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Saturday's match
When: 7:25 p.m.
Where: Isotopes Park, 1601 Avenida Cesar Chavez SE
TV/streaming/radio: New Mexico 50/ESPN+/FM-101.7
Records: Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (7-5-4), New Mexico United (7-4-3)
The series: United leads 13-5-3.
Ah, Isotopes Park.
There’s little doubt that’s how New Mexico United’s feeling after three weeks of traveling. And the club gets to welcome a familiar opponent — Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC — on Saturday for an important border battle.
Here are some things to note:
Free kicks
1. A RUBBERMATCH, YOU SAY: United and Switchbacks have met twice this season with each club coming away with a win.
The importance of those victories, however, has differed. The first meeting counted for points in the Western Conference table. The second, just for the USL Cup placement.
New Mexico won the regular-season matchup 3-2 on March 28 thanks to Ousman Jabang’s score in the sixth minute of stoppage time, two minutes after Khori Bennett provided an equalizer for Colorado Springs.
Switchbacks took the USL Cup matchup 4-0 on May 16 with three of those goals coming in the first half, one of which was an own-goal from New Mexico defender Kipp Keller. United, however, rested the majority of its starters.
2. SOME HOME COOKING: Yes, New Mexico has played well in its home competitions. The club is 7-2-3 in such matches between the regular season, USL Cup, U.S. Open Cup and its international friendly. Yes, this will be United’s first home game since beating Oakland Roots SC 2-1 on July 4.
But New Mexico has also played Colorado Springs well at Isotopes Park — extremely well.
United is 6-1-1 all-time against Switchbacks at home, having outscored Colorado Springs a combined 17-9. The loss came in 2020, a 3-2 result in favor of Switchbacks in the Four Corners Cup. The tie came last season after New Mexico’s Kalen Ryden scored an own goal in the 40th minute, resulting in a 1-1 draw.
3. STILL STREAKING: United and Switchbacks both come into the match on a bit of a roll.
New Mexico hasn’t suffered a loss across all competitions since a 1-0 defeat to Tampa Bay Rowdies on May 20 — a string of nine matches. During that stretch, United has recorded five shutouts and conceded five goals, three of which came in the international friendly against Liga MX side Atlante FC.
It will be interesting to see whether last week’s double-postponement at Birmingham Legion FC and the 17-day layoff between matches will affect that.
Colorado Springs, meanwhile, has won its last four with two of those featuring clean sheets.
4. THE WILD WEST: At this point, that’s what the Western Conference is starting to feel like.
Entering Friday, the table’s No. 2 position (San Antonio FC) and the 11th spot (Las Vegas Lights FC) were separated by just seven points. Four points separate third-position FC Tulsa and No. 8 El Paso Locomotive FC.
So, where do United and Switchbacks fall into that placement?
New Mexico entered Friday fifth in the table with 24 points. Colorado Springs? One spot ahead with 25. Both have the possibility of moving past Tulsa, which has 26.
Orange County FC, meanwhile, entered Friday with a table-leading 31 points. San Antonio had 28.
Key matchup
United forward Joseph Melto vs. Switchbacks forward Khori Bennett
Melto has played in just four matches for United — against Atlante on July 1, against Oakland on July 4, at El Paso on July 11 and at Lexington SC on July 15 — but he’s scored three goals. Bennett, of course, has found success scoring all season. The forward has 14 goals, including 11 in USL Championship play, which is tied with Detroit City FC’s Darren Smith for the most.
Player of the match
United midfielder/defender Ousman Jabang
Jabang scored the match winner when the clubs met on March 28, but he could also be key to containing Bennett. Jabang leads New Mexico in duels (112) and duels won (61), and is also fifth in clearances (28). He’s contributed two regular-season goals and three assists as well.
By the numbers
1: United retains its top spot in the Championship’s power rankings — for whatever that’s worth. Switchbacks moved up to fourth.
4: The number of regular-season clean sheets New Mexico goalkeeper Kris Shakes has tallied. That’s good for a tie for ninth in the league.
14: The number of regular-season matches United has played so far. That’s the fewest in the league, regardless of conference and could play a part in the final standings.
8/29/26: The date United will have back-to-back home matches. The club is on the road again next week.
David Glovach covers New Mexico United and other sports for the Journal. Reach him at [email protected] or via X @DavidGlovach.
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Continue reading...
When: 7:25 p.m.
Where: Isotopes Park, 1601 Avenida Cesar Chavez SE
TV/streaming/radio: New Mexico 50/ESPN+/FM-101.7
Records: Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (7-5-4), New Mexico United (7-4-3)
The series: United leads 13-5-3.
Ah, Isotopes Park.
There’s little doubt that’s how New Mexico United’s feeling after three weeks of traveling. And the club gets to welcome a familiar opponent — Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC — on Saturday for an important border battle.
Here are some things to note:
Free kicks
1. A RUBBERMATCH, YOU SAY: United and Switchbacks have met twice this season with each club coming away with a win.
The importance of those victories, however, has differed. The first meeting counted for points in the Western Conference table. The second, just for the USL Cup placement.
New Mexico won the regular-season matchup 3-2 on March 28 thanks to Ousman Jabang’s score in the sixth minute of stoppage time, two minutes after Khori Bennett provided an equalizer for Colorado Springs.
Switchbacks took the USL Cup matchup 4-0 on May 16 with three of those goals coming in the first half, one of which was an own-goal from New Mexico defender Kipp Keller. United, however, rested the majority of its starters.
2. SOME HOME COOKING: Yes, New Mexico has played well in its home competitions. The club is 7-2-3 in such matches between the regular season, USL Cup, U.S. Open Cup and its international friendly. Yes, this will be United’s first home game since beating Oakland Roots SC 2-1 on July 4.
But New Mexico has also played Colorado Springs well at Isotopes Park — extremely well.
United is 6-1-1 all-time against Switchbacks at home, having outscored Colorado Springs a combined 17-9. The loss came in 2020, a 3-2 result in favor of Switchbacks in the Four Corners Cup. The tie came last season after New Mexico’s Kalen Ryden scored an own goal in the 40th minute, resulting in a 1-1 draw.
3. STILL STREAKING: United and Switchbacks both come into the match on a bit of a roll.
New Mexico hasn’t suffered a loss across all competitions since a 1-0 defeat to Tampa Bay Rowdies on May 20 — a string of nine matches. During that stretch, United has recorded five shutouts and conceded five goals, three of which came in the international friendly against Liga MX side Atlante FC.
It will be interesting to see whether last week’s double-postponement at Birmingham Legion FC and the 17-day layoff between matches will affect that.
Colorado Springs, meanwhile, has won its last four with two of those featuring clean sheets.
4. THE WILD WEST: At this point, that’s what the Western Conference is starting to feel like.
Entering Friday, the table’s No. 2 position (San Antonio FC) and the 11th spot (Las Vegas Lights FC) were separated by just seven points. Four points separate third-position FC Tulsa and No. 8 El Paso Locomotive FC.
So, where do United and Switchbacks fall into that placement?
New Mexico entered Friday fifth in the table with 24 points. Colorado Springs? One spot ahead with 25. Both have the possibility of moving past Tulsa, which has 26.
Orange County FC, meanwhile, entered Friday with a table-leading 31 points. San Antonio had 28.
Key matchup
United forward Joseph Melto vs. Switchbacks forward Khori Bennett
Melto has played in just four matches for United — against Atlante on July 1, against Oakland on July 4, at El Paso on July 11 and at Lexington SC on July 15 — but he’s scored three goals. Bennett, of course, has found success scoring all season. The forward has 14 goals, including 11 in USL Championship play, which is tied with Detroit City FC’s Darren Smith for the most.
Player of the match
United midfielder/defender Ousman Jabang
Jabang scored the match winner when the clubs met on March 28, but he could also be key to containing Bennett. Jabang leads New Mexico in duels (112) and duels won (61), and is also fifth in clearances (28). He’s contributed two regular-season goals and three assists as well.
By the numbers
1: United retains its top spot in the Championship’s power rankings — for whatever that’s worth. Switchbacks moved up to fourth.
4: The number of regular-season clean sheets New Mexico goalkeeper Kris Shakes has tallied. That’s good for a tie for ninth in the league.
14: The number of regular-season matches United has played so far. That’s the fewest in the league, regardless of conference and could play a part in the final standings.
8/29/26: The date United will have back-to-back home matches. The club is on the road again next week.
David Glovach covers New Mexico United and other sports for the Journal. Reach him at [email protected] or via X @DavidGlovach.
More New Mexico United reading
*
NM United doesn't mind a full week at home after its Alabama experience
Three-match road swing ended with multiple postponements and 17-day layoff between games
*
Chicharito sees different opportunity in joining Atlético Dallas
Mexico's all-time leading scorer is 1st signee for Championship expansion club
*
Giddy up: NM United plans to honor jockey Mike Smith
New Mexico native, Triple Crown winner will be at Aug. 26 match against Lexington SC
*
Weather again leads to postponement of NM United match
Makeup date to play Birmingham Legion FC still to be determined
*
NM United, Girl Scouts team up for 'girls in the game' event
An old patch helped serve as the catalyst for the partnership
*
NM United match in Alabama postponed
Squad will play Birmingham Legion FC on Saturday
*
Match day: New Mexico United at Birmingham Legion FC
NMU gets to play at unique site to close road swing
*
NM United routs Lexington, extends unbeaten streak to nine
Simplifying a short week paid off as NMU tied its season high in scoring with a dominant road win
*
NM United stadium at Balloon Fiesta Park clears another legal hurdle
Court of Appeals rules in soccer club's favor against neighborhood associations
*
Match day: New Mexico United at Lexington SC
NMU is on an 8-game unbeaten streak and doing better in road matches
*
For NM United, keeping unbeaten streak intact outweighs USL Cup exit
NMU out on tournament tiebreaker, but win over El Paso means 8 straight without a loss
*
Match day: New Mexico United at El Paso Locomotive FC
NMU still has chance to advance in USL Cup with some help
*
A nice ring: Noël made most of NM United's break by proposing
NMU midfielder popped the question to now-fiancée Kate Levitt on June 26
*
Starr, Mata latest to sign academy contracts with NM United
Albuquerque natives now eligible to play for NMU's first team
*
Nava is healthy and making the most of his chance to showcase his quality for NM United
Albuquerque native has made key plays since entering lineup and enjoying 'every single second of it'
Continue reading...
