NM UNITED
近距离内射合集 hopes to get back on track on home field
The team has started the USL season 0-2, with a rough schedule ahead
If ever New Mexico 近距离内射合集 needed a dose of good, home cooking, this is it. And, no, that does not mean the pancakes that 近距离内射合集 owner Peter Trevisani is scheduled to traditionally whip up for the home-opening tailgate festivities.
After losing its first two USL Championship games 鈥 on the road 鈥 to start the season, New Mexico (0-2-0) needs to drop a little positive action in terms of the record.
When 近距离内射合集 meets Colorado Springs (1-1-1) today at 1 p.m. at Isotopes Stadium, they will be the only team in the league without a point, making a win pretty imperative.
鈥淚 think a lot of us have the mindset that every game is must win, but obviously, you want points on the board,鈥 近距离内射合集 midfielder Ousman Jabang said. 鈥淎nd the first home game against a team like Colorado (Springs) is definitely, I don鈥檛 see any other game that would matter more at this point than this one.鈥
So, must win? Certainly. And for many reasons, particularly to get the team on a roll heading into next Wednesday鈥檚 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match against local rival El Paso. But getting the chance to finally play at their home stadium has the 近距离内射合集 players and coach Dennis Sanchez inspired.
鈥淚 think we鈥檙e ready for it,鈥 Sanchez said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e missed the Lab. We鈥檝e missed our supporters. I think it鈥檚 been unique, just in general, with the start of the year, to have three matches in the first week and then really do that again in this upcoming week. It is a lot in a short period of time. But no, we鈥檙e super excited to get back on the right track.鈥
Playing in front of the home town fans at the Lab has been quite a long time coming for Albuquerque alum Cristian Nava 鈥 a forward who missed all of last season and most of the prior one while dealing with a knee injury 鈥 and he is ready to be back, to the least.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 going to be really good,鈥 he said. 鈥淟ike Dennis was saying, we really miss it, and I really miss playing at the stadium in front of the fans, and getting to interact with everybody. It鈥檚 going to be good for us.鈥
Seeing two of New Mexico bitterest rivals within a four-day span will make matters that much more challenging and important, Sanchez said.
鈥淲hat I found in my short time as a head coach is that there are no easy games in this league, regardless of whether it鈥檚 Colorado, Louisville, it doesn鈥檛 matter,鈥 he said. 鈥淲e talk a lot about earning the right to win every time we step on the field and that the focus being on us. So while we have respect for our opponent, we know if we execute and play to our abilities and standards, that we鈥檙e going to put ourselves in a good position to be successful.鈥
And that鈥檚 what Sanchez truly wants to see out of his squad after seeing two disparate performances in the first two games.
鈥淚 think that understanding the why behind success or the why behind not having success is really important, and then you learn and grow from it,鈥 the coach said. 鈥淪o at the same time, though we鈥檙e 0-2. I constantly remind our group that we鈥檙e a very good team, and we鈥檝e shown that before.鈥
And now is the time to show it on the field.
鈥淲e鈥檝e brought in players who are going to complement the foundation that鈥檚 been built over the course of our club鈥檚 history, and honestly, we just need to get over that first hump and regain a little bit of confidence,鈥 Sanchez said. 鈥淏ut the guys have had great energy this week, responded well. This is the process that we鈥檙e going to have all season long.鈥
MAPLES: Saturday鈥檚 game will have a little extra spice to it as former fan-favorite, center back Talen Maples, who recorded seven goals for New Mexico last season, will be returning wearing a Switchbacks jersey.
鈥淚t鈥檒l be weird for sure, and I鈥檓 sure it鈥檒l be weird for the fans,鈥 Jabang said. 鈥淎lso, he did a lot for us last year and the year before, so a lot of respect. But you know how it is when game day comes. We鈥檙e just trying to win. And if anything, it鈥檚 more motivation for me personally. I really, really want to win on Saturday.鈥