Sacramento Republic FC came from behind — well, they never actually trailed. Memo Rodríguez scored twice and set up the third as Sacramento beat New Mexico United 3-2 on the road in USL Championship action on Saturday night. Greg Hurst and Luther Archimède replied for the hosts, but it was not enough to overturn a dominant Sacramento performance.

Rodríguez opened the scoring in the 12th minute, giving Sacramento an early cushion that New Mexico struggled to answer before halftime. The first half ended with tempers fraying — both Hurst and Cristian Nava picked up yellow cards in stoppage time for the home side.

Sacramento doubled their lead four minutes into the second half. Rodríguez finished from a Jack Gurr delivery to make it 2-0 and put New Mexico in a deep hole. The hosts needed a response, and Hurst provided one in the 73rd minute, pulling a goal back to cut the deficit in half.

Any momentum New Mexico had built, though, was short-lived. Just five minutes later, Kyle Edwards restored Sacramento's two-goal advantage, converting a pass from Rodríguez — who now had a hand in all three goals. Rodríguez had been booked in the 71st minute but continued to cause problems regardless.

Archimède, himself cautioned in the 82nd minute, headed or struck home from a Christopher Gloster feed in the 85th to make it 3-2 and set up a nervy finish. Sacramento held firm through the closing minutes, with Frederik Kleemann picking up a late booking as the visitors saw out the win.

The result gives Sacramento Republic FC a valuable three points on the road as the regular season enters its final stretch.