Switchbacks FC Win in Dominant Fashion Wednesday Night
September 9, 2021 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC News Release
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC goalkeeper Sean Melvin vs. Real Monarchs SLC
(Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, Credit: Isaiah Downing)
Colorado Springs, CO - Hadji Barry scored again and José Torres scored a beautiful volley to power the Switchbacks to a 2-0 win over Real Monarchs SLC at Weidner Field on Wednesday night.
The Switchbacks dominated possession of the ball in the first half to try to break down the Monarchs low defensive block. Some nice combination play in the right channel released Sebastian Anderson to play in a low cross that Hadji Barry directed just wide of the right post.
Barry had another opportunity when Deshane Beckford intercepted a pass and played Barry in behind the defense but he put his shot just wide of the right post. At the end of the half Barry combined with Beckford again with a 1-2 on top of the penalty area but Beckford's shot was saved by the onrushing Jeffrey Dewsnup.
The Switchbacks picked up where the left off in the second half by pressing and Beckford made a tackle in the attacking third to spring Barry into space in the middle of the penalty area as the forward took a touch around a defender and scored from 12 yards out. Barry's goal tonight marked his 21st of the season as he chase's the league record of 25 goals in a single season set by Cameron Lancaster of Louisville City in 2018.
Andre Lewis played a long pass that Barry got on the end of and fired a low shot that Dewsnup saved into a defender who cleared it out for a corner kick. The ensuing corner was headed high into the air where José Torres hit a volley first time out of the air from 25 yards out that beat everyone to the back of the net in a goal of the year contender for the Switchbacks.
The Switchbacks saw out the result to preserve a clean sheet and solidify second place in the Mountain Division after the clubs tenth win of the season.
The Switchbacks are back at Weidner Field on Saturday, September 11 to face Rio Grande Valley FC with gates opening at 6pm for a 7pm kick off. This is Super Hero night with Switchbacks pennants being given away to the first 1,000 fans in attendance at 6pm courtesy of Children's Hospital Colorado, Colorado Springs.
Post-Game Quotes
Brendan Burke - Head Coach
Overall thoughts on the game:
"Happy, there's nights you have to grind, through games, we are playing 3 or 4 days for weeks on end, for the second time this year so the schedule is unique and obviously, not having 7 or so of your core players available to you, this is a fantastic result, and I said that to the guys in the lockers room. They banned together and found a way to get it done, and that is what they needed."
How did it feel getting the results of tonight's game?
It is huge, tonight was about survival, you had to survive the moment, you were put under a lot of pressure, it has been very tense around our place the last couple days as it should be, you know if you are going to grow as a club, i think as we have said before we have really turned the corner, a lot quicker then we or anyone else expected us too. With that comes undo early pressure, and we responded tonight which was great!
How does it feel having the support of the fan base?
You still hear them over your shoulder and sometimes you hear it even more when the building is not as packed. You hear the individuals and what they are saying, it matters to me and the guys, and it makes a huge difference!
How do you feel about tonight's defense?
"I don't think we are trying to figure it out as much as we are trying to build in flexibility. Tonight we saw a team, in Salt Lake that would have trouble hurting us, if we just had a solid shape, there are other nights, like at RGV we just through caution to the wind, and said we will out shoot you, and it worked, but that doesn't mean we will approach it that way this weekend. Tonight we felt man for man even depleted, we had them over matched, and it worked out that way, luckily in the end. "
How do you feel about Jose Torres performance?
"Even outside of that,he was excellent, and we talked about that RGV game he was excellent in that game, so he has world cup quality, and we have used him not spareling, and we spot started him throughout the year, and in the home stretch, he is a guy you can rely on now, and we have protected his legs all you, so he is a guy I am going to lean on big time. "
Deshane Beckford
What were your overall thoughts on tonight's game?
"Down in New Mexico was a tough one, we came out unlucky in that one, this is a home game, it is a must to win at home, it is very important for us to win at home , and for that we are grateful."
Tell us about the defense, with Hadji Barry?
"That is the thing I have been working on, tackling is my weakness, coaches have been talking to me and helping with that and it got the team its first goal, so I am even more grateful for that one.
What was the difference tonight in being able to hold that clean sheet?
"I mean it is just hard, lets play for the team, if your teammate is not in the position you fill in for them, you just have to play together, it wasn't the prettiest of games, and we came out with he 3 points and for that we have to give thanks."
Jose Torres:
What are your overall feelings about tonight's game?
"It is tough losing on the road, especially to a team we have played 4 times, we really want to beat them this time, it wasn't a great game, we didn't come out on our night, we were close until the last minutes of the game, unfortunately we couldn't pull it off, but we came back home, and we knew it was going to be a tough game, against a young team, that runs that plays well, that is very respected. I think the second half we came out and did our job to finish the game. It has been a long time it's been almost 2 years 2 years in a half, so I want to thank god at first for giving me this talent, my wife, and my kids for always being there and supporting me that goes to them, my family back in texas and all my family in Mexico, and all the people I met and all of the supporters that all goes out to them. Since we have been here and this team has been going, we have been having a lot of supporters coming out and supporting every game so that means a lot. This goal is dedicated to my family and the people not here with me. "
Tell us about your first switchbacks goal and being named tonight's Man of the Match.
"As you get older, and your experience takes on, your always worried about how the team plays, and just getting goals, and 3 points on the road and at home, you never worry about trying to be man of the match, you just want to play, and i think gods have plans , and everything comes slow and at its pace and in time. I think today was my time, and I thank God for that!"
Tell us about the defensive unit, and how does it help with the clean sheet?
"It has been tough, because we can score a lot of goals, but we can see a lot too. We had to get a clean sheet today, and we talked about that after the New Mexico Game, we talked about how we had to get a clean sheet, and we talked about how we had to come out defending well, we had to play our butts off and defend as much as we could. I think the team did that the first half, the first half was kind of sloppy, the second half we came out did our job, and got the 3 points."
Game Statistics
Man of the Match// Jose Torres
Scoring Summary// COS: Barry (57'), Torres (65'), | SLC: None
Saves// COS: Melvin (2) | SLC: Dewsnup (2)
Discipline// COS: YC: Anderson (39') | SLC: YC: Orozco (88')
Images from this story
United Soccer League Championship Stories from September 9, 2021
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