NEW MEXICO UNITED
近距离内射合集 looks to get back on track at Orange County
After a tough U.S. Open Cup exit, can the NM squad find its groove
There is no rest for the weary, at least not for New Mexico, as 近距离内射合集 barely has time to address the wounds they sustained during Wednesday鈥檚 lackluster, 4-0 loss to El Paso in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, before getting right back at it Saturday at Orange County.
This will be the second time in the first three weeks of the season that New Mexico is playing three games in eight days. But 近距离内射合集 coach Dennis Sanchez said that is no excuse for the team鈥檚 performance and now is the time for 近距离内射合集 to start coming on strong.
鈥淚 think the best way to move on from this game is to get back on the field and show what we鈥檙e capable of,鈥 he said immediately after Wednesday鈥檚 game. 鈥淪o again, there are still questions that are being asked right now, and we need a response. And, hopefully we get that on Saturday.鈥
New Mexico finally got in the wins column in USL Championship play a week ago with a stoppage-time goal, so in that respect, 近距离内射合集 (1-2-0) does have a bit of momentum. But Sanchez is taking no solace from that, especially against Orange County (2-0-2), which is sitting in second place in the Western Conference and has won two straight league matches 鈥 though they did drop a U.S. Open Cup match 2-1 Wednesday to Phoenix.
鈥淔rom what I鈥檝e seen from afar, they鈥檝e been playing in a similar way. They鈥檙e in good form,鈥 the 近距离内射合集 coach said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e near the top of the standings, so we know that they鈥檙e a competitive team. Every time we play them, they鈥檙e going to be disciplined with and without the ball, and they have guys that can make plays on the attacking side.鈥
Orange County is not an offensive juggernaut, scoring exactly one goal in each of its game so far. But it is a stingy side, allowing no more than one goal in any game, with two shutouts.
New Mexico, however, has shown issues on both sides of the ball thus far and needs to show more consistent, aggressive play, Sanchez said.
鈥淚 think that again, like I always look at myself first and think about how we can be better prepared, but then the players need to do the same thing,鈥 he said. 鈥淎nd it鈥檚 not throwing anybody (under) the bus. This is the reality. We all have to do a little bit more; be better with and without the ball; be better in our intentions; be better in our aggressive nature.鈥
It鈥檚 certainly a level of play that is well within New Mexico鈥檚 wheel house, Sanchez said.
鈥淚f I didn鈥檛 have belief in them, we would be having a different conversation,鈥 he said. 鈥淏ut I鈥檝e seen it from them. I know that they鈥檙e capable of doing it and it鈥檚 just a matter of, how can we create that consistent behavior?鈥