New Mexico United fought to a 2-2 draw on Saturday night, in front of more than 10,000 fans at Rio Grande Credit Union Field at Isotopes Park. The match was the first with the Black & Yellow for Head Coach Eric Quill. Daniel Bruce and Justin Portillo scored for United – with both goals coming in the first half. While Wilmer Cabrera Jr and Juan Galindrez tallied for the visitors.
Cabrera was first on the score sheet, as he collected a rebound and fired just past the outstretched foot of Austin Yearwood and past Alex Tambakis for the game’s first goal in the 28th minute. But ten minutes later, United were level, as Austin Yearwood blasted a free kick from about 25 yards out into the upper left corner, leaving goalkeeper Carlos Merancio flat-footed.
Just five minutes after that, it was Bruce’s turn to score, as he took a brilliant pass from Sergio Rivas on his right foot and chipped Merancio for United’s first lead – a score they would bring into halftime. That first half saw United maintain 75.4% possession, their highest total in any half this season.
“I’m proud to hear that because that’s that’s a style that I like to play,” said Quill. “That’s part of what I believe is the football that wins championships. Now, I’ve got to look at the real numbers: of what’s the verticality in the possession look like instead of just, front half possession versus back half. But what I saw was guys moving more to support each other, guys playing one and two touch and that and then combining off of each other combination play that’s the stuff that’s going to… yield results because the combination play can really kill front half pressure.”
