SANDY, Utah – Abdul Rwatubyaye scored deep in second-half stoppage time as a 10-man Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC side rallied from a two-goal deficit with a pair of late goals in a 3-3 draw against Real Monarchs SLC on Saturday afternoon at Rio Tinto Stadium.

Trailing by a pair of goals with less than 20 minutes to go, the Switchbacks’ chances seemed to have dimmed when midfielder Andre Lewis was sent off for his second cautionable offense. But Colorado Springs grabbed a lifeline in the 89th minute when Austin Dewing held off a challenge and set up Jordan Burt as he arrived late to finish.

It appeared the goal might only serve as a consolation, but then in the fifth minute of stoppage time the Switchbacks earned one final chance from a corner kick on the left. Luke Ferreira delivered a cross to the top of the six-yard area and Rwatubyaye met the ball with a powerful header that found the back of the net, completing a thrilling comeback.

Real had opened the scoring on the half-hour mark when a long throw-in by James Moberg fell to Andrew Brody just inside the penalty area, and his touch found Kyle Coffee, who controlled with one touch and then fired a finish into the top-left corner of the net.

Ten minutes later, Brody added a goal to his assist as Noah Powder came through a challenge near the halfway line and move inside from the left flank before releasing Brody on the right side. Brody drove forward, cut inside a defender at the top of the penalty area and shot low into the left corner to double the Monarchs’ lead.

The Monarchs almost added a third in first-half stoppage time, but Switchbacks goalkeeper Sean Melvin made a big save to deny Powder when he got a clean look on goal after a good header by Coffee. That save proved even bigger moments later when Joan Cervos followed up a hard, low shot by Usvaldo Luna from the left and bounced home the rebound to make it a one-goal game at the break.

Just past the hour-mark, however, the Monarchs restored their two-goal advantage. Awarded a free kick on the right flank, Powder’s near-post delivery was flicked on by Taylor Peay and into the left corner of the net. The hosts then seemed in control, especially when Lewis was sent off with 17 minutes to go. But the Switchbacks’ late rally left the Monarchs still looking for their first win of 2020.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Abdul Rwatubyaye, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC – The center back scored the decisive goal for the visitors, and won 4-of-4 aerials and 6-of-9 duels as well as recording three interceptions during the contest.