Game: San Diego Loyal vs. New Mexico United

Where: Torero Stadium

When: Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023

Time: 6:30 p.m. PST

TV: ESPN+

The San Diego Loyal will play New Mexico United this Saturday, Aug. 18, for the last game of a five-game home stand in the USL Championship.

San Diego is coming off a frustrating 1-0 loss to Memphis 901 FC in a match where rival goalkeeper Drew Roming shined.

Roming stopped a penalty executed by Joe Corona in the opening minutes of the match, and that set the tone for the rest of the encounter. The Loyal have won two games and lost two games in this long home stand, and the ideal scenario is a win on Saturday night to come out with a positive record from these five games at Torero Stadium.

San Diego and New Mexico have played each other already this season, and that match ended in a 1-1 draw in the Southwestern state. Evan Conway scored the lone goal of that match, and he has been hot in this home stand with two goals from four games played.

Conway, Tumi Moshobane, Adrien Perez, and the rest of the Loyal offense will try and come back with some production after that frustrating game against Memphis.

New Mexico is a perfect opponent to make that comeback on, as the Southwestern team is coming off off a rough 3-0 defeat to San Antonio FC and is on a dreadful run of three consecutive losses. New Mexico is currently ninth in the USL Western Conference and has allowed 33 goals in 22 games played, which is fifth most in the Western Conference. Former Xolos’ forward Amando Moreno is one to look out for on New Mexico’s team, as he leads the squad with six goals scored this season. However, he has not scored in his last three games played, as the New Mexico offense has only mustered up a goal in these last three games.

The San Diego Loyal are currently fifth in the USL Western Conference but have the potential to go as high as third place with a win from this match. The Loyal will finally play a road game after this match when San Diego visits Rio Grande Valley on Aug.26 before returning home to face Birmingham Legion on Sept.3.

Francisco Velasco

Francisco, 26, Chula Vista/Tijuana. I have been a Padres fan all my life, did most of the series previews and recaps in the Padres’ 2016 season for EVT. Now I focus more on the local soccer scene. Tijuana Xolos, San Diego Loyal, San Diego Wave.