New Mexico United fell to rival Phoenix Rising FC by a 1-3 margin on Wednesday night. Justin Portillo’s assist on Amando Moreno’s 51st minute tally was the lone bright spot for the Black & Yellow, who remain in 10th place in the USL Championship Western Conference.
Rising scored first in the contest, as Danny Trejo tucked home an easy tap-in goal in the 31st minute, after a simple sideways ball from Panagiotis Armenakas. Phoenix would hold that lead through the rest of the first half, despite United leading in possession, shots, shots on target, xG and several other metrics in the first 45 minutes.
But New Mexico came out firing in the second stanza, and Amando Moreno would tally just six minutes into the frame. Portillo took a low ball from Harry Swartz and played a first time pass low into the channel for Moreno who turned around a defender and fired with his right foot past Phoenix pitcher Patrick Rakovsky to even the score. The assist was Portillo’s 30th in the USL Championship
That even scoreline would last just a minute and a half as Armenakas pushed a score home on the counter and an assist from Trejo. Phoenix would add a late insurance goal and take all three points.
