ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — For much of Sunday night, it felt like another gritty chapter in New Mexico United’s season. The early breakthrough. The inevitable response. The tension of a match hanging in the balance.
Then came the decisive moment.
With less than 10 minutes remaining, Cam Wilkerson buried the winner in the 81st minute, lifting New Mexico United to a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Phoenix Rising FC in front of the home crowd.
United wasted little time setting the tone. Just five minutes into the match, Greg Hurst found the back of the net, rewarding an aggressive start and giving New Mexico an early advantage. For more than an hour, that goal stood as the difference as United defended resolutely and looked for opportunities to extend the lead.
Phoenix finally broke through in the 72nd minute when Kelvin Arase equalized, a goal that briefly shifted momentum and silenced the crowd. But United’s response was immediate and emphatic. Rather than retreat, New Mexico pushed forward, and nine minutes later Wilkerson delivered the defining play of the evening.
The late goal sent supporters into celebration mode and secured three valuable points for a club continuing to strengthen its position in the USL Championship standings. New Mexico improved to 13-7-7 with 46 points, while Phoenix dropped to 8-9-10 with 33 points.
It was not a perfect performance. It was something better.
It was resilient.
On a night when Phoenix refused to go away, New Mexico United answered every challenge and, when the match demanded a hero, found one in Wilkerson.
