2 weeks Ago By Hugh Johnson [email protected]
Frustratingly sweet would be the best way to describe Colorado Springs Switchbacks coach James Chambers' night on Saturday. The Switchbacks played the entire second half of their match down a man after midfielder Zach Zandi was given a second yellow card and red card in the 46th minute. Despite the disadvantage, Colorado Springs held off visiting El Paso Locomotive FC for a 1-1 draw at Weidner Field.
Chambers and the Switchbacks fans felt like the team was on the wrong side of poor officiating as Colorado Springs was shown six yellow cards to El Paso's one and committed 19 fouls to Locomotive's 11. Even so, the Switchbacks refused to concede, marking the first time this season, the club has not allowed two goals in a match. "Hollywood was here tonight.
There's one gentleman that was trying to be in Hollywood and my players were the stars of the show," Chambers said. "They were immense. Everything that went against them they stood up, real men and I'm delighted for them.
" The match was decided by the Switchbacks heroics in the second half. In the 66th minute, Colorado Springs defender Akeem Ward tracked down El Paso forward Amando Moreno who was on a breakaway to deny the visitors a scoring opportunity. "He saved my (butt)," defender and captain Matt Mahoney said.
"That's what we're here to do and it happened so many times across the back line and the midfield today, blocking shots, covering each other. That's what you need in a moment like this and in that moment, he saved my (butt)." Colorado Springs keeper Abraham Romero, who made his third-straight start in league play on Saturday, kept the match level with a pair of saves in the 76th minute — including one while on the ground — and a diving save in the 83rd.
"First and foremost, I'm just happy to be playing. It had been awhile. My last game was probably October, November last year," he said.
"After (the red card) I knew we would have a little bit more of a defensive half. Fortunately enough, the boys came up with some big stops and they were in good spots to help me make the saves that I had to make. The save on the ground wasn't my favorite because I ended up getting a little bit of contact.
But sometimes we gotta do it." Saturday's game seemed like it was moving in a very different direction to start when both teams scored in the opening 13 minutes. Switchbacks forward Herbert Endeley scored his first goal with Colorado Springs in the 12th minute off the give-and-go with fellow forward Justin Dhillon.
Colorado Springs has scored in its last 13 contests, the club's longest streak since 2022. But Colorado Springs' lead was short-lived as visiting midfielder Roberto Coronado put a shot past Romero off a cross in the 13th minute. The Switchbacks continue their challenging schedule on Wednesday as the club travels to San Antonio.
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