SOUNDERS FC 2 FALLS 2-1 ON THE ROAD TO COLORADO SPRINGS SWITCHBACKS FC
Zach Mathers scores team-leading eighth goal of the season, but Switchbacks FC bags a pair of first-half goals; Rave Green return home against the Rio Grande Valley FC Toros on Sunday, Aug. 6 (6:30 p.m. PT / Live-streamed on SoundersFC.com)
For Immediate Release: July 29, 2017
Contact: Danny Ciaccio, 206-775-2173 or Alex Caulfield, 216-978-7212
COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. – Midfielder Zach Mathers recorded his team-leading eighth goal of the season in the second half, but Sounders FC 2 (7-12-2, 23 points) suffered its fifth consecutive defeat in a 2-1 road loss to Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (7-8-6, 27 points). Now in eighth place in the Western Conference, S2 is two points shy of the postseason cutoff line. S2 returns to action with a contest against the Rio Grande Valley FC Toros next Sunday at Starfire Stadium (6:30 p.m. PT / Live-streamed on SoundersFC.com).
The Switchbacks opened the scoring in the 21st minute on a goal by Shane Malcolm. Mastanabal Kacher dribbled all the way to the touchline and sent a pass to the center of the area where Malcolm delivered a strike into the left side of the net for the 1-0 lead. In the 33rd minute, the Switchbacks doubled their advantage on an own goal by Francisco Narbon off a corner kick, Narbon went up for an aerial challenge, when the ball bounced off him and snuck into the goal.
In the 51st minute, Mathers cut the deficit in half with a well-struck free kick from just beyond the left corner of the area. The First Team midfielder’s shot blistered above the wall and through the area to find the back of the net.
Switchbacks FC kept S2 at bay for the remainder of the match. S2 returns to action next Sunday against the Rio Grande Valley FC Toros at Starfire Stadium. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. PT.
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 2 |1 - 2| Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
Sunday, July 23, 2017
Venue: Weidner Field
Referee: Malik Badawi
Assistants: Jacob Herold, Sebastian Cardona
Fourth Official: Joe Wykowski
Attendance: 4,042
Weather: 61 degrees and rain
SCORING SUMMARY
CSP – Shane Malcom (Mastanabal Kacher) 21’
SEA – Francisco Narbon (own goal) 33’
SEA – Zach Mathers 51’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
CSP – Kim Tae-Seong (caution) 51’
CSP – Davy Armstrong (caution) 80’
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC 2 - Bryan Meredith; Khai Brisco, Sam Rogers, Brian Nana-Sinkam, Christian Koontz, Francisco Narbon, David Olsen (Guy Edoa HT), Zach Mathers, Charles Renken, Irvin Parra (Javorn Stevens 78’); Seyi Adekoya (Henry Wingo HT)
Substitutes not used: Shandon Hopeau, Lorenzo Ramos
Total shots: 7
Shots on goal: 4
Corner-kicks: 3
Saves: 6
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC – Moise Pouaty; Jordan Burt, Sean McFarlane, Josh Phillips, Josh Suggs; Rony Argueta, Tae-Seong Kim, Luke Varcollone; Masta Kachor, Shane Malcolm, Jack Jones
Substitutes not used: Dan Jackson, Aaron King, Eddy Prugh, Pascal Eboussi, Jun Yeong Park, Damien Marcu, Davy Armstrong
Total shots: 17
Shots on goal: 7
Corner-kicks: 9
Saves: 3
