USL San Antonio FC

Game Information and Match Notes - at Colorado Spring Switchbacks FC 9/9/23

Published on September 8, 2023 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
San Antonio FC News Release


At a glance...

The Ones Who Hate to Lose:Under head coach Alen Marcina, SAFC is 14-1-4 in the first match back after a loss. The lone set of consecutive losses came in 2020, with SAFC going 13-0-4 since with a +21 goal differential. Last season, SAFC was 5-0-0 after a loss, with two shutouts and a +7 goal differential.

Nathan's Return: Attacker

Nathan Fogaça returns to SAFC on loan from Portland Timbers. The Brazilian scored 11 goals to lead San Antonio in the 2021 regular season, then added two more in the playoffs.

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What they had to say:

Head Coach Alen Marcina

(On moving on from last week's loss...)

"Our reality is, performing and executing the tasks from a collective and individual standpoint. You don't need me to tell you that there were some clear individual errors that we can correct. ... It's not a lack of ability it's a lack of focus in a key moment, hence why we say you need to be task-focused over the course of 90 minutes. If we're task-focused and ultra-competitive we put ourselves in a position to do good things. But if that's lacking, by one, two, three players then that becomes incredibly difficult, and that was the case against Tulsa."

Defender Mitchell Taintor

(On how the team is feeling...)

"I think we have a lot to prove to ourselves, obviously it wasn't good enough the last couple of games and we know that. We're still in a good spot, we're playing against a really good Colorado [Springs] team. So we have to be at our best. Super dangerous, super athletic, super talented team, well-coached, so it's going to take our a-game to get three points."

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USL Championship Match #29 - San Antonio FC at Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC

Date:Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023

Kickoff: 9:00

p.m. CT

Stadium: Weidner

Field, Colorado Springs, CO

Where to Watch: ESPN+

San Antonio FC: 13-5-10 (49 pts; 2nd in Western Conference)

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC: 11-13-3 (36 pts; 7th in

Western Conference)

All-time Series: SAFC is 8-3-4 all-time against Colorado Springs in the regular season, and 10-3-4 in all competitions. Including playoffs, San Antonio has won six-straight matches against Colorado Springs with five straight shutouts.

SAFC POST TRAINING QUOTES

Regular Season Training - September 7, 2023

Head Coach Alen Marcina

(On what Colorado Springs brings...)

"[They are] extremely athletic. Dangerous in the transition moment. They do this 5-2-1-2 defensive organization in their half, keep their guys with pace very central. If they win the ball they shoot out and try to catch you in behind. Depending on the position of their wingbacks, if they're high then you've got two guys kind of in that half space also making the vertical runs. We've got to be aware of that, and not give them the opportunities to potentially exploit us in behind. And at the same time there are some big spaces that we need to put ourselves in, and then execute the action, something that unfortunately - in the last game we didn't put ourselves in the position that was asked of the players and we left our strikers on an island. You're not going to score goals that way. So something that was learned."

(On moving on from last week's loss...)

"Our reality is, performing and executing the tasks from a collective and individual standpoint. You don't need me to tell you that there were some clear individual errors that we can correct. ... It's not a lack of ability it's a lack of focus in a key moment, hence why we say you need to be task-focused over the course of 90 minutes. If we're task-focused and ultra-competitive we put ourselves in a position to do good things. But if that's lacking, by one, two, three players then that becomes incredibly difficult, and that was the case against Tulsa."

(On Shannon Gomez and Ismaila Jome joining their respective national teams...)

"We're incredibly proud of them, having the opportunity to represent your country is massive. As a team, as a collective, we're super happy for them both. Yeah both were obviously our starters this last game, but we have other players who are starters at those positions, and we're confident that they'll step up, and perform and execute."

Defender Mitchell Taintor

(On the team's feeling...)

"I think we have a lot to prove to ourselves, obviously it wasn't good enough the last couple of games and we know that. We're still in a good spot, we're playing against a really good Colorado [Springs] team. So we have to be at our best. Super dangerous, super athletic, super talented team, well-coached, so it's going to take our a-game to get three points."

(On the loss at Tulsa...)

"I didn't think we were very good. Obviously it's really disappointing to lose any game, I think we set high standards for ourselves so anything less than three points is devastating at this point. We want to win so so bad and bring these three points to San Antonio, but we're still in a really good position in the table so no need to be concerned at this point, I think it's only up from here."

Defender Connor Maloney

(On Colorado Springs...)

"They're an athletic team, gotta bring our a-game. It's not going to be easy, all these games against Colorado [Springs] have been always very hard. They've got quality and if we're not focused we're going to get punished. So it's about focus and bringing our a-game against Colorado [Springs]."

(On the loss at Tulsa...)

"Every game we want to get three points, but now we have another opportunity for another three points against Colorado [Springs]. So it's time to refocus and regroup, and stay positive for this game against Colorado [Springs] because it's not going to be easy."

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United Soccer League Championship Stories from September 8, 2023


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