New Mexico United’s already impressive Lamar Hunt US Open Cup record against MLS sides improved once again in the Round of 32 due in large part to the play of Zico Bailey. The Nevada native made light work of two early attempts from outside the arc to put the USL Championship side out to a lead they would never look back in a 4-2 home win against Real Salt Lake.
Bailey’s brace earned him a tightly won race for TheCup.us Player of the Round honors. In one of the closest votes ever, Bailey beat out MD Myers (Charleston Battery) and Carlos Saldana (Detroit City FC) by a single first-place vote (2 points). Myers and Saldana were tied for second place. This marks the first time a player from New Mexico United has claimed the award.
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Bailey’s performance in the Open Cup further cements the decision that head coach Eric Quill made when bringing in the midfielder on a short-term contract in August of 2023. After joining the Black & Yellow, Bailey played a pivotal role in United’s late-season playoff push.
Not necessarily known for his shooting ability, Bailey’s performance was that much more special as it was the fastest two-goal sequence in United’s history. In the 17th and 19th minutes, Bailey was played into space at the top of the arc. The first ball came via Sergio Rivas, which Bailey turned into a goal in the bottom left, while the second was a moment that When Playing It Out Of the Back Goes Wrong would appreciate. An interception by Dayonn Harris then found Bailey alone at the top again and made Real Salt Lake pay for their mistakes twice in as many minutes.
“It’s something we talked about in the pre-game,” said Bailey speaking to media after the win. “We wanted to start the game well and set the tone early. We wanted to make sure that we made the first big momentum play of the night and we did that.”
When asked about scoring two goals in a match, Bailey said he couldn’t remember ever doing it before, let alone that fast.
Upsetting MLS clubs is nothing new for the New Mexico-based club, and Bailey helped his club jump out to an early start. Led by Bailey, United upset an MLS side for the third time in only their fourth appearance in the tournament, having made their debut in 2019, when they made a Cinderella run to the Quarterfinals.
Bailey, only 23, made his professional debut back in 2017 as a member of LA Galaxy II. Since then, Bailey made his way to the MLS with FC Cincinnati from 2020-2022. After being released, he spent time with San Antonio FC in 2023, before being picked up by Quill and United. Bailey’s versatility on the pitch has seen him play both as a defender and a midfielder for the Black & Yellow, excelling in both.