COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – A late goal by Justin Dhillon earned San Antonio FC a 1-1 draw against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on Saturday night before a crowd of 5,531 fans as the hosts were denied their first home victory at Weidner Field in dramatic fashion.

San Antonio thought it had gotten off to a flying start in the second meeting between the clubs this season when Liam Doyle headed home a free kick from the right by Cam Lindley in just the second minute, only for the offside flag to be raised. Instead, it was the Switchbacks who struck early as Hadji Barry scored his second goal in as many games at Weidner Field in the sixth minute. A deft through-ball by Deshane Beckford into the right side of the penalty area picked out Barry’s run across the penalty area, and the Guianese forward struck a powerful finish back across goal into the left corner of the net.

Barry almost struck again 10 minutes later as he surged onto a ball over the top by Sebastian Anderson and ran in one-on-one with SAFC’s Matt Cardone, but the goalkeeper got the better of the duel as he denied the opportunity. Zach Zandi then thought he’d found the net in the 24th minute after being played through by Badji and shooting into the right corner, but again the offside was raised to rule out the finish.

Both Lindley and Marcus Epps had efforts for the visitors in the first half that went narrowly wide from outside the penalty area in the first half, but Cardone had to come up with another key save six minutes before halftime as Zandi tried to finish from close in at a narrow angle on the left side of the penalty area. Both sides were reduced to 10 men just before the break, though, as Colorado Springs’ Michael Edwards and San Antonio’s Santiago Patino were both sent off after an altercation near the sideline after a challenge by the SAFC forward.

Playing 10-on-10 in the second half, San Antonio almost grabbed an equalizer on the hour-mark as a cross from the left by Lindley eluded Switchbacks goalkeeper Sean Melvin, but as the ball bounced toward goal teammate Jimmy Ockford cleared just ahead of SAFC forward Justin Dhillon as he tried to finish off the chance from close range. Chris Lema then had a chance for the visitors with 16 minutes to go as he shot from 20 yards after a free kick had been half-cleared, only for Melvin to comfortably save.

The Switchbacks almost added a second in the 79th minute as Barry was played in behind the San Antonio defense on the left and drew Cardone off his line before passing to Zandi, but his shot toward the vacated net was brilliantly cleared by San Antonio defender Joaquín Varela. That proved crucial with two minutes to go as a free kick by Lindley 45 yards out fell to Dhillon after he had challenged for a header, and the former Seattle Sounders FC forward put home the finish to level.

Colorado Springs almost regained the lead in the first minute of stoppage time as Michee Ngalina judged the bounce of a looping ball forward well to control in the right side of the penalty area, but his shot went off the fingertips of Cardone and hit the crossbar before going away to safety. That proved the final chance of the game as honors ended all square.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Joaquin Varela, San Antonio FC – Varela made a crucial intervention to deny Zach Zandi putting the hosts two goals late in the second half, and completed 20 of 25 passes while making six clearances and winning 10 of 15 duels.

Scoring Summary
COS – Hadji Barry (Deshane Beckford) 6’
SA – Justin Dhillon 88’

Full Box Score