United's Saturday home match postponed; opponent has COVID issues
May 20—New Mexico United's dry spell between summer home matches got significantly longer Friday.
United's home game against Phoenix Rising FC, scheduled for Saturday night at Isotopes Park, was postponed by the USL Championship on Friday because of COVID-19. According to a league release, "multiple covered persons on Phoenix Rising FC are unable to participate per the league's COVID-19 protocols."
The match will be rescheduled but a date had not been determined Friday.
The late postponement was a tough pill to swallow for New Mexico United, which had sold nearly 11,000 tickets by Friday afternoon. The Phoenix match was United's only scheduled home appearance over a six-week span. NMU hosted San Diego Loyal on May 7 and is not set to play at Isotopes Park again until June 22 when Rio Grande Valley visits Albuquerque.
Tickets purchased for Saturday's match will be honored for the rescheduled contest, but finding available dates at Isotopes Park is complicated because United shares the venue with its primary tenant, the Albuquerque Isotopes.
New Mexico United director of communications David Carl said the club will work with the USL Championship and hopes to announce a new date for the match as soon as possible.
"While we're obviously disappointed in the postponement, we are excited to reschedule this match for a later date," Carl said. "Every ticket purchased for Saturday's match will be valid when the rescheduled match is announced."
United's next scheduled match is in Indianapolis versus Indy Eleven on May 28. New Mexico then visits Orange County SC (June 4) and Oakland Roots (June 15) before returning home.
TAMBAKIS HONORED: NMU goalkeeper Alex Tambakis received the USL Championship's award for Save of the Week on Friday. Tambakis was honored for his leaping deflection over the crossbar on a shot by Charleston's Aidan Apodaca during United's 2-0 road win over the Battery last week. It was Tambakis' first appearance after missing four weeks with an injury.
