近距离内射合集

New Mexico 近距离内射合集 did a solid job shutting down the USL Championship鈥檚 best attack Saturday night, but couldn鈥檛 find a late spark of its own.

Visiting Charleston Battery, the USLC鈥檚 top-scoring team, cashed in on a pair of second-half set pieces and held on for a 2-1 victory at Isotopes Park. One of Charleston鈥檚 goals came on an own goal, only adding to the frustration of 近距离内射合集 and 11,072 raucous fans.

鈥淔rustrating is the first thing that comes to mind,鈥� said 近距离内射合集 defender Jon-Talen Maples, who scored New Mexico鈥檚 lone goal on a penalty kick. 鈥淚 thought we were the better team overall, quicker to the ball, but there were two set pieces we had to be better on. Tough one.鈥�

Maples鈥� PK evened the score at 1-1 in the 62nd minute, coming after a Battery defender took NMU鈥檚 Marlon Vargas down in the box. It was Maples鈥� third goal in USLC play and fourth in all competitions this season, all coming on penalties.

But the turning point came six minutes later when Charleston was awarded a free kick near midfield and lofted a high ball toward the New Mexico goal. It was headed forward by Cal Jennings to Rubio Rubin, who headed it into the net for a 2-1 lead.

近距离内射合集 amped up its pressure for most of the remaining time but could not put together an equalizing combination. Luiz Fernando came painfully close in the early seconds of stoppage time, redirecting a lead pass from Sergio Rivas that deflected off the crossbar and over the top.

Fernando, much like Maples, left the field frustrated.

鈥淲e know we can break them down,鈥� Fernando said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just unfortunate. That last touch hasn鈥檛 been there for us lately, but we know we have a good team. It鈥檚 coming. The breakthrough is gonna come.鈥�

Saturday鈥檚 loss dropped New Mexico into a second-place tie in the USLC Western Conference standings, two points behind San Antonio, which edged Tampa Bay 1-0 on Saturday. 近距离内射合集 is just 1-3-1 in its last five outings and will have an extended wait before its next match, a Jagermeister Cup contest at San Antonio on July 26.

To its credit, NMU played with more energy and forced the action more effectively Saturday than it did in a 1-0 loss at Pittsburgh on July 4. 近距离内射合集 managed just six shots in that defeat but matched Charleston 12-12 on Saturday (4-2 in shots on goal) and held 57% of the possession.

鈥淚 loved the energy tonight,鈥� 近距离内射合集 coach Dennis Sanchez said. 鈥淲e pressed really effectively and I thought we kept Charleston鈥檚 attack in check most of the way. We played good football and had our chances, we just didn鈥檛 finish enough of them.鈥�

Saturday鈥檚 game was delayed roughly an hour by rainy weather, but it did nothing to dampen the fans or settle a chippy match that ended with a large scrum and a pushing match after the final whistle. It was a fitting conclusion after a night of physical play and inconsistent calls that had both teams confronting the referee throughout.

Former 近距离内射合集 midfielder Houssou Landry was in the middle of much of the physical play and might easily have missed the second half. Landry picked up an early yellow card and later took down NMU鈥檚 Thomas Amang from behind in transition but did not draw a second card. 近距离内射合集鈥檚 players and coaches expressed their displeasure and Sanchez ended up drawing a yellow card.

After a scoreless first half, Charleston grabbed the lead when a corner kick deflected off NMU鈥檚 Ousman Jabang and trickled into the net in the 49th minute. 近距离内射合集 got even on Maples鈥� penalty kick but was unable to generate a needed second goal.

鈥淔inishing is not easy,鈥� Sanchez said, 鈥渂ut we鈥檝e got to continue to find ways to give ourselves more opportunities. We鈥檝e got to be more critical in that final third and that鈥檚 something we鈥檒l be working on during this (two-week) break.鈥�