Worth the wait: United weathers long delays to edge Lexington 2-1

New Mexico United might feel a brief tinge of sadness when the calendar flips to October this week.

It’s been a September to remember.

United capped a busy and productive month Sunday night with a weather-delayed and much-lengthened 2-1 win over Lexington SC at Isotopes Park. Marlon Vargas and Talen Maples scored early goals and New Mexico held on (very) late for its second win of the week and fourth during a 4-1-1 month of September.

Sunday’s win left NMU alone in third place in the USL Championship Western Conference standings with 40 points and four games (three at home) remaining. United is one point behind second-place Sacramento and stretched its lead over fourth-place San Antonio (37 points) and fifth-place Lexington (35).

The September surge largely made up for New Mexico’s bone dry months of July and August, when the club endured an 0-5-2 stretch in USLC play.

It also set up what figures to be a dramatic October as NMU battles for potential home playoff games.

Sunday’s nationally televised match got rolling after a 1-hour, 47-minute weather delay. It ended only after another 1-hour, 42-minute delay for lightning with just 32 seconds of regulation and 8 minutes of stoppage time left.

The home team appeared more than ready when the game’s first kick arrived.

United came out pressing hard and created a quick opportunity with some sharp ball movement around the Lexington box. It paid off when Jaylin Lindsey dropped a pass to Vargas, who one-timed a blast into the net from the right wing. Vargas’ third goal of the season made it 1-0 and got a crowd of 8,439 energized after the long delay.

Fans barely had time to sit down before NMU was back on the board. Greg Hurst was tripped up in the box, earning a penalty for the home side. Maples promptly hammered the ball into the right lower corner to make it 2-0 in the ninth minute. It was Maples’ fourth tally of the season — all of them on penalty kicks.

The forecast looked that much clearer for New Mexico when Lexington’s Daniel Wu tripped up Hurst in transition and picked up a straight red card in the 38th minute. United went to halftime with a 2-0 lead and a man advantage.

But New Mexico did not press its advantage, settling into a pass-happy offense that did not generate a shot for more than 40 minutes. Lexington made the home team pay, gradually gaining momentum until Marcus Epps zipped a bending shot past NMU goalkeeper Kris Shakes to make it 2-1 in the 65th minute.

It appeared that margin would hold to the finish line, but in the 89th minute the game officials opted to stop play because of lightning in the area. Players left the field, fans left the stands and the tarp was pulled over the Isotopes Infield. Rain started falling roughly 15 minutes later.

More than 100 minutes later, and with perhaps 40 diehard fans still in attendance, the teams resumed. United effectively burned the remaining time to secure the win, and the team invited its remaining fans to celebrate with them on the soggy turf.

United plays its final road match Saturday at Phoenix Rising FC at 8 p.m.