New Mexico United saw off Oakland Roots SC 2–1 at home on Independence Day, with first-half goals from Cristian Nava and Zico Bailey proving enough to hold off a second-half response from the visitors.

United wasted no time setting the tone. Nava opened the scoring in the sixth minute, finishing from a Niko Hämäläinen delivery to give the hosts an early cushion. The fast start didn't settle things down, though. Ousman Jabang picked up a yellow card just three minutes later, and the opening quarter of the game carried an edge, with Oakland's Keegan Tingey also going into the book in the 21st minute.

Kipp Keller became New Mexico's second player cautioned when he was booked on 36 minutes, but any concerns about discipline were quickly offset. Bailey doubled the lead before halftime, converting in the 41st minute after good work from Dayonn Harris. At 2–0, United looked comfortable heading into the break.

Oakland came out with more urgency after the interval. Peter Wilson pulled one back in the 67th minute to make it a contest again, and the Roots pushed for an equalizer through the final stretch. Thomas McCabe was booked in the 83rd minute as the visitors grew increasingly desperate, and Maliek Howell received a late yellow for New Mexico deep in stoppage time as the hosts managed the clock.

New Mexico held firm, though, and the final whistle confirmed a deserved three points. The Fourth of July victory keeps United moving in the right direction as the USL Championship season enters its second half.