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Matchday Report: Switchbacks Defeat Monarchs as Barry Strikes Again

By USLChampionship.com Staff, 09/08/21, 11:08PM EDT

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Forward notches 21st goal of the season before highlight-reel finish by Torres in 2-0 victory

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Hadji Barry scored his 21st goal of the season while Jose Francisco Torres added a brilliant strike to add an exclamation point to a 2-0 victory for Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC against Real Monarchs SLC on Wednesday night at Weidner Field.

Neither side was able to find a clear early chance, and it wasn’t until the 12th minute that Colorado Springs notched its first shot of the game as Sebastian Anderson fired a shot from the top of the penalty area that was always curling away from the right post. Anderson then fed Barry seven minutes later with a low cross from the right that the Championship’s Golden Boot-leader turned into the side-netting, but the Guinean forward was then presented a big chance to add to his tally this season in the 31st minute on a breakaway only to send his shot wide of the right post.

The first notable chance for the Monarchs came on a set piece two minutes later as from 35 yards New Zealander Max Mata drove a powerful shot that was saved by the Switchbacks’ Sean Melvin, but a minute before halftime the Switchbacks again went close as Deshane Beckford played a clever give-and-go with Barry to get into the left side of the penalty area for a shot that was well saved by the Monarchs’ Jeff Dewsnupp.

After missing out in the first half, however, Barry capitalized for his 21st goal of the season 12 minutes into the second half as a loose touch in the defensive end by the Monarchs saw Beckford poke the ball in the direction of the striker. Barry took a touch past a defender scrambling to cover and shot low into the right corner from 12 yards to put the Switchbacks ahead.

Barry almost added a second on the night in the 65th minute as Andre Lewis played him into the right side of the penalty area for a low shot that was blocked by Dewsnupp before deflecting behind off a defender. Off the ensuing corner kick, however, a looping attempt to clear came straight to Torres, who fired a volley from 25 yards just inside the right post to double the Switchbacks’ lead.

The Monarchs tried to find a way back into the game, and they had a pair of late chances as a good cross from the right by Malik Johnson picked out Ibrahim Bance for a volleyed finish that bounced wide of the right post before Mata had a long-range shot saved by Melvin, but Colorado Springs saw out the result to solidify second place in the Mountain Division with another positive result.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Jose Francisco Torres, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC – Torres produced the best moment of the night with his volleyed finish and was solid in the center of the park, completing 65 of 72 passes and making eight recoveries in midfield.

Scoring Summary
COS
– Hadji Barry (Deshane Beckford) 57’
COS – Jose Francisco Torres 65’

Full Box Score

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