Just 72 hours after putting four goals past the Los Angeles Galaxy II at Weidner Field, the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC head to Southern California to face San Diego Loyal SC on Monday night. The match will kick off at 8pm MT from Torero Stadium on the campus of San Diego University, with live coverage by the voice of the Switchbacks, Ryan Kaufman, beginning at 7:30pm on XTRA Sports1300 AM.
Friday night’s 4-2 win over the LA Galaxy II saw the Switchbacks cement their position in second place of the USL Championship’s Western Conference. Goals from Michee Ngalina, Hadji Barry, and a brace from Elvis Amoh were enough to vanquish Los Dos for the second time this season.
San Diego Loyal haven’t played since losing 5-0 to the Galaxy II on July 9th at Torero Stadium. The Loyal are 10-5-4 this season, and defeated the Switchbacks 3-2 on Independence Day at Weidner Field in downtown Colorado Springs behind goals from Kyle Adams, Tumi Moshobane, and Evan Conway.
What the Switchbacks Say: Switchbacks Head Coach and General Manager Brendan Burke: “We needed the three points [against LA Galaxy II] and honestly, any point we can pick up during a spell of eight games in 33 / 34 days is a big point. Our front three really showed up [against LA].”
Midfielder Cam Lindley: “We needed that [win vs. LA Galaxy II] regardless of who the opponent was. LA are in a good spot in the table and we were down some players – we only had four or five guys on the bench – so that win felt really good. I wish we wouldn’t have given up the goal late in the game, but the response to get another was awesome. We’ve got to take care of ourselves before Monday. It’s going to be a massive test on Monday and it’s just going to take pure grit. [San Diego] are a good footballing team and it’s a tough turnaround for us, but we’ll be ready to go. We’ve got a great group of guys and it was a big win against LA and our preparation doesn’t change – I just can’t wait to play on Monday!”
Winger Michee Ngalina: “It makes my life really, really easy [to play up front with Hadji Barry and Elvis Amoh]. You know that Elvis knows the right movement and Hadji too. Playing with them up top I feel more comfortable to enjoy the game. It’s a really short turnaround [before San Diego] and I know it’s going to be a tough game but we will be ready for it.”
Looking Ahead to San Diego: “[Kyle] Vassell is a high-end player and huge investment by them for this level that has paid off well,” said Brendan Burke. “He will certainly be a focus for us, but they ultimately are a very well balanced, ball-playing team so I have a lot of respect for them and look forward to games like this. It’s a shame we will only have 12 or 13 healthy players for the game because I think our two styles and squads could be a great showcase for the league. Hopefully we will see them in the playoffs so we can see what a game at full strength – and not on short rest – would look like. [The] key to get the legs back is to continue to move – but carefully – [and] rest and recover right up to game time.”
Vargish’s View: The Switchbacks’ win against the Galaxy II on Friday night was a much-needed three points and will give Brendan Burke’s club a massive boost before Monday’s match in SoCal. It’s difficult to understand the hurdles that the schedule-makers have placed in front of the Switchbacks, but it’s laid as bare as a torso on Coronado Beach – the Loyal have not played since July 9th, while the Switchbacks were in action late Friday evening.
San Diego are a top club – they sit in third place in the USL Western Conference at the time of writing. There is uncertainty swirling around the future of Loyal Head Coach Landon Donovan, but there are no question marks regarding the quality of the San Diego squad. The Switchbacks will be shorthanded and legs will be heavy on Monday. But write off a team that put four past the Galaxy II on Friday night at your peril.
