MIRACULOUS! NEW MEXICO UNITED TOPS RIVALS EL PASO LOCOMOTIVE IN UNBELIEVABLE LATE FASHION

Albuquerque, NM - New Mexico United bested their second rival in as many weeks on Saturday night, this time in unbelievable, dramatic fashion as late goals from Jacobo Reyes and Nicky Hernandez saw United to victory in Amando Moreno’s first match back in New Mexico since bolting for El Paso in the offseason.

Marco Micaletto got the scoring started early for the Black & Yellow, capitalizing on a terrific pull-back ball from Dayonn Harris that was let run by Nicky Hernandez. Micaletto hit a first-time strike at the top of the box past a diving Jahmali Waite for the first score of the match.

That lead would hold through halftime, despite El Paso seemingly growing into the match, largely on the back of Moreno, who made a few darting runs and fired twice on goal in the first half. Both resulted in big saves from Alex Tambakis. The second half was largely uneventful, until backto- back goals from El Paso’s Joaquin Rivas and Moreno (penalty) gave Locomotive FC an unexpected late lead in the 87th minute.

But that lead wouldn’t last long. Just four minutes after being subbed on, Jacobo Reyes took a chip over the top from Marco Micaletto and fired past Waite for an equalizer. And United weren’t done. Daniel Bruce, who came on with Reyes in the 87th minute, found Nicky Hernandez for a right-footed curler past Waite for the game’s final score in the 92nd minute.

The win moves New Mexico into third place in the USL Championship Western Conference, and drops El Paso into 11th.