October 23, 2022 – United Soccer League Championship (USL) – Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC News Release
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC celebrate win
(Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC)
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, COLO – Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC have earned a match in the second round of the USL Championship playoffs, after defeating Rio Grande Valley FC 3-0.
The first half was a tight match, with both teams fighting hard for dominance. The teams were almost perfectly matched, with Switchbacks holding 46& of the possession but with an 85% passing accuracy. The second half would prove to be much different though, with COS taking the clear lead.
The Switchbacks came out hungry for a goal, and with 7 shots to RGV’s 1, it was clear that they weren’t playing around. It paid off for the first time in the 84th minute, as #14 Jairo Henriquez as #55 Triston Hodge had a huge midfield cross to Henriquez, who slipped it to the left of the goalie past a screened play to hit the bottom left corner of the net.
The second goal of the night came from #21 Aaron Wheeler, as #11 Michee Ngalina smartly chooses to cross the ball rather than attempt the shot, leaving Wheeler wide open to go right through the goalkeeper in the 90′. An unbelievable second goal from the vet came only three minutes later, as he tucks it in effortlessly to the center of the goal from right outside the 18 yard box.
The Switchbacks have guaranteed themselves a match for the Western Conference Semifinals. They will learn if they play home or away based on the results of the San Diego Loyal/Oakland Roots quarterfinals match tomorrow night.
Post-Game Quotes
Brendan Burke:
On how he feels after a playoff win:
“So the people at USL tactics, they can have some of that. All the pundits, they can have some of that. People didn’t believe in us and not only did we win, we won in a very clean way. We dominated most of the possession, at least the meaningful possession, and we put ourselves in a position to score five or six goals tonight, and ultimately we banged in three right at the end.”
On overcoming the doubts after RGV’s strong end of season performance:
” 3-0. I mean there is no better way, everyone is saying they’re (RGV) the hottest team in the league and all that. I have great respect for Wilmer (Cabrera), he’s done an amazing job with what he has there and they were one of the hottest teams in the league. I think people slept on the fact that we can dominate a game and that we are very…