Opponent: Loudoun United
Match Date: September 28
Location: Weidner Field
Doors Open: 5 pm MT. Limited tickets remain available HERE! The first fans through the gates will receive clear fanny packs, courtesy of Diversus Health.
How to Listen: XTRA Sports 1300am with the Voices of the Switchbacks, Ryan Kaufman and Roland Vargish. Coverage starts at 5:30pm MT.
Chambo’s Comments: “[It was a] difficult game [in El Paso last Saturday evening in a match that ended 1-1]. And we knew that [it would be]. It’s not like we went down there anticipating anything less. [El Paso] are a good side – I know they’re bottom of the table, but they’ve got good players and they’ve got a good coach, so it’s a difficult place to go. I thought [in the] first half we were good after the first 15 minutes, and we dropped off in the second half. All things considered [it’s] not a bad point. We’re not ecstatic about it, but we didn’t lose the game. Obviously we had a couple of people step up in key moments and yeah we just put it behind us now and move forward. “We’re delighted [to be back at Weidner Field]. This is one of the last few at home – [at least] for the regular season, so we’ve got to make the most of it. We’re just really excited to get back and see everybody. I think [the fans have] brought an awful lot of energy to the building this season. Right through every single game they’ve been behind us. Some haven’t gone our way – that’s part of life – but the reality is we need them again on Saturday night and they need us to perform so hopefully it works both ways.” Little
Look at Loudoun: “Loudoun had a really good performance – particularly in the second\ half – against New Mexico [and] probably could have easily got a draw or [even] won the game,” continued Head Coach Chambers. “We know it’s a really tough opponent coming in and they’ve got some really good players – as everybody does at this level. They press pretty aggressively, [and] they’ve got some good pieces in the attack with the front three. [Florian] Valot is a threat [and a] creative piece. [Zach] Ryan gets himself amongst the goals, and so does [Wesley] Leggett over the last couple of months. And then they’ve got threats from a little bit deeper, obviously set pieces are an issue, and the two wing backs are good. Right throughout the field they’ve got good players, and they’ve got depth on the bench, so they’ll be coming in and I’m sure looking to keep themselves above that playoff line.”
Vargish’s View: In some ways Loudoun United evoke the Switchbacks’ most recent opponent, El Paso Locomotive. Talented players litter the Loudoun roster, but 2024 has been a struggle – albeit one that in Loudoun’s case still has them inside the playoff cut-line at the time of writing. Mirroring every sports team throughout history, Loudoun do better at home than on the road – eight of United’s 10 wins this season have come at Leesburg’s Segra Field, in the state we are told is for lovers. On Saturday night the Switchbacks must play with the same verve and bite that’s seen them score nine goals in their last three matches in Southern Colorado. The intensity the Switchbacks have recently shown at Weidner Field has been proven to be near impossible for any team to combat.
