NEW MEXICO UNITED
Rennicks helps NM United celebrate USL Cup opener
Forward credits teammate for helping pick best way to enjoy go-ahead goal
Justin Rennicks stuck the landing.
Sure, the New Mexico United forward was the one who showed off his acrobatic skills 鈥� a backflip after scoring the go-ahead goal in Saturday鈥檚 2-1 win over AV Alta FC in a USL Cup group-stage match opener. But he couldn鈥檛 take all the credit.
So, Rennicks made sure to give a shoutout to teammate Kipp Keller.
鈥淲e talked about it (this week),鈥� Rennicks said with a grin. 鈥淚 showed him I could do a backflip and he was like, 鈥榃hy don鈥檛 you do that as a celebration?鈥� ... So I did it.鈥�
Rennicks鈥� previous backflip experience? Once. During his college career at Indiana.
But with Saturday鈥檚 appearance, he certainly deserved to give it a shot.
The forward came on in the 57th minute for Dayonn Harris. Less than 20 minutes later, Rennicks scored on an assist from Niall Reid-Stephen to help United avoid penalty kicks and earn three points in Group 2 of stage play. It was Rennicks鈥� second goal of the season.
75鈥� SCEEEEEENES! Gedion crosses, Niall heads it back and Justin Rennicks scores his first goal at home! | 2-1 |
鈥� New Mexico United (@NewMexicoUTD)
Harris scored the equalizer for United in the 36th minute. Ilias Aoumaich found the back of the net for AV Alta in the 18th minute. Aoumaich was later subbed for Goodwin Antwi with a leg injury.
鈥淚t鈥檚 one of those moments where a coaching change works out in your favor,鈥� said United manager Dennis Sanchez, whose club returns to USL Championship action with two upcoming home matches. United (2-3) will host El Paso Locomotive FC on Wednesday, May 6 and Las Vegas Lights FC on Saturday, May 9.
鈥淲e know that Justin can score goals for us. 鈥� We knew there were going to be opportunities and then we found the moment to take it.鈥�
And Rennicks made sure to deliver.
That, after all, was the plan.
鈥淩ennicks is a dog, man,鈥� said keeper Kris Shakes, who finished with two saves, both in the first half, and an alleged backflipper as well. 鈥淭his guy has two goals now this season and I know he鈥檚 trying to push for more to help the team win, so props to that guy for working so hard all week and getting the go-ahead tonight.鈥�
Renincks wouldn鈥檛 mind providing some more celebratory moments.
Might there be any more post-goal antics in store? That remains to be seen. It鈥檚 all about the timing and Saturday鈥檚 fit the moment.
鈥淒epends on how I鈥檓 feeling,鈥� Rennicks said. 鈥淭hat was a big game, game-winning goal, so it seemed right.鈥�
David Glovach covers New Mexico United and other sports for the Journal. Reach him at dglovach@abqjournal.com or via X .
