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Kelly Umezu arrived at the Civic Center with his family for the New Mexico United watch party two hours before the Umezus’ favorite soccer team played on the big screen against rival El Paso on Saturday night.
Last week, he said, there was a mixup with his tickets for a reserved pod and he wasn’t able to secure a spot, so instead this week, the United gave him four pods.
The Umezu family, and three other families who have children that play for the Pateadores NM soccer club, joined about 450 others who cheered for the United’s first goal of the season. Everyone erupted after Devon Sandoval’s goal in the 57th minute. El Paso later scored in the final moments of the match for a 1-1 tie.
Da Carrijo el empate al Locomotive
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United’s Josh Suggs (5), shown in action last Oct. 20 vs. San Antonio FC, says this year’s United team is “the best” of the three. (Darren Abate/USL Championship)
It’s fair to say New Mexico United is ready to get its 2021 show on the road.
After reaching last season’s USL Championship Western Conference semifinals, United spent the offseason stockpiling talent and the preseason building momentum. NMU won its final four preseason matches, racking up eight goals total in just the last two.
Starting Saturday, the matches count. New Mexico opens the regular season at Rio Grande Valley FC and the buzz was palpable Tuesday during a media conference at the club’s Mesa del Sol practice facility.
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Can winter be over yet? We’re ready to watch some Soccer!
If you missed it on Thursday, the She Believes Cup kicked off play with Brazil beating Argentina in the first match, and US beat Canada in the second. The 2nd round matches continue on Sunday with USWNT facing Brazil at 1 PM on FS1.
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English Championship side Bournemouth is courting Thierry Henry in their search for a new head coach. His contract with CF Montreal (formerly Impact) runs through the end of 2021. [TheScore]
Brian Brown doesn’t waste time overthinking his role on the soccer pitch.
A 28-year-old forward from Sandy Bay, Jamaica, Brown became New Mexico United’s latest offseason addition on Monday. Asked about his playing mindset during a Zoom media conference, Brown did not hesitate.
“The No. 1 thing is to score goals,” he said. “I enjoy setting up my teammates and everything else about the game, but I want to score goals and push for a championship.”
Brian Brown (NM United photo)
Brown can speak from experience. Over the past nine seasons he’s netted goals in various leagues and venues ranging from his native Jamaica to Albania with several Major League Soccer and United Soccer League Championship stops in between.
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