Nicky Hernandez nets game-winning score
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (Aug. 29, 2026) – San Antonio FC earned another hard-fought road win over the top team in the Western Conference, taking down New Mexico United 2-1 at Isotopes Park Saturday.
SAFC went up early after creating some early offensive pressure, with Emil Cuello swinging in a dangerous cross that resulted in a New Mexico own goal in the 7th minute.
New Mexico evened straight out of the halftime break with a quick strike in the 46th minute.
San Antonio responded just seven minutes after as Mikey Maldonado sent a floating ball over the top for Nicky Hernandez, the latter sliding past United’s goalkeeper out of the box to send home the game-winning finish. The result marked San Antonio’s fourth win on the road, also snapping New Mexico’s 13-match unbeaten streak.
Scoring Summary
SA: Kipp Keller (Own goal) 7’
NM: Dayonn Harris 46’
SA: Nicky Hernandez (Assisted by Mikey Maldonado) 53’
Next Up
San Antonio FC plays host to FC Tulsa next Saturday, Sept. 5. Kickoff from Toyota Field is set for 7:30 p.m. CT, and the match will be broadcast on ESPN+. The 2026 season is presented by Toyota.
Postgame Notes:
- San Antonio improves to 9-5-8 on the season with 35 points, remaining in fifth place in the Western Conference standings.
- SAFC defeated New Mexico in back-to-back meetings for the first time since 2023.
- Midfielder Nicky Hernandez scored his first goal of the season and his fifth overall for the club.
- San Antonio has a 7-1-1 record when leading at halftime this season.
- Midfielder Mikey Maldonado posted his third assist for the club.
- Head Coach Carlos Llamosa made two changes to the starting XI that faced Oakland, with forward Santiago Patiño and midfielder Nicky Hernandez entering the lineup.
- SAFC has scored in its last four away matches.
- Forward Christian Sorto made his first appearance back from a lower body injury since July 31.
SAFC Starting XI: Joey Batrouni, Emil Cuello, Alex Crognale, Mitchell Taintor (Captain), Tiago Suarez Akeem O’Connor-Ward, Mikey Maldonado, Nicky Hernandez (Nelson Flores Blanco 68’), Jorge Hernandez, Cristian Parano (Luke Haakenson 88’), Santiago Patiño (Christian Sorto 63’)
Substitutions Not Used: Danny Barbir, Rece Buckmaster, Daniel Namani, Lilian Ricol
Disciplinary Summary:
SA: Yellow Card (Santiago Patiño) 13’
SA: Yellow Card (Nicky Hernandez) 17’
NM: Yellow Card (Ousman Jabang) 39’
SA: Yellow Card (Cristian Parano) 43’
NM: Yellow Card (Zico Bailey) 44’
NM: Yellow Card (Niko Hämäläinen) 45’
NM: Yellow Card (Jake LaCava) 74’
NM: Yellow Card (Greg Hurst) 84’
SA: Yellow Card (Jorge Hernandez) 88’
NM: Yellow Card (Christopher Gloster) 88’
NM: Yellow Card (Tyler Blackett) 89’
NM: Yellow Card (Kipp Keller) 90+1’
Quotes:
Head Coach Carlos Llamosa
(On the win…)
“It was a great win against a good team. I think the guys had a great performance tonight for the entire game. Defensively, we were patient. We were defending in a block. For the most part, we controlled the rhythm that they had with the guys in the middle, and I think we did a pretty good job, and going home with three points is fantastic.”
(On the team’s response after giving up a goal…)
“We showed personality. We gave up an early goal in the second half, but then right after we created two chances. Santi [Patiño] hit the post, and then two or three minutes later Nicky [Hernandez] scored the second goal, so we never went down after that goal, and after that we created more chances, as well. I’m happy with the guys without the ball. With the block defensively, we were really good and really tight, and I think we disrupted a little bit of New Mexico’s game.”
Defender Akeem O’Connor-Ward
(On the performance…)
“Really, really much-needed three points, and I think it was really good coming here and they were No. 1, so it was a really good result for us and a really good fight from the team. The last two games, we got shut out at home, gave up four goals between those last two games, so we showed a lot of character to come here in a really tough environment, tough circumstances with the delays and the guys really put a good performance together and stayed together, which I’m really happy it.”
(On picking up another road win…)
“It shows that we have the right mentality, and we’re rolling in the right direction. I think we have eight games left, so we want to start ramping it up at the right time, and this was a really, really big game for us to be able to kind of see if we can overcome adversity, and we’ll use this to keep going forward.”
Midfielder Mikey Maldonado
(On the win…)
“It was a tough win. We came on the road, and we’ve been doing well on the road all season, but the guys fought through. New Mexico got an early goal in the second half, but we fought back right away and we held onto the win.”
(On assisting Nicky Hernandez’s game-winning goal…)
“That’s that brother status right there. We can see each other playing no matter what, so honestly, he just made a great run and I had to do my job to put it on the spot for him, and he did the extra effort to slide so kudos to him for doing all of that.”
