Switchbacks advance to Western Conference Semifinals
Nov 04, 2024
(COLORADO SPRINGS) — On Saturday, the Switchbacks advanced to the USL Western Conference Semifinals after defeating Oakland Roots 2-0.
The Switchbacks' first goal came in the 41' when #17 Jairo Henriquez picked the ball up in the middle of the pitch. Henriquez dribbled around one Oakland player, took his space toward Oakland’s goal, and passed the ball off to #9 Ronaldo Damus who was backing into the Oakland defense.
Damus laid the ball off back to Henriquez who then played a quick one-touch pass to #10 Zach Zandi. Zandi attempted to take a one-touch shot right on the edge of the box which got blocked. The ball fell back to Henriquez, who kept running closer to the net, after his pass to Zandi, and Henriquez placed the ball in the top right corner to put the Switchbacks up 1-0.
The Switchbacks' second goal started, again with Henriquez, who was pressing Oakland defender #5 Riley Camden and forced Camden to turn the ball over.
Henriquez took the ball and passed it back to #18 Aidan Rocha. Rocha took a touch, looked up, and delivered a ball aimed for Damus, who was making a run into the box. Oakland defender #4 Gagi Margvelashvili, took Damus down in the box, not letting Damus get to the ball, and the head referee, Abdou Ndiaye, immediately awarded the Switchbacks a penalty.
Damus stepped up confidently to take the penalty and placed the ball in the right side of the net. Oakland goalkeeper #20 Paul Blanchette, dove the right way but Damus put enough power on the shot to put it past Blanchette.
Next up, the Switchbacks will face Orange County SC on Nov. 9 at Weidner Field with a 4:30 p.m. kickoff.