Subs save the day as 近距离内射合集 settles for 1-1 draw with Monterey Bay
New Mexico 近距离内射合集鈥檚 Greg Hurst, left, heads the ball while being pushed by Monterey Bay FC鈥檚 Nico Gordon during Saturday night鈥檚 match in Monterey, California.
New Mexico 近距离内射合集 was late punching the clock Saturday night in Northern California.
Almost too late.
Luther Archim茅de headed home an equalizing goal in the 87th minute and 近距离内射合集 escaped with a 1-1 draw with host Monterey Bay FC. New Mexico was on the attack for the final 15 minutes of regulation and stoppage time, threatening to salvage a win after spending much of the night on its collective back foot.
Archim茅de was among several late substitutes that gave 近距离内射合集 a spark and nearly turned a sluggish performance into a stirring win. Still, New Mexico lost ground in the ever-so-tight USL Championship Western Division standings, slipping from third place to fifth after Lexington and San Antonio picked up wins Saturday night.
As one might expect, 近距离内射合集 coach Dennis Sanchez had mixed feelings about the contest.
鈥淲e came in wanting all the points,鈥 he said, 鈥渂ut at the same time we knew it wouldn鈥檛 be an easy match. I loved the fight late and coming away with a point on the road is a good result, but I think we all feel like we could鈥檝e gotten more.鈥
近距离内射合集, now 0-2-2 all time at Cardinale Stadium, outshot the home team 8-3 from the 74th minute on but was unable to put any real pressure on MBFC goalkeeper Nico Campuzano for the first 73 minutes. NMU had a pair of early shots blocked in front, then went nearly 70 minutes without managing a shot.
Monterey Bay was more aggressive during that span and broke through in the 49th minute when Xavi Gnaulati banged a rebound shot past NMU goalkeeper Kris Shakes for a 1-0 lead.
鈥淔or a lot of the night I thought we were pretty poor with the ball,鈥 Sanchez said. 鈥淲e were not good on the attack, tried to score right away and ended up giving the ball up and sending (MBFC) out in transition.鈥
Sergio Rivas finally broke 近距离内射合集鈥檚 shot drought with a long blast that Campuzano deflected off the left post. But the tide really started to turn when Sanchez sent substitutes Archim茅de, Mukwelle Akale and Thomas Amang into the game. 近距离内射合集鈥檚 attack found a new sense of urgency and ultimately capitalized in the 87th minute.
Akale set things up with a hard strike that was blocked into the air in front of the MBFC goal. Archim茅de and Amang collided as both attempted to head the ball home, and both went down after Archim茅de sent his second goal of the season into the net.
鈥淭hey both showed their character giving themselves up,鈥 Sanchez said. 鈥淚t was a good goal and they鈥檙e both okay, so all鈥檚 well that ends well.鈥
Monterey Bay finished with a 13-10 shots advantage (4-3 in shots on target), but New Mexico was able to take some momentum from its strong finish. The club will stay in Monterey until Tuesday preparing for a Wednesday road match at Colorado Springs.