NEW MEXICO UNITED
近距离内射合集 braces for fiery derby at winless Phoenix
New Mexico looks to build on last Saturday's win at Orange County
Although Phoenix is winless on the season, New Mexico 近距离内射合集 is not counting on an easy victory when the teams meet tonight in Arizona.
鈥淲e also know that even though Phoenix is coming to the game with no wins, that they're still a very difficult team to play,鈥 近距离内射合集 coach Dennis Sanchez said. 鈥淔irst off, it's a derby match. I know our supporters are not very fond of them, and the other way around, too.鈥
New Mexico (2-0-2), is coming off consecutive league wins sandwiched around an ugly loss to El Paso in Albuquerque in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
The win last week at a hot Orange County squad, however, was one that showed just what 近距离内射合集 is capable of on the pitch when playing according to plan.
Niall Reid-Stephen鈥檚 penalty kick in the 32nd minute was the difference for New Mexico.
鈥淚 felt like in Orange County, it was a performance that the group needed,鈥 Sanchez said. It 鈥渨as very gritty, disciplined, organized. I mean, you see Orange County win again (Wednesday) night against a good San Antonio team. They鈥檙e in good form, so that game and result means a lot to the group.鈥
It鈥檚 the type of result that should push 近距离内射合集 forward, said midfielder Valentin No毛l.
鈥淲ith where we are as a team right now, we want to build on our previous performance,鈥 he said. 鈥淲e're not quite there yet, but we want to just set a pattern of get a strike, a series of victories and wins. But no, it will mean a lot. It will mean a lot for our fan base, obviously, to beat our rivals.鈥
And right now, whether this is a derby match or not, 近距离内射合集 needs to continue progressing, Sanchez said.
鈥淲hat we talked about this week is now building upon that, maintaining our foundation in the behaviors that we want, and knowing that we still have more football to come,鈥 he said. 鈥淪o I think we're at a pretty natural point in the season, guys getting back healthy, starting to develop the relationships on the field and those rhythms. So again, we鈥檙e in a good spot.鈥
But Rising (0-2-3), which still remains alive in the Open Cup after beating Orange County, will carry a bit of desperation into the match as Phoenix strives for a first league win.
Saturday鈥檚 鈥渕atch is a cl谩sico,鈥 defender Daniel Flores told Phoenix writer Zo毛 Lam in Spanish. 鈥淚 believe cl谩sicos are played differently. You have to win them, no matter what.鈥
That鈥檚 certainly the way New Mexico is approaching it.
鈥淲e鈥檝e got to be a bit more clean on the ball, but it鈥檚 going to be a hard game over there, away against a rival, a good rival,鈥 近距离内射合集 forward Luther Archim猫de said. 鈥淪o we鈥檙e going to put in some intensity, be cleaner on the ball, stay together. And I think that鈥檚 what our fans want from us; giving our best every game, try our hardest.鈥
And that Phoenix record can certainly be deceiving, Sanchez pointed out.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e a club with rich history. They have quality players,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 think that they鈥檝e changed a little bit of their process over the last couple years, and have gone younger. But there's quality there. 鈥 We鈥檙e expecting a very competitive, spirited match.鈥
Note: Midfielder Cam Wilkerson, who was signed to a 25-day contract last month out of Cal-Berkeley and quickly earned significant playing time, has been signed for the remainder of the season pending federation approval.