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Dennis Sanchez doesn鈥檛 mind finding the balance in certain results, particularly if the main positive overshadows its counterpart. It just has to be warranted.

Like Saturday, which appeared to fit nicely into that category for the New Mexico United manager.

The good, and certainly the most important, news? United won, beating El Paso Locomotive FC 2-0 on the road.

The not-quite-so-good news? (Bad might be a bit of a strong word based on the outcome.) New Mexico found itself out of the running to advance in the USL Cup as the tournament鈥檚 lone wild card. That spot will go to Miami FC, which will join the seven group stage winners for the Cup鈥檚 knockout rounds that begin Aug. 12. Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC won United鈥檚 group.

Miami finished with nine points, the same as New Mexico, Charleston Battery and Birmingham Legion FC, but won on total goals scored throughout the group stage. Miami finished with 11. New Mexico scored eight times, as did Battery, which lost its group after falling on penalty kicks to Charlotte Independence on Saturday. Birmingham netted seven.

鈥淚n a perfect world, you want to do both,鈥� Sanchez said. 鈥淏ut at the same time, it鈥檚 about us. And I think we very much showed tonight we鈥檙e able to win on the road against our rivals. So there鈥檚 a lot of positive momentum that鈥檚 happening in the locker room right now.鈥�

That there is. It鈥檚 not exactly hard to see why, either.

United hasn鈥檛 lost in eight straight matches across all competitions 鈥� regular season, USL Cup and an international friendly.

And the club has done so in myriad ways: at home, on the road, with defensive performances like its showing at Hartford Athletic on May 30, with notable first halves that were on display against Phoenix Rising FC on June 6 or Oakland Roots SC on July 4 and with late second-half moments like the ones against Charleston on May 23 or at Sacramento FC on June 20 or the international friendly against Liga MX鈥檚 Atlante FC on July 1. All with the USL Championship鈥檚 mental health break sandwiched somewhere in between.

It has helped United rise to third in the Western Conference table with 21 points, seven behind first-place Orange County SC and four lower than San Antonio FC heading into Wednesday鈥檚 matchup at Lexington SC.

鈥淚t鈥檚 the mentality that we want to be able to do our thing anytime, anywhere,鈥� Sanchez said. 鈥淎nd then taking into account things like the context of the game with the heat and the field, we have to adapt to it, but we stayed true to ourselves and found a way.鈥�

On Saturday, it was the substitutions whose contributions appeared the most on the stat sheet.

Joseph Melto scored in the 85th minute on an assist from Kipp Keller, while Zico Bailey recorded a goal four minutes later on a pass from Jake LaCava. Melto and LaCava both checked in during the 60th minute with Melto replacing Dayonn Harris and LaCava for Cristian Nava. It was LaCava鈥檚 first appearance since breaking a toe at Hartford Athletic on May 30. 

Luther Archim猫de, meanwhile, filled in the starting lineup for Justin Rennicks, who was pulled shortly before the start of the match. Sanchez said it was more precautionary than anything, but did not elaborate. The forward鈥檚 status going forward is 鈥渟till TBD.鈥�

El Paso鈥檚 highlight was Cristo Fern谩ndez, the 鈥淭ed Lasso鈥� actor known for playing Dani Rojas and famous for his 鈥淔煤tbol is life鈥� catchphrase, who made his season debut in the 79th minute. He was awarded a yellow card after colliding with United keeper Kris Shakes in the 87th.

鈥淪ome of the subs were more in relation to kind of protecting some guys for Wednesday,鈥� Sanchez said. 鈥淎t the same time, I have full confidence in not only the guys that were here tonight, but the guys we left at home. We have a great roster and more than anything, there鈥檚 belief, there鈥檚 confidence. 

鈥溾�� The guys are taking care of business.鈥�

And that鈥檚 the most important thing.

Would advancing in the USL Cup would have been nice for United? Sure. Was keeping its unbeaten streak intact was a bit better? Yes.

鈥淲e knew we needed some other results tonight to kind of go our way,鈥� Sanchez said. 鈥�... But it鈥檚 about keeping our momentum going.鈥�

David Glovach covers New Mexico United and other sports for the Journal. Reach him at dglovach@abqjournal.com or via X .