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New Mexico Rallies Past Dallas as Open Cup Run Continues

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 06/19/19, 11:03PM EDT

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Frater, Hamilton the goalscorers as United takes 2-1 victory on road against former champions


New Mexico United rallied from a first-half deficit to advance to the Quarterfinals of the 2019 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup with a 2-1 win against FC Dallas on Wednesday night. | Photo courtesy Matt Begala / FC Dallas

DALLAS – New Mexico United’s dream run in the 2019 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is still alive.

And this time, Head Coach Troy Lesesne’s side didn’t even need extra time.

A second-half goal by defender Sam Hamilton – just his second in all competitions in 2019 – proved the difference as the expansion USL Championship club defeated 2016 champion FC Dallas 2-1 at Walcott Field to advance to the Quarterfinals and a date with Minnesota United FC on July 10.

New Mexico had gone to extra time in all three of its previous Open Cup contests this season – twice advancing through a penalty shootout. Now NMU stands as the first Championship club to reach this stage of the tournament in its inaugural season in the league’s history.

Dallas took control of the flow of the game early on, but New Mexico withstood the host’s advances well enough as Dominiqu Badji’s shot from outside the penalty area in the 15th minute was the first effort that forced NMU goalkeeper Cody Mizell into a save. Badji produced a sharper save from Mizell on the half-hour mark with a low shot from the left side of the penalty area, but New Mexico’s defense cleared the rebound from danger.

New Mexico’s chances in the first half were limited, but the visitors had arguably the best opportunity of the first half in the 35th minute as defender Justin Schmidt made a driving run from the back line and played a clever one-two with Devon Sandoval to get in behind the Dallas defense. Schmidt’s shot beat Dallas goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer but rang off the left post and away to safety.

The majority of the pressure came from the hosts, though, and they broke through just before the halftime break as United States U-20 international Brandon Servania – who last season featured on loan in the Championship for Tulsa Roughnecks FC – gathered a designed corner kick delivered to the top of the penalty area and fired home to put Dallas ahead.

But as suddenly as New Mexico went behind, an equalizer arrived. A long ball over the top was corralled by Santi Moar on the left side of the penalty area, and after his effort was saved by Maurer the rebound fell to Kevaughn Frater to put away his third goal of the tournament and send the sides to the break level.

Dallas almost regained the lead inside the opening two minutes of the second half when a low cross by Michael Barrios from the right side was turned just wide of the near post by NMU defender Sam Hamilton.

As close as Hamilton had come to scoring in his own net through a crucial clearance, he was just as decisive at the other end in the 64th minute. A free kick on the right side was floated into the back post by Wehan for Schmidt, and his header dropped into the middle of the penalty area. Moar’s first shot was blocked, so was Frater’s follow-up, but Hamilton’s low shot at the third attempt found the back of the net.

Dallas reminded NMU of the danger it posed almost immediately after going behind only for Jesus Ferreira to scuff his finish from 12 yards, allowing Mizell to gather comfortably. Hollingshead then had a shot charged down in the 74th minute for the hosts after a cutback from the right by Paxton Pomykal, while Ferreira shot wide of the left post from 20 yards five minutes later.

Dallas’ pressure continued as New Mexico misplaced passes in its own half looking to relieve pressure. Pomykal forced a diving save from Mizell with eight minutes to go on one such opportunity, but as time ticked on the hosts themselves appeared to run short of energy and ideas. After six minutes of stoppage time that failed to produce a shot, the game ended with New Mexico running out the clock in Dallas’ end, secure in the knowledge they had done enough to advance, and ready to take their place in among the final eight teams alive in this year's tournament.

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