Colorado Springs (6 wins, 4 draws, 16 losses) currently sits in 16th spot with 22 points in the USL Western Conference table, 37 points behind 1st-placed Phoenix Rising (18 wins, 5 draws, 2 losses).
The Switchbacks haven’t won a game since July 20 – making it six winless matches.
However, they are unbeaten at home in their last four games, beating both Tulsa and OKC 1-0, and drawing with Timbers 2 (2-2) and RGV (3-3).
The Switchbacks are deadliest in the second half, scoring almost three-quarters of their goals in that period.
However, it’s a similar story at the other end of the pitch, with the majority of goals conceded by the Switchbacks taking place after the half-time interval.
Colorado Springs is one of the cleaner teams in the league. They’ve let up around the same number of fouls, and received a similar number of cards, as Rising.
Their preferred formation at home is 4-4-2, although they opted for 4-1-3-2 in their last two games at Weidner Field.
The two sides last met on March 30. Rising fell behind in the first half to a Jordan Burt goal, before Joe Farrell leveled the scores going into the break. Solomon Asante had a chance to give Rising the advantage from the penalty spot in the second half, but saw his effort saved. With just minutes remaining, Adam Jahn thought he’d won the three points for Phoenix, but a stoppage time equaliser from Ismaila Jome rescued a point for the visitors.
GOALKEEPERS
17-year-old Abraham Rodriguez has served as the last line of defense for the Switchbacks since late July. Rodriguez made his debut in the March 30 game against Rising, and his penalty save earned him many plaudits. However, he’s still awaiting his first clean sheet after 11 games this season, and has saved only 59% of shots put his way.
Steward Ceus ususally serves as the back-up. That must be something of a disappointment to the Haitian, whose 17 games last year gave him his only season with any consistent starts, apart from a spell in NPSL. This year, he hasn’t spent a minute on the pitch, although his stats from 2018 are better than Rodriguez’s, with a 64.4% save success.
DEFENDERS
Jordan Burt hasn’t missed a game for Switchbacks this year. He may have played every game in 2018 too, but his sliding tackle into Zac Lubin’s face earned him a deserved red card and suspension. This year, the versatile full-back holds a 61% tackle success rate, slightly down on previous seasons. What’s most impressive about the Switchbacks’ captain is his goalscoring tally. He actually leads the team with six, which also matches his number from 2018. Although included here as a defender, Burt can also play in midfield. He’ll have to be careful, though, as he is one yellow card away from a suspension.
Jamal Jack was a key defensive player for Switchbacks last season, leading the team in clearances and duels (on the ground and in the air), while also recording a 81.8% tackle success rate. The Trinidadian was probably hoping for similar form this year, but he picked up a knock in May, and only returned to the starting line-up last weekend. As a result, he’s only clocked up 12 games in 2019, and has a much-depleted 53.6% tackle success rate. Expect his confidence to grow, the more game time he enjoys.
Ismaila Jome has been an impressive acquisition for Colorado Springs this season. Jome was more of a quick midfielder with previous clubs Minnesota and Nashville, but he’s put in a good shift for the Switchbacks at left-back this year. His numbers speak for themselves: 75.9% tackle success, 69.1% duel success and 69.4% aerial duel success. He’s also not forgotten what it’s like to play further up the pitch, recording a team-high four assists, as well as ranking 3rd top scorer with four goals. Jome has played every game this season for Colorado Springs, so he’ll almost certainly line up against Rising tonight.
If you’re looking for a defender to play the ball out from the back, Kris Reaves is your man. He boasts an 85.1% passing completion rate, leads the team in blocks (17), and also performs very well in the tackle (84.4%). Reaves was left out of the squad against Fresno last week, but the former FC Dallas player may well add to his 22 appearances tonight.
Ghanaian youth international Ibrahim Yaro seems to be falling out of favor in Colorado. An unused substitute in seven of the Switchbacks last ten matches, he was completely left out last weekend against Fresno. The only time he didn’t play a game before that this season? That was against Rising. When he does play, Yaro certainly knows how to win the ball, succeeding in 74.1% of tackles and over 55% in duels both on the ground and in the air.
Abdul Rwatubyaye is a newer acquisition for the Switchbacks. He was acquired by the Rapids from Sporting Kansas City back in May, before being almost immediately loaned to Colorado Springs. He’s started 16 games since joining the USL side, and has looked solid defensively. Rwatubyaye is currently leading the team in clearances (81), looks good in the air (70.3% success), is a strong tackler (72.4%), and is competent in duels on the ground (62.7%). A Rwandan international, Rwatubyaye started in all but one of their qualifying matches in the recent African Cup of Nations.
MIDFIELD
Defensive midfielder Rony Argueta has been a major part in this team, and would probably have appeared in every game if it wasn’t for a red card suspension in the U.S. Open Cup. Bizarrely, it took the national Federation two months to implement his three game ban. This is Argueta’s second spell with the Switchbacks. He served as the team’s captain in 2017, but spent last season with Fresno. Argueta’s strongest skill is his passing (88% completion). He’s also solid enough in the tackle (64% success rate).
Jordan Schweitzer was an unused substitute in the Switchbacks’ opening match of 2019 against Los Dos, but hasn’t missed a single minute since. This is the Canadian’s second season at Weidner Field, and he has been capped up to U-23 level. Schweitzer leads the team in interceptions (40), and boasts an impressive 86.1% tackle success rate.
Shane Malcolm is another Colorado Springs favorite, and with good reason. He’s scored five goals and created 36 chances (both 2nd highest at the Switchbacks). Three of the goals came in the 4-1 season opener victory away to Los Dos. Malcolm has missed only one game all season for the Switchbacks, and that was due to Guam’s World Cup qualifying tie against Bhutan in which he scored during the second leg.
Kwasi Donsu was on the bench against Rising in March, and it’s where the winger is likely to feature tonight. He’s played just 16 minutes since the start of June. Whenever Donsu’s on the pitch, though, his passing has looked sharp. He joined Switchbacks this season from Medeama SC (Ghana), a team that also once featured his current teammate Ibrahim Yaro.
On the left wing, Matt Hundley is likely to start. The 19-year-old has been a part of the American U-19 setup, and featured in 24 Switchbacks’ games in 2019, including 86 minutes against Rising. A Colorado local who came up through the Rapids Academy, Hundley left UCLA after one semester to sign a contract with the team. On loan to the Switchbacks for the season, Hundley is still awaiting his first goal or assist.
FORWARDS
Cesar Romero featured a lot early in the season, often off the bench. However, after leaving in late May to compete for Honduras U-20 at a World Cup tournament in Poland, he failed to break back into the squad until mid-July. Romero hasn’t clocked up more than 45 minutes of play since his return, including one start. Currently on loan from FC Montagua of the Honduran Liga Nacional, he has scored just once on his debut against San Antonio in March.
Jamaican Saeed Robinson has been a regular starter for the Switchbacks in recent weeks as a forward or attacking midfielder. He’s on form, too, picking up his only two goals of the season in the last four games. Robinson previously played for Grand Canyon University, and also under Rick Schantz at FC Tucson in 2013. This is his second spell at Weidner Field. He’s missed only one season with the Switchbacks since 2015.
It can’t be fun to be a striker who hasn’t scored for two seasons, can it? Enter Mike Seth, who enjoyed long goalless spells at Phoenix Rising (2017) and San Antonio (2018). He finally broke that run in May with a goal against New Mexico, and added to it in June. Alas, the football gods giveth and they taketh away, and Seth has been handed only one appearance since the start of July.
Fernando Gonzalez is a new face up front for Colorado Springs. He made his debut for the side last weekend, but didn’t get a single shot off during his 68 minutes against Fresno. Gonzalez joined the Switchbacks from Club América, and has one U-21 cap for Mexico.
Another two options up front are Colorado Springs’ Air Force Academy graduates Austin Dewing and Tucker Bone. Both players have joined Switchbacks as part of the World Class Athlete Program. The aim of this program is to allow players to prepare for potential Olympic competition, but they can be recalled by the Air Force at any time.
Dewing has featured in 11 games, starting six. He’s still to bag his first goal, but seven of his nine shots have been on target. He also has an assist to his name.
Bone has played in ten matches, but only started four. He’s recorded four shots in those ten games, but, like Dewing, has one assist to date.
LESS LIKELY TO FEATURE
When Rising faced Colorado Springs in March, many fans probably expected Andre Rawls or Clint Irwin to play in goal. Neither did, and they are unlikely to do so tonight as both players have recently featured on the team sheet for parent club Colorado Rapids.
Kofi Apare appeared for the Switchbacks in a couple of games in the run-up to their first match against Rising, but the Ghanaian has been with the Rapids since. Apare was an unused substitute for the Rapids’ past seven MLS matches.
Alex Molano started as an attacking midfielder against Rising on March 30, but he will not feature tonight. He left the club by mutual agreement at the start of July, after playing 13 games and recording one assist.
Teenagers Sebastian Anderson and Cole Bassett were loaned to Switchbacks from Colorado Rapids last weekend to gain additional playing time. However, reports on Friday morning suggest that the two have been recalled to the first team by new Rapids boss Robin Fraser.
Scottish winger Sam Nicholson has been a fairly frequent fixture in the Colorado Rapids lineup, and hasn’t appeared for Switchbacks all year. Why, then, is he listed on USL’s official roster for the team? Who knows! The chances of the former Hearts 22-year-old lining up against Rising tonight must be pretty slim.
MAN IN THE MIDDLE
Brad Jensen is tonight’s referee. He has eight Championship games already under his belt, although this will be just his second outside of his home state of Utah. Jensen refereed FC Tucson’s 4-0 victory over the Chattanooga Red Wolves earlier this season. An instructor for the Utah State Referee Administration, Jensen also took the whistle for a match between Club América and Atlas in Los Angeles back in March.
From The Ashes Prediction: Rising to inflict the Switchbacks first defeat in five games at Weidner Field.