New Mexico United claimed a 1-0 victory over El Paso Locomotive FC on Saturday night, with Valentin Noël striking deep into stoppage time to settle the Rio Grande rivalry. Noël found the net in the 90+4th minute, latching onto a pass from Gedion Zelalem to break the deadlock and silence the home crowd.

For the vast majority of the match, neither side could find a breakthrough. New Mexico's Kipp Keller picked up a yellow card inside the opening minute, setting an aggressive tone early, but the contest largely ground on without a decisive moment through 90 minutes of regulation.

Then came the drama. Zelalem, who had been a creative presence in midfield, played the ball into a dangerous area and Noël made no mistake, converting to hand the visitors a lead that El Paso simply had no time to answer. Noël was booked moments later in the 90+6th minute — likely for his celebration — but it hardly mattered. The damage was done.

El Paso pushed for an immediate response but couldn't muster a clear chance before the final whistle. The Locomotive were left frustrated by a match that slipped away from them in the dying seconds after holding firm for so long.

The result gives New Mexico United a valuable three points on the road in the rivalry and bolsters their positioning in the USL Championship standings as the season enters its final stretch.