March 25, 2023 – United Soccer League Championship (USL) – Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC News Release
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, COLO – The Colorado Springs Switchbacks had a chance at a draw, but a stoppage time PK for Zach Zandi got denied by the SA goalkeeper, resulting in a 1-0 loss for the Switchbacks.
Tonight’s match was an opportunity for the Switchbacks to earn some comeuppance after San Antonio FC pushed them out of the playoffs in the 2022 Western Conference Final. The team seemed eager to make some moves, and in just the first sixteen seconds of play #9 Romario Williams had a great chance on the ball that was just off target. Williams would take three more shots in the first half, adding to the Switchbacks overall count of five. The guys in black and blue dominated on the ball, holding 63.4% of the ball’s possession as well as over 200 passes. San Antonio had their chance on the ball as well, most notably a rocket of a kick in the 28th minute that was just tipped up into the crossbar thanks to the reach and reflexes of Switchbacks goalkeeper #1 Christian Herrera. The score board would stay blank for the rest of the match, with the two teams tied going into the half.
The second half kicked off much the same way as the first, with both teams fighting for possession in what was a mostly aerial game as SA did their best to keep the Switchbacks off the ball. Each team had an early shot on goal only ten minutes in, but the board remained empty until the 83rd minute, when Herrera came out of the six yard box for a play that ended up getting deflected, allowing San Antonio player #25 Mohammed Abu to head it into the upper left corner of the net behind a diving Herrera.
The rest of the second half would get a little chippy, with bookings more common on both sides of the aisle, and several minutes of play was eaten up by some on field confrontation. The Switchbacks received an eleventh hour Hail Mary, when #4 Fabien Garcia of SAFC was carded for a handball, awarding COS a penalty kick in the 90+5th minute of play. Switchbacks #10 Zach Zandi took the kick, but San Antonio’s goalie #1 Farr correctly read the play and made the save, preventing the Switchbacks from earning the draw.
The team remains on the road for one more week, heading East for a faceoff against Loudon United on April 2nd. The will return home for the second round of the U.S Lamar Open Cup, as they face off against Hailstorm FC on Wednesday April 5th.
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