United stays hot, knocks off San Antonio in playoff opener

New Mexico United’s playoff run got off to a magical start Saturday night.

Mukwelle Akale and Valentin Noel cashed in goals, Kris Shakes posted a clean sheet and NMU advanced with a 2-0 win over San Antonio FC in a USL Championship Western Conference quarterfinal at Isotopes Park.

United dominated most of the contest to the delight of 8,287 fans. NMU outshot the visitors 14-7 and held 56% of possession and very nearly put at least two more shots in the San Antonio net.

New Mexico extended its unbeaten streak to eight games and now moves on to next week’s Western Conference semifinals. United will meet the winner of Sunday’s quarterfinal between No. 2 seed Sacramento and No. 7 Orange County. NMU will play on the road if Sacramento wins; at home if Orange County pulls off an upset.

Asked about his team’s late-season surge and postseason confidence, Shakes broke into a smile.

“We’re dangerous,” he said. “We’re playing well at the end of the season and we don’t want to go home yet. We’ve just gotta keep pushing.”

United fans stayed around afterward to celebrate and honor co-captain Kalen Ryden, who has announced his retirement at season’s end and may have played his final home game Saturday. Ryden addressed the fans after the game and left the field to chants of “Ka-len Ry-den.”

United coach Dennis Sanchez and Noel, who won a playoff game with Las Vegas Lights last season at Isotopes Park, enjoyed being on the other side of things Saturday.

“Last year was fun,” Noel said, “this feels a lot better. Playing in front of these amazing fans is always such a pleasure.”

“I’m just really proud of the guys,” Sanchez added. “Playing the way we did, putting up a shutout, it feels really good.”

United set an aggressive pace from the opening minute and nearly grabbed a lead when Noel slammed a 30-yard blast off the crossbar. But things soon started to take on a magical feel for the home side.

As fans stood and cheered for NMU’s traditional “Magic Minute” (from 19:12 to 20:19 on the game clock), Greg Hurst fired a shot from left of the goal that trickled off the hands off SAFC goalkeeper Richard Sanchez. Akale was in position to hammer the rebound home, giving United a 1-0 lead.

It was Akale’s fifth goal of the season and his third in his last three games.

New Mexico outshot SAFC 10-3 in the first half and controlled most of the action. Shakes passed one late test, diving to punch away a bounced header by Santiago Patiño to keep NMU in front at halftime.

“We emphasized starting quick, not letting (SAFC) get settled in,” Shakes said. “The atmosphere was part of it. The crowd was buzzing and we came out with a lot of energy.”

San Antonio continued to press early in the second half but was unable to break through New Mexico’s back line. Defender Kipp Keller then helped give the home side some breathing room with perfectly placed lead pass from midfield that sprung Noel into open space.

Noel pushed up the right wing and fired across the goal box. The ball eluded a diving Sanchez and banged off the left post and into the goal to make it 2-0 in the 58th minute.

The margin was more than enough for Shakes and his back line — though a Sergio Rivas shot that Sanchez pushed just off the left post nearly extended NMU’s lead to 3-0. Shakes completed his fifth shutout of the season in his first professional playoff start.

Noel was asked if United had a preference about next week’s opponent and admitted he’d prefer to see Orange County, if only because of the venue.

“In the playoffs you’ll play anybody,” he said, “but we’d obviously rather have that game at home.”