The Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC get a quick chance at redemption as they head to California for a Sunday matinee matchup with San Diego Loyal. Sunday’s match in sunny SoCal will kick off at 4pm from the University of San Diego’s Torero Stadium, with live coverage by the voice of the Switchbacks, Ryan Kaufman, beginning at 3:30pm on XTRA Sports1300AM. The Switchbacks travel to the Golden State following a 1-1 draw against Phoenix Rising last Saturday night in the Valley of the Sun.
On July 14th San Diego handed the Switchbacks a 5-0 defeat at Weidner Field in downtown Colorado Springs in a match that saw the Switchbacks reduced to 10 men after just 15 minutes. The Loyal have not played in the USL since the victory against the Switchbacks. On Thursday evening, the Loyal lost 6-0 in friendly action against German powerhouse Borussia Dortmund at Snapdragon Stadium on the campus of San Diego State University.
What the Switchbacks Say:
Juan Tejada. Tejada gave the Switchbacks the lead in the 42nd minute last Saturday night before a late, 90th minute equalizer from Phoenix’s Danny Trejo:
“It felt nice when I struck the ball, and going one up in an away game like that was a nice feeling – obviously we didn’t get the three points that we wanted, but I think it’s good for what we want to do for the rest of the season. Hopefully next game we’re going to get that win. Definitely we [need to] have a professional performance [like] we did last weekend, and I mean I think every team is going to be harder [to beat], but we’re a good team. If we do the things that we have to do I think we’re going to get a good result [in San Diego].”
Head Coach Stephen Hogan:
“[Juan’s] understanding of the game [and] his understanding of how good his feet can be [is] similar to one or two players that we brought back [to the club]. Juan just needed an arm around the shoulder and that’s all we’ve given him really. We’ve given him some ideas about
what we can see him as a nine, or out wide left, and he’s executing it and I think he’s a continuous threat for any team now. It’s just fortunate that we got him; I was so happy we got him, so hopefully he continues. “We obviously went down [to Phoenix] with a game plan. We changed some things to a mid-block defensively and it worked – it really did work. We can really counter teams in moments on the road. We went in there with a structure [and] we got out with what we wanted, but the guys were probably a little bit hurt because they probably deserved – [with] the way [it was a]
professional performance – they probably deserved three points. “I’m not really going to watch our game back [against San Diego]. Fifteen minutes in [and] the game is over. [San Diego] are a little bit different than Phoenix. Phoenix like to move the ball [and they] look pretty at times, but San Diego move it side to side a little bit quicker, but still have the quality like Phoenix do on the ball [and] we have to take care of that. If we are defensively structurally sound in whatever we decide to do, that’s important to us.”
Vargish’s View:
The Switchbacks’ performance in Arizona last weekend was arguably their strongest performance on the road since late April. The intensity of defensive pressing – combined with the quickness of attacking movement – gave Phoenix problems throughout the triple-digit temperature evening. In the end, the Switchbacks were desperately unlucky to have not scored at least three goals against Phoenix Rising. San Diego Loyal have not played at Torero Stadium since a 2-2 draw against San Antonio FC on June 14th and are 4-2-2 at home this season in USL Championship play. While the Loyal’s performance against the Switchbacks on July 14th was clinical and ruthless, the outcome of the match was essentially decided after just a quarter of an hour when the Switchbacks went down to 10 men. In Sunday’s match San Diego will be looking to continue the momentum they built in Colorado Springs, while the Switchbacks must continue the incisive counter-attacking play they showed in Phoenix.
