The Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC return to Weidner Field for a Friday night showdown against red-hot Sacramento Republic FC. Gates will open at 6pm, with the first 500 fans receiving a Switchbacks trucker hat, courtesy of the Phil Long family of dealerships of Colorado Springs. Tickets for Friday’s match and Monday’s Fourth of July Fireworks Extravaganza at Weidner Field are available HERE
Sacramento Republic travel to Colorado Springs having won their last four matches in a row in the USL Championship – a streak that includes a 1-0 win over San Antonio FC on June 4th. On June 21st, Sacramento booked their place in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup semi-finals after defeating the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer 2-1 at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California. The Republic FC will play their semi-final against Sporting Kansas City on July 27th at Heart Health Park in Sacramento, with the winner facing either Orlando City SC or the New York Red Bulls in the final.
On Tuesday evening the Switchbacks lost 2-0 to Hartford Athletic at Trinity Health Stadium in Connecticut, in what was only the Switchbacks’ fourth USL Championship loss of the season.
What the Switchbacks Say:
Striker Kharlton Belmar: “We’re just taking it one game at a time. We know Sacramento is on a good run right now and we’ve come off some tough results, but we’re ready to bounce back. I think guys are eager to get back out there and put [it] right. It’s amazing [to be back at Weidner Field]. The support has been really good so far this year and we’re looking forward to getting back in front of our fans and delivering the three points. We just have to put the past couple results behind us, play our game, come out on the front foot and punish them early and put the game away.”
Defender Dennis Erdmann: “We’re playing against a good opponent so we have to play on our principles – pressing, defend as a team, attack as a team, and after 90 minutes, it should be three points for us. We are excited every time when we play at home. The stadium is [packed] every time so it’s good for us, good for the city, and good for the club. We’re excited and looking forward to playing against Sacramento.”
Switchbacks Head Coach and General Manager Brendan Burke: “We were asked to fly from the east coast and play less than 72 hours later, so that’s borderline bizarre. A home crowd can carry you and we’re going to need every ounce of energy we can get. We rotated where we could [on Tuesday vs. Hartford Athletic]. We’re not a big squad and guys are just going to have to step up. This is a mentality check for the entire group. We’ve put ourselves in a great position where we’ve already won as many games as we won all of last year, but now that comes with a different level of responsibility because everyone comes in here gunning for you.”
Sacramento Republic Scouting Report: “[Sacramento] are a very competent team defensively,” said Head Coach Burke. “They play with two good holding midfield players. They play with five in the back, but the two out wide get forward really well and they distribute well from the back three. I think there aren’t a lot of holes in [Sacramento Republic] and that’s what’s led them to success in the Open Cup games – they have a really good structure and they have a very clear identity and some good attacking pieces to go with it, so they’re just a really well balanced team.”
Vargish’s View: Sacramento Republic are putting together a highly impressive season and have recently looked like one of the most dangerous teams in the USL Championship. Trips to Rocky Mountain altitude are never easy, but Sacramento have the benefit of an entire week of preparation.
The schedule makers have done the Switchbacks no favors. Four games in 11 days, with a nearly 4,000-mile journey sandwiched in the middle, is flirting with ridiculous. A perfect riposte? A sixth home win of the season on Friday night at Weidner Field as the Fourth of July weekend kicks off in Colorado Springs.