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It鈥檚 a quick turnaround for New Mexico United, which will be playing its second match of the week when it hosts Las Vegas Lights FC on Saturday. United settled for a 2-2 draw against El Paso Locomotive FC on Wednesday.

Here are some things to note:

Free kicks

1. HELLO, FORMER FRIEND: Calling United manager Dennis Sanchez an old friend of Las Vegas wouldn鈥檛 appear to fit here 鈥� at least on paper. 

Sanchez was the head coach for Lights in 2024 and proceeded to lead the club to a 16-12-11 record (between the USL Championship regular season, the USL playoffs and U.S. Open Cup) before moving to New Mexico ahead of the 2025 slate. It remains the best season for Las Vegas, which was founded in 2018. 

Among those 39 matches in 2024? Three came against United. There was a 2-1 loss for Lights on May 8, a 2-1 Las Vegas win on July 19 and a 1-0 Lights victory on Nov. 9. The last knocked New Mexico out of the playoffs.

In Sanchez鈥檚 first season with United, New Mexico topped Las Vegas 3-2 on March 15, 2025, and had a 2-2 draw on Aug. 16.

Saturday will mark the clubs鈥� first matchup of 2026. It will be interesting to see how this round goes, along with the next on Sept. 5.

2. DOES TWICE MEAN AS NICE? An honest question. Saturday will mark the third time this season United has two matches in the same week and there are more coming (as soon as May 20 and May 23). 

So, how has New Mexico fared in its previous multi-match weeks? Meh.

After United beat Cruizers FC 3-2 on March 18, it followed with a 1-0 loss at San Antonio FC on March 21. Following a 4-0 drubbing New Mexico received courtesy of El Paso on April 1, it topped Orange County FC 1-0 on April 4.

At best, United can come away with a 1-0-1 record this week thanks to its draw with El Paso on Wednesday. But that would certainly beat a 0-1-1 showing.

3. ANOTHER TOP SCORER COMES TO TOWN: On Wednesday, United got a matchup with Locomotive鈥檚 Rubio Rub铆n, who came into the match ranked third in the USL in goals with five. He ended the day increasing his total to six.

A showdown with Las Vegas means welcoming another opponent who has a tendency for finding the back of the net 鈥� Johnny Rodriguez. The forward has notched five of Lights鈥� 13 regular-season goals, good for a tie for fourth individually in the USL championship.

Rodriguez finished with nine regular-season scores in his first year with Las Vegas in 2025 and has 47 over the course of six-plus USL seasons. Three more and he will become the 36th player in league history, per the USL website, to reach the 50-goal milestone.

4. THERE鈥橲 A NEED, A NEED FOR 3: New Mexico missed a chance to add three points to its Western Conference standings total Wednesday when El Paso鈥檚 Diego Abitia scored an 86th-minute equalizer.

And three points on Saturday would go a long way for United, which is still 10th in the West with seven points, one behind Las Vegas.

But a win would also have another benefit 鈥� the club simply won鈥檛 be seeing a loss or draw. 

New Mexico鈥檚 last USL win came against Orange County in the beginning of April. Of course, United hasn鈥檛 gotten many chances. The club has played a league-low six matches. Still 鈥�

Key matchup

United forward Greg Hurst vs. Lights keeper Jared Mazzola

Let鈥檚 go with the obvious choice here, because why not? Hurst notched his first two goals of the season Wednesday, ending a nine-match scoreless streak dating to last season鈥檚 conference semifinal. Las Vegas offers an opportunity for more. Lights are second in the USL in goals allowed with 16 and Mazzola has conceded 14 of those. 

Player of the week

United defender Niko H盲m盲l盲inen

He leads New Mexico in clearances (23) and is tied for the lead in blocks (5). He should be helpful in trying to limit Rodriguez.

By the numbers

6/21/25: The last time Las Vegas won consecutive USL matches, a stretch of 24 games. Lights beat Lexington SC 2-1 last Saturday.

3: Las Vegas has conceded at least three goals in its four losses. 

5: Lights are fifth in the USL in goals scored with 13 to go along with those 16 allowed. 

0-4-1: Las Vegas鈥� road record. A good sign for United?

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