Monterey Bay F.C. Comes Up Short in New Mexico, Defeated 2-1 at Isotopes Park
ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico (Saturday, May 13, 2023) – Monterey Bay F.C. (3-3-4, 13 points) dropped its first road match of the campaign 2-1 to New Mexico United (3-3-2, 11 points) at Isotopes Park in a return to league play. Adrian Rebollar scored for the Union with 10 minutes to play in the second half, but the comeback fell short.
The hosts struck first in this one after an even first 20 minutes. Amanda Moreno fired a shot on frame in the 22nd minute of the match that was aimed right at Antony Siaha, but the shot was spilled back into the box and before the Monterey Bay F.C. defense could clear it, it was tapped across the line by Alex Waggoner to give New Mexico the 1-0 lead midway through the first half. Monterey Bay came close at the tail end of a corner kick opportunity in the 35th minute, but Nevello Yoseke’s header from just outside the six missed just over the crossbar. Five minutes later, the Union regained possession after creating a turnover on a New Mexico throw-in deep in their own half. Christian Volesky backheeled the ball to Alex Dixon at the top of the box, who played Chuy Enríquez into space on the left side of the box. With the goalkeeper caught out, Enríquez took a shot at goal, but the attempt was cleared off the line by a New Mexico defender to deny the visitors the equalizer just before the halftime break.
New Mexico midfielder Sam Hamilton received two yellow cards just three minutes apart in the 53rd and 56th minutes, leaving the hosts a man down for the remainder of the match. Then just four minutes later, Sergio Rivas scored to double the New Mexico United lead at 2-0. Mobi Fehr looked to create something out of nothing for Monterey Bay in the 76th minute after a spell of possession, but his shot from near the top of the box missed to the left. The Crisp and Kelp finally found the equalizer in the 80th minute when second-half substitute Ugo Okoli held up possession in the box before finding Rebollar. The Watsonville native then fired a shot that took a deflection and found its way into the back of the net to cut the lead in half with 10 minutes plus stoppage time to play, but it was not enough as the match ended 2-1 in favor of New Mexico.
Up Next: Monterey Bay F.C. remains on the road with a trip to South Carolina to take on Charleston Battery, who currently sit atop the Eastern Conference table. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. PT at Patriots Point Soccer Stadium. The match can be streamed live on ESPN+.
Notes:
– Simon Dawkins and Jesse Maldonado made their USL Championship regular season debuts as second-half substitutes just four days after making their 2023 debut and scoring in the Club’s U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 match against LAFC.
– Missing the match due to injury were Sam Gleadle (thigh), Alex Lara (ankle), James Murphy (hamstring), Hugh Roberts II (groin), and Grant Robinson (leg).
Match: New Mexico United vs Monterey Bay F.C.
Date: May 13, 2023
Venue: Isotopes Park; Albuquerque, New Mexico
Weather: Cloudy and 69 degrees
Attendance: 9,874
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
New Mexico United 1 1 2
Monterey Bay F.C. 0 1 1
NM: Alex Waggoner 22’
MB: Adrian Rebollar 80’
Lineups:
New Mexico (4-4-2): Alex Tambakis; Austin Yearwood, Kalen Ryden, Will Seymore, Harry Swartz; Amando Moreno (Santi Moar 84’), Sam Hamilton, Justin Portillo, Josh Suggs; Alex Waggoner (Sergio Rivas 55’), Greg Hurst (Josh Dolling, 74’)
Subs not used: Ford Parker, Kyle Colonna, Andres Robles, Chris Wehan
Monterey Bay F.C. (4-2-3-1): Antony Siaha; Walmer Martínez, Mobi Fehr, Kai Greene, Morey Doner; Nevello Yoseke (Jesse Maldonado 86’), Adrian Rebollar; Chuy Enríquez (Simon Dawkins 74’), Alex Dixon, Chase Boone (Ugo Okoli 74’); Christian Volesky
Subs not used: Carlos Herrera, Max Glasser, Jason Johnson
Stats Summary: NM / MB
Shots: 4 / 10
Shots on Goal: 4 / 3
Saves: 1 / 2
Corner Kicks: 2 / 5
Fouls: 13 / 10
Possession: 33% / 67%
Misconduct Summary:
MB: Christian Volesky (caution) 28’
NM: Harry Swartz (caution) 37’
NM: Sam Hamilton (caution) 53’
NM: Sam Hamilton (dismissal) 56’
NM: Zach Prince, Head Coach (caution) 78’
NM: Justin Portillo (caution) 87’
NM: Sergio Rivas (caution) 88’
MB: Chuy Enríquez (caution) 90+2’
NM: Alex Tambakis (caution) 90+4’
Officials:
Referee: Sergii Demianchuk
Assistant Referee 1: Chris Canales
Assistant Referee 2: Rhett Hammil
Fourth Official: Mario Garcia
