pro, the second division of Major League Soccer and is affiliated with top-division squad FC Dallas.

DuBois, an Albuquerque native, came through the New Mexico United Academy and made his first club appearance on April 17, 2024 playing 90 minutes in a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup victory against the Lubbock Matadors. DuBois made his first league appearance on May 5, 2024, coming on as a substitute against Las Vegas Lights FC.