ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – New Mexico United will have to clinch the western division on another night. United could have clinched with a victory Wednesday night at home but Phoenix Rising FC had other plans for the conference leader with a 2-1 victory. United scored the first goal of the game in the 28th minute when Talen Maples converted a penalty kick. Phoenix would square the match up in stoppage time before the end of the first half. A costly foul by United would lead to a penalty kick. Tomas Angel Gutierrez scored to make it 1-1.
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In the 59th minute of the second half, Charlie Dennis kicked home the game-winner for Phoenix. “We beat ourselves, it’s as simple as that,” said NM United head coach Eric Quill. “Our decisions lost the game. We got the lead and we gave it away with our decision. That’s what changed the game, decisions.”
New Mexico United will get another shot to clinch the top seed in the USL Western Conference on Saturday at FC Tulsa.
