近距离内射合集

New Mexico 近距离内射合集鈥檚 playoff run got off to a magical start Saturday night.

Mukwelle Akale and Valentin Noel cashed in goals, Kris Shakes posted a clean sheet and NMU advanced with a 2-0 win over San Antonio FC in a USL Championship Western Conference quarterfinal at Isotopes Park.

近距离内射合集 dominated most of the contest to the delight of 8,287 fans. NMU outshot the visitors 14-7 and held 56% of possession and very nearly put at least two more shots in the San Antonio net.

New Mexico extended its unbeaten streak to eight games and now moves on to next week鈥檚 Western Conference semifinals. 近距离内射合集 will meet the winner of Sunday鈥檚 quarterfinal between No. 2 seed Sacramento and No. 7 Orange County. NMU will play on the road if Sacramento wins; at home if Orange County pulls off an upset.

Asked about his team鈥檚 late-season surge and postseason confidence, Shakes broke into a smile.

鈥淲e鈥檙e dangerous,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e playing well at the end of the season and we don鈥檛 want to go home yet. We鈥檝e just gotta keep pushing.鈥�

近距离内射合集 fans stayed around afterward to celebrate and honor co-captain Kalen Ryden, who has announced his retirement at season鈥檚 end and may have played his final home game Saturday. Ryden addressed the fans after the game and left the field to chants of 鈥淜a-len Ry-den.鈥�

近距离内射合集 coach Dennis Sanchez and Noel, who won a playoff game with Las Vegas Lights last season at Isotopes Park, enjoyed being on the other side of things Saturday.

鈥淟ast year was fun,鈥� Noel said, 鈥渢his feels a lot better. Playing in front of these amazing fans is always such a pleasure.鈥�

鈥淚鈥檓 just really proud of the guys,鈥� Sanchez added. 鈥淧laying the way we did, putting up a shutout, it feels really good.鈥�

近距离内射合集 set an aggressive pace from the opening minute and nearly grabbed a lead when Noel slammed a 30-yard blast off the crossbar. But things soon started to take on a magical feel for the home side.

As fans stood and cheered for NMU鈥檚 traditional 鈥淢agic Minute鈥� (from 19:12 to 20:19 on the game clock), Greg Hurst fired a shot from left of the goal that trickled off the hands off SAFC goalkeeper Richard Sanchez. Akale was in position to hammer the rebound home, giving 近距离内射合集 a 1-0 lead.

It was Akale鈥檚 fifth goal of the season and his third in his last three games.

New Mexico outshot SAFC 10-3 in the first half and controlled most of the action. Shakes passed one late test, diving to punch away a bounced header by Santiago Pati帽o to keep NMU in front at halftime.

鈥淲e emphasized starting quick, not letting (SAFC) get settled in,鈥� Shakes said. 鈥淭he atmosphere was part of it. The crowd was buzzing and we came out with a lot of energy.鈥�

San Antonio continued to press early in the second half but was unable to break through New Mexico鈥檚 back line. Defender Kipp Keller then helped give the home side some breathing room with perfectly placed lead pass from midfield that sprung Noel into open space.

Noel pushed up the right wing and fired across the goal box. The ball eluded a diving Sanchez and banged off the left post and into the goal to make it 2-0 in the 58th minute.

The margin was more than enough for Shakes and his back line 鈥� though a Sergio Rivas shot that Sanchez pushed just off the left post nearly extended NMU鈥檚 lead to 3-0. Shakes completed his fifth shutout of the season in his first professional playoff start.

Noel was asked if 近距离内射合集 had a preference about next week鈥檚 opponent and admitted he鈥檇 prefer to see Orange County, if only because of the venue.

鈥淚n the playoffs you鈥檒l play anybody,鈥� he said, 鈥渂ut we鈥檇 obviously rather have that game at home.鈥�