San Diego Loyal vs Colorado Switchbacks Preview
Credit: EVT
San Diego Loyal prepare to take on the Colorado Springs Switchbacks in a top-of-the-table clash
On Monday, July 16th, the San Diego Loyal will take on the Colorado Springs Switchbacks.
San Diego is coming off a much-needed 9-day break from fixtures.
In the three games before the break, San Diego received three yellow cards in three consecutive matches and conceded a total of eight goals.
Somehow, through all the adversity, San Diego picked up six of the nine possible points, keeping them in the top four of their conference.
San Diego most definitely could have all nine points as well. If it wasn’t for an early red card for a “supposed” handball on Kyle Adams, San Diego’s 5-0 loss to LA Galaxy II may have been a completely different story. In the days following the loss, the league eventually overturned the red card following San Diego’s appeal, meaning Adams will be able to feature against the Switchbacks on Monday.
San Diego will also have both Kyle Vassell and Grant Stoneman back following their suspensions. This means that the Switchbacks will be coming into Torero stadium and have to face a potentially fully healthy and rested San Diego side.
Hopefully, Vassell can get a good run of games and keep himself fighting a top the league’s highest goalscorers as he sits tied for 4th with 10.
The Switchbacks, who have been on a bumpy run of form recently, are coming off a 4-2 victory against LA Galaxy II on Friday. In their two previous matches, the Switchbacks lost to two teams who finished the matches with red cards. One of their losses came during the 3-2 independence day victory for San Diego where Stoneman picked up his red. So who knows maybe, a red card won’t mean a guaranteed loss for San Diego on Monday.
With 15 games left to go for the San Diego Loyal, and the conference being as close as it currently is, every one of these last games is going to feel like a cup final.
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The Switchbacks are currently sitting in second, five points ahead of San Diego who is in 4th. A win would help San Diego strengthen their grip on the upper half of the table. But a loss could bring them even closer to teams such as Sacramento Republic FC who sit five points behind San Diego in 7th.
Both teams are going to head into Torero with a chip on their shoulders. These are two top teams who are looking to get back into a consistent form so be prepared for some passionate soccer. As long as the referees don’t interfere as we’ve unfortunately been witnessing a little too often recently, we should have a spectacle of a game on our hands.
Morgan Prickett is currently studying Journalism at San Diego State and is on pace to graduate in 2023. He was born in Libreville, Gabon and lived in Pretoria, South Africa for 7 years until he moved to the Bay Area. He’s a massive soccer and basketball fan; mainly supporting Arsenal of the English Premier League and any team Chris Paul is on. He’s also an avid supporter of all sports teams in San Diego and loves watching all San Diego State sports.