Opponent: Memphis 901 FC
Match Date: August 28
Location: Weidner Field
Doors Open: 6pm MT. Limited tickets remain available HERE!
How to Listen: XTRA Sports 1300am with the Voices of the Switchbacks, Ryan Kaufman and Roland Vargish – coverage starts at 6:30pm MT.
Chambo’s Comments: “It was [disappointing against New Mexico United],” said Head Coach James Chambers. “I don’t think we were as good as we could have been in the first half – [we were] a bit passive out of possession. We weren’t good on the night on the ball – and that’s the reality of how the game was. I think for us it was it was disappointing to lose it, but we didn’t do enough to win it [and] that’s the reality and we just have to move on. “Obviously [Memphis 901 score] a lot of goals. [They have a] really good attacking core and they’re in a good spot right now [with] a couple good results – going to Oakland and taking a point. [They will] come here and be themselves, but we’re just looking forward to getting back on the field, honestly. I think we’re disappointed – everybody is – with how Saturday went [and] that happens, but it’s how you respond which is the most important thing. “[We have] three games this week, but the reality is [that] we didn’t get what we wanted at the weekend, and we’ve got to make sure on Wednesday [that] we put our best foot forward and try to take the points that are on offer. We’ll do our best, but we just need to respond with a performance. I think when you lose a game you have to look at yourself first and foremost as a coach, and then obviously [team] personnel and how things unfolded [against New Mexico]. So we’ll do our due diligence and we’ll make sure that we’re ready to go. The boys we put on the field [on Wednesday] will be eager to put a performance on. We felt like we let people down here [at Weidner Field on] Saturday night – that’s how we feel. So we’ve got to make sure that we repay [the fans] on Wednesday. We love [playing at Weidner Field] and, again, we have 17 home games, so not everything is going to go in our favor. But we need to make sure [that] we give [the fans] the value for their money – which we’ve done this year. We didn’t [do that last] Saturday, so we’ll make sure we do it on Wednesday!”
Vargish’s View: This is a crazy week for the Switchbacks. Three games in just nine days is always going to be a huge ask, especially with all three of the Switchbacks’ opponents currently residing in the top seven of the USL Championship’s Western Conference. Memphis 901 and the Switchbacks played out a tense and at times physical 1-1 draw in the Bluff City on June 8th, with that game unlikely to have any carry-over to Wednesday night. Memphis have twice recorded five-goal outbursts since the June 8th match: against Phoenix Rising on June 28th, and just two weeks ago in a 5-1 annihilation of Miami FC. The Switchbacks will make changes on Wednesday evening, and those tasked with playing must arrest a slide that’s seen just one win since a 4th of July victory over FC Tulsa.
