Monterey Bay F.C. Falls 2-0 in New Mexico

August 20, 2022 – United Soccer League Championship (USL) – Monterey Bay FC News Release

ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico – Monterey Bay F.C. (9-13-2, 29 points) fell 2-0 to Western Conference foe New Mexico United (11-6-9, 42 points) at Isotopes Park in Albuquerque. Chris Wehan and Preston Tabort Etaka scored back-to-back goals in the first half to take all of the points on the night.

Monterey Bay F.C. looked calm and in control to start the match. A Union build up down the right side led to an early corner in just the second minute, but the cross into the box was cleared away by the hosts. New Mexico earned a chance in the 15th minute of the match when Amando Moreno snuck just beyond the Union back line, but his low shot was saved by Antony Siaha at the top of the six-yard box. Adrian Rebollar and Christian Volesky combined on the counter to earn the Crisp and Kelp’s second corner of the match in the 26th minute, but the corner was snuffed out by New Mexico. In the 32nd minute, New Mexico’s Kalen Ryden looped a ball in toward Alexis Souahy at the edge of the six-yard box, but his header was denied at the near post by Siaha. New Mexico opened the scoring in the 38th minute with a free-kick goal by Wehan from just outside the box. Then, less than a minute later, United struck again on a shot that took a wicked deflection past Siaha and found its way into the back of the net to give the hosts the 2-0 lead at the halftime break.

Looking to get back into the match in the 56th minute, Simon Dawkins found Sam Gleadle open on the right side of the box, but his chance to put the Union on the board missed over the top of the crossbar. In the 62nd minute, New Mexico looked to have scored its third goal of the match, but Moreno was judged to be offside. Second-half substitute Jason Johnson came close to scoring the Union’s first goal in the 76th minute, but his shot across the frame missed just wide of the left post. In the 85th minute, another second-half substitute Seku Conneh pushed forward with the ball into the box, but his right-footed shot missed to the right of the near post and the match ended 2-0 in favor of the home side.

Next Up: Monterey Bay F.C. returns home on Saturday, August 27 to host Los Angeles Galaxy II for the third and final time this season, but for the first time at Cardinale Stadium in Seaside. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. PT.

Notes:

– Chase Boone made his return to the pitch as a substitute for the Union after missing the previous six matches…