NMU veterans Bruce and Rivas cheered on their home playoff debut

(Reuters) – It may sound strange to say that Daniel Bruce and Sergio Rivas will be playing for hometown pride when New Mexico United hosts rival Phoenix Rising FC in a playoff battle for the USL Championship on Sunday night.

After all, United's two longest-serving midfielders weren't born in Albuquerque. Bruce is from Warrington, England and still has a British accent. Rivas was born in Parral, Chihuahua, Mexico.

But in this case, birth certificates tell us nothing.

For Bruce and Rivas, New Mexico is now home. And both players say they will be highly motivated when United host their first home playoff game at Isotopes Park.

Rivas, 27, moved to Albuquerque at age 7 and played club and prep soccer (Cibola High School). He said there was a personal side to Sunday's playoff game.

“Absolutely,” he said. “I grew up here and I was always aware that New Mexico and the players here were looked down upon. For me, this is a chance to stand up for New Mexico and our fans, to show that we can compete for a championship and do things right.” . I honestly can’t wait for Sunday.”

Bruce doesn't share Rivas' long-standing roots in New Mexico, but he has good reasons to be excited for United's playoff opener. Firstly, the 28-year-old is the only remaining player from NMU's first season in 2019.

“Our goal in 2019 was simply to make the playoffs, which we did,” Bruce said. “But getting a playoff game at home was a goal every year. Maybe it took a little longer than we hoped, but now that we're here it's really exciting and rewarding. It's important for us to make the best of it.” “

Bruce's time in New Mexico was about more than just football. He met and married his wife, Joy, in Albuquerque last offseason. Since then, the Bruces have made Duke City their home.

“Joy's family is here, so we don't want to stray too far from it,” Bruce said. “It makes me feel like I'm playing for my hometown and being married to Joy has helped me in every way. She comes to every game and I've set a lot of goals for myself this season, so…”

Bruce and Rivas are proud of United's record-breaking season. In coach Eric Quill's first full season, NMU set club records for wins (18) and points (59) and finished atop the USL Championship Western Conference for the first time.

But Quill and his players admit their dominant regular season ended on a sour note. After effectively clinching first place in mid-September, New Mexico went 0-3-2 in its last five games, plagued by injuries and struggling to put shots on opponents' nets.

Bruce and Rivas are confident United can regain their previous form in a win-or-go-home situation. Bruce prefers to approach Sunday's contest like any other game – or at least like any other rivalry game.

“Every time we play a team like Phoenix or El Paso, there’s a little more excitement and it always seems to be close and hard-fought,” Bruce said. “Phoenix is ​​a good team with good players, but you can't make a game like this too big or too small. We have to use the last five games as a learning curve and get back to the fundamental things that made us one. “We are the first team and we are playing with confidence.

Rivas is also convinced that NMU can shake off its recent problems, but unlike Bruce, he prefers to use the rivalry duel as additional incentive. Upstart FC handed United a 2-1 loss in Albuquerque on Oct. 9, a game Phoenix desperately needed to secure the eighth playoff spot, while New Mexico had little at stake.

Still, Rivas said the result made him angry.

“I hate losing at home and I felt we were the better team,” he said. “For me, that just adds more fire.”

Oddly enough, the away team has won the last four USLC rivalries between United and Rising FC. As Rivas pointed out, that streak includes United's 2-1 victory in Arizona last October, when New Mexico won its final three games to secure a place in the playoffs. Phoenix rebounded and won a USLC championship.

“I like to play with pressure,” Rivas said, “but I think there will be more pressure on (Phoenix) in this game. We are at home and have the advantage. It’s up to us to come out focused and see it through.”

Bruce stressed the importance of involving United's home fans.

“I feel like this is what the state and our fans deserve: a playoff game at Isotopes Park,” he said. “We are all proud to be part of this first event and we definitely plan to rise to the challenge.”

Rivas admitted he won't be satisfied with just one home playoff game this season. As a No. 1 seed, New Mexico will play at home as long as it makes the Western Conference playoffs.

“This game is the first step in making my dream come true,” Rivas said. “I’ve always wanted to win a championship here in my home state and we have that opportunity. The boys are very confident. We know we just need to win one game to get back into the swing of things. All we need is Sunday.”