It’s Margaritaville at Weidner Field on Friday evening as the Switchbacks FC welcome the Los Angeles Galaxy II to downtown Colorado Springs. The first 700 fans will receive a Switchbacks flashlight, courtesy of Jacobs Engineering Group. Tickets for Friday’s contest available HERE.
The Galaxy II travel to Colorado Springs fresh from walloping San Diego Loyal 5-0 on Saturday evening at Torero Stadium in San Diego. The Galaxy II are 9-8-3 in 2022. On June 11th, the Switchbacks defeated Los Dos 3-1 at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California behind goals from Hadji Barry, Elvis Amoh, and Cam Lindley.
Last Saturday, the Switchbacks fell 1-0 to El Paso Locomotive FC at Southwest University Park in Far West Texas. The schedule doesn’t ease for the Switchbacks, who following Friday’s match at Weidner Field will head to the Golden State to face San Diego Loyal SC on Monday evening.
What the Switchbacks Say:
Striker Aaron Wheeler: “It’s been a ton of games in a short amount of time. The biggest thing is just getting back to what we do really well – we’re extremely vertical, we like to go forward quickly, and just take advantage of our chances. It’s no secret that in the last game [vs. El Paso on July 9th] we had two opportunities in the first 10 minutes to pretty much put that game away. We need to make sure we’re refocused and re-energized to hit the ground running on Friday night. It’s fantastic [to be back at Weidner Field]. This environment gives us a ton of energy and there’s just something about being at home, being on your home ground and just making a statement – that’s what the guys are looking forward to.”
Switchbacks General Manager and Head Coach Brendan Burke: “The crowd here [at Weidner Field] carries us. That showed in the Sacramento game [3-0 win for the Switchbacks on July 1st] when we had played across the country on a Tuesday [in Hartford] and came home and played in front of that good crowd. Against Sacramento we found a way and that’s the hope this Friday.”
Los Angeles Galaxy II Scouting Report: “[Los Dos leading scorer Preston Judd] really stretches the line in a big way for them,” said Brendan Burke. “[LA Galaxy II] were really good in transition against us last time, or when they break you in the build they’re very vertical, so they’re a lot like us in that way. And I think [Judd] gives them everything we have in our front three – a dynamic player who’s a pretty good finisher and he’s a willing runner. [Rémi] Cabral [is so dangerous] playing in that [number] 10 role or as an inverted winger and he can catch it in a pocket, and if he gets turned you’re in trouble because he can run at you with pace, with [Cameron] Dunbar off his left and [Michael] Salazar off his right. Their front four is as dynamic a front four as the league has, honestly, even though they’re young.”
“We know [LA II] have a really talented group,” said Aaron Wheeler. “They look to play [and] play through the lines – they’re not a direct football team by any means. So just making sure that we can try to suffocate them and force them into errors in their build-out. That’s what we’re trying to do and that’s something we’re really good at, so hopefully we can capitalize on those opportunities.”
Vargish’s View: This has been a rough stretch for the Switchbacks, who have registered one victory in their last five matches. The schedule has been beyond brutal on Brendan Burke’s men, and it won’t relent anytime soon, with a Monday night showdown looming in San Diego after Friday’s contest against a red-hot Los Angeles Galaxy II team. Despite the recent blip, the Switchbacks remain in 2nd place in the USL Championship Western Conference.
Los Dos have scored 11 goals over their last three matches, and have put themselves in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race. When the Galaxy II are at their best, their front four are interchanging, cutting, and causing matchup nightmares for opposition defenders. LA struggle when their play becomes predictable and ponderous, discipline issues crop up, and when teams are given the chance to hit them on the counter.
On Friday, the Switchbacks need to play like the Switchbacks; fast, confident, pressing as a team, and capitalizing on turnovers in the opposition half. Limiting Preston Judd is of obvious importance, but there are players across LA’s roster that can hurt the Switchbacks. When the Switchbacks find their rhythm at home – with the Southern Colorado crowd behind them – they are capable of beating any team in the league.
