Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC Win Third Straight After Another Comeback Victory

Colorado Springs, CO (June 25, 2021) – The Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC won their third game in a row on Friday night, defeating New Mexico United 3-1 in a comeback victory at Weidner Field.

New Mexico got on the board first in the 19th minute from a corner kick that was played on the ground to the top of the penalty area. After a dummy run, the ball fell to the left foot of Josh Suggs who curled the shot to the top left corner of the goal.

Later in the half, Hadji Barry and Michee Ngalina combined on the left side of the penalty area before Ngalina hit a low shot to the bottom right corner, but Alex Tambakis made a foot save to deflect the ball out for a corner.

Just before the hour mark, the Switchbacks found an equalizer as Ngalina timed his run to get into the left side of the penalty area to slide for a tap-in finish for Deshane Beckford at the back post. The Switchbacks found a second goal to flip the script of the game when Sebastian Anderson played an inch perfect pass to Hadji Barry six yards out from goal as he deflected the ball inside the left post. That goal would mark Barry's seventh consecutive game with a goal for the Switchbacks.

With just under 20 minutes remaining, New Mexico had a cross get deflected and find Isidro Martinez who put a shot back across the frame of the goal for Anderson to make a sliding clearance off the goal-line to preserve the Switchbacks lead. 

The Switchbacks closed the game out in the 82nd minute as Andre Lewis played a pass with his first touch into the path of Barry who won his footrace to get onto the ball and slot his shot right by Tambakis and into the back of the net. Barry now has ten goals in his last seven games, making him the first player to reach the double digit mark in the USL Championship this season.

Tonight's win means the Switchbacks are now riding a five game unbeaten run with three straight wins to move into third place in the Mountain Division.

The Switchbacks FC are back at Weidner Field for their next two games next week. The Switchbacks are getting the 4th of July Fireworks Celebration started on June 1 vs Orange County SC, with gates opening at 6pm MT for the match presented by Diversus Health, mental health and well-being for all. Tickets are available HERE.

The Switchbacks are hosting a 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular show after the game against Real Monarchs SLC on July 4. The game is presented by Phil Long Dealerships, who are providing seat cushions to the first 500 fans in the gates at 4pm MT, with kickoff set for 6:30pm MT. Tickets are available HERE.

Colorado Springs, CO (June 25, 2021) – The Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC won their third game in a row on Friday night, defeating New Mexico United 3-1 in a comeback victory at Weidner Field.

New Mexico got on the board first in the 19th minute from a corner kick that was played on the ground to the top of the penalty area. After a dummy run, the ball fell to the left foot of Josh Suggs who curled the shot to the top left corner of the goal.

Later in the half, Hadji Barry and Michee Ngalina combined on the left side of the penalty area before Ngalina hit a low shot to the bottom right corner, but Alex Tambakis made a foot save to deflect the ball out for a corner.

Just before the hour mark, the Switchbacks found an equalizer as Ngalina timed his run to get into the left side of the penalty area to slide for a tap-in finish for Deshane Beckford at the back post. The Switchbacks found a second goal to flip the script of the game when Sebastian Anderson played an inch perfect pass to Hadji Barry six yards out from goal as he deflected the ball inside the left post. That goal would mark Barry’s seventh consecutive game with a goal for the Switchbacks.

With just under 20 minutes remaining, New Mexico had a cross get deflected and find Isidro Martinez who put a shot back across the frame of the goal for Anderson to make a sliding clearance off the goal-line to preserve the Switchbacks lead. 

The Switchbacks closed the game out in the 82nd minute as Andre Lewis played a pass with his first touch into the path of Barry who won his footrace to get onto the ball and slot his shot right by Tambakis and into the back of the net. Barry now has ten goals in his last seven games, making him the first player to reach the double digit mark in the USL Championship this season.

Tonight’s win means the Switchbacks are now riding a five game unbeaten run with three straight wins to move into third place in the Mountain Division.

The Switchbacks FC are back at Weidner Field for their next two games next week. The Switchbacks are getting the 4th of July Fireworks Celebration started on June 1 vs Orange County SC, with gates opening at 6pm MT for the match presented by Diversus Health, mental health and well-being for all. Tickets are available HERE.

The Switchbacks are hosting a 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular show after the game against Real Monarchs SLC on July 4. The game is presented by Phil Long Dealerships, who are providing seat cushions to the first 500 fans in the gates at 4pm MT, with kickoff set for 6:30pm MT. Tickets are available HERE.

---

Brendan Burke Overall thoughts on the game:  Yeah I'm just so massively impressed with our ability to dig down and find the energy. After playing two and half days ago with travel, playing with ten men for 60 minutes and then to be able to come back in a game like that against, for my money, the best team we've seen so far in this division, New Mexico deserves a ton of credit. They just grind through you, they win duels, they do a great job of getting around the ball, but I'm just so so happy with where this group is at, and the fact that we have room to grow and now we can trust so many players in the squad to step up in big moments.  On being able to bounce back to get two come from behind wins in a row: "I think it's the character of the group. It's quickly becoming the DNA of the group. There's always belief that we can score goals because of the talent level up front and how industrious we are in the center and midfield, and the fact that we have 6 center midfielders who can rotate through, and that's missing Zandi whose right at the top of the group for me too. I'm just so happy for the guys and they deserve a day or two off after a week like that."  On what it means to get this division opponent win:  "It's a six point game for us. And they took that win away from us before, and that wasn't forgotten, and that wasn't unmentioned pregame. So I'm glad that we found a way to dig down, and found the energy to win this game after such a tough game on the road on Tuesday." Hadji Barry On what fuels the momentum to get 10 goals in 8 games: "I mean, things are just going my way right now. I'm putting in the work in training, and my teammates believe in me and my coach and coaching staff have been believing in me. So I'm just going out and giving it 110% and things are working out for me."   On gaining control in the second half: "I think this is the third game in a row that we've been going in down a goal, that shows how resilient we are, we're just not giving up you know? And it's a good effort man, good effort by the team, by the coaching staff and everybody involved."  Sebastian Anderson On getting a comeback victory against New Mexico : "It means the world man, it's crazy because you know they beat us 3-1, but we came out here knowing that we needed to get three points. We wanted three points we wanted revenge at them and we went out and did that."  On his assist for the second goal: "I had time and space on it, so I took a touch, picked my head up, saw Hadji just splitting those defenders right in between them. So I just curled one in behind and he was there to finish it."

Brendan Burke Overall thoughts on the game:  Yeah I’m just so massively impressed with our ability to dig down and find the energy. After playing two and half days ago with travel, playing with ten men for 60 minutes and then to be able to come back in a game like that against, for my money, the best team we’ve seen so far in this division, New Mexico deserves a ton of credit. They just grind through you, they win duels, they do a great job of getting around the ball, but I’m just so so happy with where this group is at, and the fact that we have room to grow and now we can trust so many players in the squad to step up in big moments.  On being able to bounce back to get two come from behind wins in a row: “I think it’s the character of the group. It’s quickly becoming the DNA of the group. There’s always belief that we can score goals because of the talent level up front and how industrious we are in the center and midfield, and the fact that we have 6 center midfielders who can rotate through, and that’s missing Zandi whose right at the top of the group for me too. I’m just so happy for the guys and they deserve a day or two off after a week like that.”  On what it means to get this division opponent win:  “It’s a six point game for us. And they took that win away from us before, and that wasn’t forgotten, and that wasn’t unmentioned pregame. So I’m glad that we found a way to dig down, and found the energy to win this game after such a tough game on the road on Tuesday.” Hadji Barry On what fuels the momentum to get 10 goals in 8 games: “I mean, things are just going my way right now. I’m putting in the work in training, and my teammates believe in me and my coach and coaching staff have been believing in me. So I’m just going out and giving it 110% and things are working out for me.”   On gaining control in the second half: “I think this is the third game in a row that we’ve been going in down a goal, that shows how resilient we are, we’re just not giving up you know? And it’s a good effort man, good effort by the team, by the coaching staff and everybody involved.”  Sebastian Anderson On getting a comeback victory against New Mexico : “It means the world man, it’s crazy because you know they beat us 3-1, but we came out here knowing that we needed to get three points. We wanted three points we wanted revenge at them and we went out and did that.”  On his assist for the second goal: “I had time and space on it, so I took a touch, picked my head up, saw Hadji just splitting those defenders right in between them. So I just curled one in behind and he was there to finish it.”

---

• Man of the Match// Hadji Barry
• Scoring Summary// COS: Beckford (59'), Barry (69'), Barry (82') | NM: Suggs (19')
• Saves// COS: Melvin (3) | NM: Tambakis (4)
• Discipline// COS: YC: Mahoney (49'), Barry (83'), Ockford (88'), Mayaka (90+1') | NM: YC: Tinari (28'), Martinez (90+2)

• Man of the Match// Hadji Barry
• Scoring Summary// COS: Beckford (59′), Barry (69′), Barry (82′) | NM: Suggs (19′)
• Saves// COS: Melvin (3) | NM: Tambakis (4)
• Discipline// COS: YC: Mahoney (49′), Barry (83′), Ockford (88′), Mayaka (90+1′) | NM: YC: Tinari (28′), Martinez (90+2)