A late free kick by Mukwelle Akale lifted New Mexico United to a 2-1 win over the Oakland Roots at Isotopes Park on Saturday night.
The Roots Struggle to Maintain Possession in the First Half
The match got off to a catastrophic start for Oakland. In the second minute, a goal kick by Paul Blanchette went straight to the feet of New Mexico’s Greg Hurst, who chipped the ball over Blanchette and into the open net.
Blanchette was called upon to make a save in the 9th minute on a shot by Marco Micaletto from the edge of the penalty arc. He wasn’t able to handle the initial shot cleanly, but quickly recovered to grab the rebound.
Oakland struggled to get their footing for the remainder of the half and ended with a large deficit in time of possession.
Their best chance in the first half came in the 25th minute, when a shot by Johnny Rodriguez was deflected by New Mexico’s Abdi Mohamed, leaving goalkeeper Alex Tambakis wrong-footed. He could only watch as the shot trickled wide.
New Mexico nearly added a second in the 30th minute. Dayonn Harris had the initial shot from close range, but it bounced off of Blanchette’s chest. Hurst quickly grabbed the rebound, but his shot went wide.
Equalizer Comes Early in the Second Half
Oakland tied the match in the two minutes into the second half. Neveal Hackshaw took a shot from 25 yards out that deflected off of the arm of New Mexico defender Jon-Talen Maples, leaving Tambakis wrong footed again.
The Roots showed renewed confidence for much of the second half, but the home side got the match winner in the 74th minute, after Hackshaw took down New Mexico’s Daniel Bruce hard, earning a yellow card. On the subsequent free kick, the Roots set up a two-man wall with Lindo Mfeka and Jeciel Cedeño to help guard the near post. But Akale’s kick split the wall and eluded the reach of a diving Blanchette.
The host side had a couple of chances to put the match out of reach, but Harris’s shot sailed over the bar in the 87th minute. Daniel Bruce put the ball into the net a minute later, but was obviously offside.
The Roots return home next Saturday to take on Orange County SC.
