skip navigation

Argueta, Switchbacks Win Thriller

By CHARLIE CORR - charlie.corr@uslsoccer.com, 06/03/17, 10:36PM EDT

Share

Stoppage-time tally leads Colorado Springs past OKC


Photo courtesy of Isaiah J. Downing / Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC and OKC Energy FC have certainly had their tussles over the past few years, and Saturday night proved to be a defensive grind. It took one last effort to break the deadlock as Switchbacks captain Rony Argueta tallied in the third minute of second-half stoppage time for a dramatic 1-0 victory at Weidner Field. Playing for the second time in four days following Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup play, the two sides looked to be headed to a scoreless draw. Colorado Springs was coming off a 2-1 loss to Energy FC during the Third Round of the Open Cup. In the final moments Saturday, though, the Switchbacks turned the table on OKC. Argueta’s strike off of a Jack Jones assist was driven past OKC goalkeeper Cody Laurendi and into the right side of the frame to cap off a thrilling affair. With the win, the Switchbacks improve to 4-4-5 (17 points) overall and 3-1-2 at home. Energy FC drops to 3-5-1 (10 points) overall and 0-4-1 on the road.

Scoring:
90’+3 – COS – Rony Argueta (Jack Jones)

Three Things That Mattered:

  • 1. The defenses took front and center, and Switchbacks goalkeeper Moise Pouaty was certainly the busiest of the bunch. Pouaty was called upon on a number of instances to come up with a clutch save. One of the most memorable sequences came in the 22nd minute on OKC’s free kick from the left by Jose Barril. Barril connected perfectly with Mickey Daly for a headed that was bound for the far left corner of the frame. Pouaty fully stretched to his right to get a glove on the shot and parry it away. Pouaty finished with seven saves for the clean sheet.

  • 2. The Switchbacks only had one shot on goal in the first half, but the host side improved in its attack in the second half. Colorado Springs had a couple good chances in the 65th minute, with Kevaughn Frater finding some space, only to have OKC’s defense track back in time to clear near the top of the box. Seconds later, Masta Kacher elected for a deep right-footed shot, and with the sun in full blast on OKC goalkeeper Cody Laurendi, was hoping to put it on frame. Kacher’s strike went a hair over the crossbar. One of the best buildups by the Switchbacks was in the 73rd minute, when Kacher set up Richie Perez. Laurendi left his line, made himself big and stuffed Perez’s attempt to keep things scoreless.

  • 3. Aside from the goalkeepers, one of the other standouts among the defenses was Colorado Springs’ Sean McFarlane. He had a number of crucial clearances, perhaps none bigger than the 81st minute when it appeared OKC’s Andy Craven had a wide channel to shoot. McFarlane stretched for the deflection to limit things for his goalkeeper Pouaty.

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match:
Rony Argueta, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC –
Argueta’s combination with Jack Jones and strike from outside the 18-yard box gave Colorado Springs three points at the close.

Upcoming Games:
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
at LA Galaxy II – June 10, 10:30 p.m. ET, StubHub Center Track & Field Stadium
OKC Energy FC vs. Phoenix Rising FC – June 6, 8:30 p.m. ET, Taft Stadium

Follow the USL Championship

Most Recent News

Most Read News

Latest Videos