Switchbacks FC Earn a Win and a Clean Sheet Against Phoenix Rising

August 3, 2024 – United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC News Release

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC in action
(Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, Credit: Isaiah Downing)

Colorado Springs, CO – The Colorado Springs Switchbacks extinguished Phoenix at Weidner Field with a final score of 2-0.

With Phoenix Rising winning the last match against the Switchbacks back in April, the boys knew that tonight was going to be a tough battle. They applied pressure especially in the first half with 10 shots, 21 touches in the opposition’s box, and held 59.4% possession. The Switchbacks were the first to make a mark on the scoreboard in the 34′. After a quick zigzag pass in the box between #10 Zach Zandi and #80 Speedy Williams, Williams found an opening to #9 Ronaldo Damus. With Damus battling three Rising Defenders, he turned around, took control of the ball, and aimed it right into the bottom left side of the net.

Into the second half, Phoenix started to creep up into the Switchbacks’ defensive zone with more ball possession and shots, but that did not get through the Switchbacks’ strong defense. The boys won 19 tackles, had four interceptions, and had 17 clearances. In the 90+6′, a red card was given to Switchbacks Head Coach James Chambers, making him unable to travel with the team at the following away game against North Carolina FC.

With only a few minutes remaining in the game, #7 Tyreek Magee secured the Switchbacks win with a goal. In the 90+8′, Magee ran up the left middle side of the box and sent the ball to the left of the net.

The Switchbacks head on the road on August 10th against North Carolina FC and August 17th against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC. Mark your calendars for August 24th as the Switchbacks take on New Mexico United for Cyan Night!

Match Quotes:

Alan McCann:

Overall Thoughts:

“Yeah, I thought in the first half we were physically dominant; it was what we asked of the lads, they (Phoenix) died off with fifteen minutes to go in the first half and we were able to punish. We didn’t move the ball quick enough is what we talked about at half time. Second half, they started right off, the first fifteen minutes we had to actually ride it out for a little bit. There was a small period in the middle of the second half where we had to grind it out, they made their subs which changed the game and three of our lads physically died, so I thought the subs that came in for us really helped us – Yosuke (Hanya) was huge, even Delentz…