ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO – New Mexico United’s home opener Friday night delivered a finish that won’t soon be forgotten, as Ousman Jabang hammered home a game‑winning goal deep into stoppage time, lifting the Black and Yellow to a dramatic 3‑2 victory over the Colorado Springs Switchbacks.
The moment sent more than 9,000 fans into a frenzy and gave United its first win and first points of the season — proof that, as baseball legend Yogi Berra once said, it ain’t over till it’s over.
The first half gave little indication of the fireworks to come. Both teams traded chances but couldn’t find the net, splitting possession nearly evenly and going into halftime scoreless.
Everything changed after the break.
Colorado Springs struck first, converting a penalty through Khori Bennett to grab a 1‑0 lead. United responded with a spark off the bench, bringing on Dayonn Harris, Justin Rennicks, and Kipp Keller in the 60th minute.
Just four minutes later, Keller delivered. Latching onto a long ball from Greg Hurst, he finished to score United’s first home goal of the season and level the match at 1‑1.
“We needed a response, and the guys brought energy right away,” head coach Eric Quill said after the match. “That belief never left us.”
The momentum stayed with the Black and Yellow. In the 75th minute, Valentín Noël put United ahead, giving the crowd its first real taste of celebration.
But the Switchbacks weren’t done.
In the fourth minute of second‑half stoppage time, Bennett stepped up again and converted his second penalty of the night, tying the match at 2‑2 and briefly silencing the crowd.
Briefly.
Right after the restart, United wasted no time attacking. Harris sent a ball forward, Jabang found space, and in the sixth minute of added time, he blasted the ball into the net to seal the win.
“It was about staying calm and trusting the moment,” Dayonn Harris said. “We knew if we pushed, something would open up.”
“I’m really blessed to be in this position,” Jabang added. “Blessed to be in front of the best fans in the league — best fans probably in America, to be honest.”
The victory moves New Mexico United to 1‑2‑0 on the season and gives the club momentum heading into its next challenge: a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup matchup against rival El Paso Locomotive.
That match is scheduled for April 1st at 7:30 p.m. at the UNM Soccer Complex.
For one night, though, the focus stayed on the storybook finish — a reminder that in soccer, patience matters, persistence pays off, and sometimes the biggest moments arrive right at the final whistle.
