New Mexico United saw off Monterrey Bay 5-2 in the USL Championship Group Stage on Saturday evening. The visitors were already second in the table, while the hosts sat in 12th place after 24 games. By then, New Mexico had accumulated 40 points from 21 matches, Monterrey only 18.
R. Nakamura opened the scoring for the hosts in the 31st minute, and here's the thing — it felt like a statement rather than a fluke. The visitors responded through S. Lletget just after the interval, 55th minute. G. Hurst levelled things up for Monterrey in the 74th, but New Mexico then handed over control of the game.
V. Noel struck in the 77th, D. Harris added another in the 86th, and N. Reid-Stephen capped the scoring in stoppage time. The hosts made a substitution in the 46th when C. Nava came off, while New Mexico brought on J. LaCava in the 63rd and Jacob Montes shortly after. Three changes in quick succession — 76th, 88th and 90th minute — as the visitors managed their lead.
The numbers tell a different story to the final score. Monterrey Bay had more possession at 45 per cent against 55, and they registered 107 attacks to New Mexico's 89. But the visitors created five big chances while the hosts created none. Shots accuracy was 31 per cent for the home side compared to 58 per cent for the visitors.
Monterrey Bay dropped further down the table with this defeat, extending a run of five straight losses. They had been beaten 1-0 by El Paso Locomotive on Wednesday, then lost to Lexington, Orange County, Phoenix Rising and Las Vegas Lights. New Mexico United, meanwhile, continued their push towards the top, having won three of their last five while drawing once and losing once.