New Mexico United held off Phoenix Rising FC 2–1 on Sunday, with Greg Hurst and Cullen Wilkerson scoring either side of a Kelvin Arase equalizer to secure all three points at home.

It took just five minutes for New Mexico to strike. Charlie Dennis picked out Hurst, who made no mistake to give the hosts an early lead. Phoenix struggled to find rhythm in the opening half, with Daniel Flores picking up a booking in the 22nd minute. The card count kept climbing — Ousman Jabang was cautioned in the 35th minute for New Mexico, and Arase followed for Phoenix eight minutes later. The first half ended with United firmly in control.

The second half shifted in tone. Phoenix grew into the game and found their reward in the 72nd minute when Arase, already on a yellow, pulled the visitors level. The equalizer gave Rising momentum, but it lasted all of nine minutes. Cristian Nava delivered for Wilkerson, who restored New Mexico's lead in the 81st minute to make it 2–1.

From there, tempers frayed. The referee brandished four more yellow cards in the final ten minutes of the match — Jean Eric Moursou and Diego Gómez for Phoenix, Christopher Gloster and Kristopher Shakes for New Mexico — as Rising pushed desperately for a second equalizer that never came. Eight bookings across the 90 minutes underlined the intensity of a contest that never settled.

The victory keeps New Mexico United's push for a strong finish to the USL Championship regular season firmly on track heading into the final stretch of the campaign.