Switchbacks FC Play Locomotive FC to Entertaining Scoreless Draw
September 16, 2021 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC News Release
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC midfielder Andre Lewis vs. El Paso Locomotive FC
(Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, Credit: Isaiah Downing)
Colorado Springs, CO - The Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC played out an entertaining scoreless draw with El Paso Locomotive at Weidner Field on Wednesday night.
The top two teams in the Mountain Division entering the night traded chances in the first half, starting with a cross from a Sebastian Anderson free kick that Matt Mahoney headed just wide of the left post.
Locomotive FC had the next opportunity as Diego Luna hit a shot from close range that Sean Melvin made the save and got up quickly to gather the ball before a rebound shot could be attempted. Deshane Beckford created a final chance in the first half as he took a touch to beat his defender on the left side of the penalty area but his low cross was just out of the reach of two teammates.
The Switchbacks started the second half on a positive note when Thomas Amang got on the end of a lifted pass and laid the ball off for Beckford who fired a shot on target that was saved by El Paso goalkeeper Logan Ketterer.
The best chance of the game for the Switchbacks came in the 61st minute when Hadji Barry's cross was deflected in the air into Anderson's path and he hit a scissor kick that got deflected to Thomas Amang for a redirection header that was saved off the line by Ketterer.
Locomotive FC created one final opportunity by keeping possession on the left flank before delivering a cross into Aaron Gomez who headed the ball wide of the right post.
The Switchbacks are on the road next to take on Rio Grande Valley FC on September 18th with kickoff set for 6pm MT at H-E-B Park. On September 25th, the Switchbacks return to Weidner Field to take on Austin Bold FC for Mustache Night, with the first 1,000 fans receiving a stick-on mustache, courtesy of the Better Business Bureau of Southern Colorado. Tickets are available HERE.
Post-Game Quotes
Brendan Burke - Head Coach
Overall thoughts on the game:
"I'm pleased, I'm walking away pleased because it's our fourth game in twelve days and we're about to play five in fifteen for the 2nd time in two months which is unheard of, so I love the way were battling through it. You're not always going to have all your pop and be at your best in those critical moments, and I didn't think we were in the first half, but in the second half I thought we came alive and probably deserved at least one goal."
On two clean sheets in three games and how to keep that momentum:
"One goal in three games, that's a pretty good return, we would take that over the course of a season for sure, that would probably be better than any defense record I've seen. Now we just need to string those together. Can we do that for three more games in a row, and more importantly we have five more games left on the road, can we do it on the road, that's going to be the key. And it'll be great to get Jimmy [Ockford] back this weekend because he's our leader back there.
On the success of an undefeated homestead:
"We would have loved to take seven points out of these three games, but to take five is okay. We're still evolving as a club, we're still growing as a group, but that's good because the momentum is going in the right direction."
Michael Edwards
On gaining momentum and confidence with a second clean sheet:
"It's huge, especially with nine games left in the season. We want to get a home playoff spot, so keeping clean sheets is really important. If we keep a clean sheet we either get a tie or a win."
On the team's hunger going up against RGV after last Saturday's result:
"Of course. We want to go back to their place and get three points like we did last time, and I think we're gonna do that."
Thomas Amang
On what he was thinking during that huge goal scoring chance:
"Ah! I was not sure, I didn't expect the keeper to come back, so I wasn't expecting the ball to come to me. I just did what came to my mind, but I didn't expect the keeper to make that save, it was a good save."
On looking at the hard fought draw against El Paso as a success:
"Definitely, because we played that game against a tough opponent, so tonight it was a tough one. They have players with more experience, they understand more of the game, so it wasn't easy for us, we didn't have enough space to play the ball behind their defense and they were more compact. They understand the game really well so it was a good test for us so we can move forward."
Game Statistics
Man of the Match// Sebastian Anderson
Scoring Summary// COS: None | ELP: None
Saves// COS: Melvin (2) | ELP: Ketterer (3)
Discipline// COS: YC: Echevarria (29'), Beckford (74') | ELP: YC: Gomez (25'), Fox (58')
Images from this story
United Soccer League Championship Stories from September 16, 2021
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- Switchbacks FC Play Locomotive FC to Entertaining Scoreless Draw - Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
- Phoenix Rising FC Wins, 4-1, vs. Las Vegas Lights FC - Phoenix Rising FC
- Tacoma Defiance Falls 3-1 to Oakland Roots SC on the Road - Tacoma Defiance
- Roots Pull to Within Three Points of Playoff Spot with Win over Tacoma - Oakland Roots
- El Paso Locomotive Earns Road Point from Scoreless Draw with Switchbacks FC - El Paso Locomotive FC
- Atlanta United 2 Draws 1-1 vs. Charleston Battery - Atlanta United 2
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
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