Colorado Springs, CO (April 16th, 2025) – The Colorado Springs Switchbacks advance to the round of 32 in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup after beating ONE Knoxville SC 3-2 at Weidner Field.
ONE Knoxville SC started the game off quickly by scoring a goal in the 2′. #26 Jaheim Brown crossed the ball from the center line to #7 Babacar Diene, who ran it up the middle right side of the box, sending the ball past the goal line.
The Switchbacks needed to maintain their high intensity throughout the first half. They dominated possession with 64.7%, completed 204 accurate passes, and registered two shots on target.
Heading into the second half, the Switchbacks knew they had to find the back of the net. In the 49′, #22 Marco Micaletto delivered a corner kick into a crowded box packed with Knoxville defenders. The ball deflected off one of them, and #13 Stevie Echevarria seized the moment, gaining control and calmly slotting it into the bottom left corner to level the score.
Later, in the 81′, defender #3 Akeem Ward connected with Micaletto, who swiftly weaved past a Knoxville defender before finding #21 Anthony Fontana. Fontana held his composure and quickly returned the ball to Micaletto, who slotted it past the keeper to put the Switchbacks ahead 2-1.
Not long after the Switchbacks scored, Knoxville equalized it in the 83′. Brown threw the ball from the far left sideline, where a Knoxville player headed the ball up and towards #21 Stauros Zarokostas, who jumped in the air, sending it into the top left side.
With Knoxville leveling the score, the match headed into extra time. In the 104′, #20 Yosuke Hanya drove toward the goal but spotted an opening and quickly laid the ball off to Anthony Fontana, who buried the final goal for the Switchbacks.
As the final minutes ticked away, Knoxville felt the pressure of trailing by one. In the 120′, Zarokostas picked up his second yellow card, resulting in a red and forcing Knoxville to finish the match a man down with just three minutes left to play.
Don’t miss out on the next Switchbacks home match on April 19th as they take on El Paso Locomotive for Jersey Reveal night! To stay up to date on the Switchbacks schedule, head HERE.
