ALBUQUERQUE – New Mexico United closed out a difficult August with a 2-0 loss to Sacramento Republic FC on Saturday night, extending its winless streak to seven straight USL Championship matches.
A crowd of 9,752 fans at Isotopes Park watched United struggle to generate offense, finishing with just one shot on goal and an expected-goals total of 0.2. The team has now been shut out in back-to-back games.
United kept things conservative early, holding Sacramento to four first-half shots and a scoreless draw at halftime. But the visitors broke through in the second half, scoring in the 52nd and 70th minutes after exploiting defensive gaps.
“We have a higher purpose playing in front of our supporters and I didn’t think we lived up to that standard,” said head coach Dennis Sanchez. “Respect to Sacramento, but we need to play with more aggressiveness and urgency.”
Despite controlling 61% of possession, United was largely ineffective in the attacking third. Defender Kipp Keller said the team was “flat” and struggled in both boxes.
With the loss, United slipped into the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Sanchez said lineup changes may be coming ahead of next week’s match against San Antonio FC.
“The best news for us is that we still have control of our destiny,” Sanchez said. “But players have to step up and make plays.”
