This weekend the Colorado Springs Switchbacks head to the Valley of the Sun for a late-night showdown against Phoenix Rising FC. Saturday’s match in the Grand Canyon State will kick off at 8:30pm, with live coverage by the voice of the Switchbacks, Ryan Kaufman, beginning at 8pm on XTRA Sports1300AM.
Phoenix has seen daily temperatures over 110 degrees Fahrenheit since the start of July, with Saturday forecasted to reach a Sahara-like 115. The last time Phoenix Rising played at Phoenix Rising Stadium at 38th St/Washington, they eviscerated Memphis 901 FC 6-0 on July 1st . A week later, Phoenix fell 2-1 to Miami FC in the Sunshine State, and have not played since. The Switchbacks suffered a heavy defeat on Saturday evening to San Diego Loyal in a match that saw Romario Williams sent off. Williams will be suspended for Saturday’s match in Arizona,
although El Salvador international Jairo Henriquez is available after returning to Colorado Springs following La Selecta’s elimination from the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
What the Switchbacks Say:
Head Coach Stephen Hogan: “We’re going to miss [Romario] in the box – he can really move and he can really hit the target from any area inside the 18, so we’ll have to readjust, and hopefully we’ll cause some problems with more options up there. Jairo [Henriquez] is ready to go now. He’s obviously coming back from the Gold Cup, and it’s hard for everyone to get back involved straight away [after returning from international duty]. In different circumstances [against San Diego Loyal] I would have put him on the field, but we decided just to keep him back and rest him and give him that extra week [of preparation]. He’s been phenomenal in training; his decisions on the ball [and] his scoring ability from anywhere will hopefully help us this weekend.”
Captain Matt Mahoney: “[Last Saturday against San Diego] was a tough one to swallow. The important thing is that we did film on it and realized where we went wrong, and we realize that every point matters now [at] this point of the season. The West[ern Conference] is super tight and we have to go with the mindset that we haven’t been great on the road and we’re trying to alter that this week with tactics and figuring out what we have to do to succeed. Phoenix is trying to rebound – they’re a little behind us [in the table] – and we have to go with the mindset to get three points. I think when we score first and when we are able to defend as a unit and do all the hard work, we’re a very good team and very hard to break down. If we do the little things correctly and work hard, then our soccer usually is allowed to take over.”
Rising Roundup:
“[Phoenix Rising] are similar to us really – they’re up and down,” said Head Coach Hogan. “I know Juan [Guerra, Phoenix Rising Head Coach] and I’m very close with Juan – we did all our coaching badges together. I know exactly what he is as a coach and he’s trying to implement one or two new things. He has some really good soccer players. I actually think [when] on form they’re probably way better than what San Diego showed on the ball. We have to be really good in the heat and make sure we take care of it and that’s one of the reasons we’re studying so much on our defensive organization.” “[Danny] Trejo is unbelievable at the moment,” continued Coach Hogan. “[Manuel] Arteaga is the top goal-scorer in the league. The kid they signed, Panos [Armenakas], a few weeks ago is very creative. We saw him in Loudoun and he’s very good on the ball – similar to our Tyreek
[Magee] or Jairo [Henriquez] in his ability on the ball. And then [Phoenix] have one or two players on the back line that can really hurt you with longer balls, so it’s a collective effort from them. [And] the kid Erickson [Gallardo] is dynamic.”
Vargish’s View:
Temperature talk aside, Saturday night is going to be a hotly contested match. Both teams need a win – Phoenix to vault up the Western Conference standings and away from the playoff cut line, and the Switchbacks to vanquish the lingering disappointment associated with last Saturday’s lopsided loss to San Diego. Phoenix Rising have some of the brightest attacking talent in the USL Championship. Manuel Arteaga is tied for the league lead in goals for a reason, and his partnership with Danny Trejo is as dynamic and difficult to curtail as any in the USL. The Switchbacks need a cohesive defensive display if they’re to end a five-match road losing streak and capture their first points away from Colorado Springs since April 29th. Romario Williams will be a big loss, but it could allow the Switchbacks to play smaller and try to use their counter attacking pace against a Phoenix team that will have the majority of possession.
