EDINBURG, Texas – Hadji Barry scored a pair of goals in the second half as Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC rallied for a 2-1 victory against Rio Grande Valley FC on Saturday night at H-E-B Park as the Championship’s leading scorer this season moved to 23 goals on the campaign, just three goals away from the league’s single-season record.

The Toros came out brightly and threatened to open the scoring in the sixth minute as a corner kick from the left by Emilio Ycaza found Juan David Cabezas at the back post for a header that came up hard off the turf and bounced over the crossbar. Another pair of corner kicks by Ycaza from the right produced another pair of half-chances as the game approached the midway point of the first half, but it was the recent Toros addition that put the hosts ahead in the 26th minute when Christian Sorto stole possession on the left, allowing the hosts to shift play inside where Frank Lopez found Ycaza breaking into the penalty area for a shot that found the let corner of the net.

The Switchback opened quietly, but almost hit back six minutes before halftime as a ball over the top reached Thomas Amang as he cut into the left side of the penalty area for a shot that forced a good save by the Toros’ Tyler Deric as he came off his line to narrow the angle. RGVFC had a chance to add to its lead late in the first half as Juan Carlos Azocar curled a free kick just wide of the left post from 25 yards out, but four minutes into the second half Colorado Springs leveled as Barry was in the right place at the right time to tuck home after a good driving run by Amang and low cross caromed off teammate Andre Lewis and to the feet of the Championship’s Golden Boot leader for a close range finish from the right side of the six-yard area.

Azocar went close again from a set piece just past the hour-mark as his curling ball from the left flank almost caught out Switchbacks goalkeeper Sean Melvin, who had to punch clear before the ball found the right corner of the net after it had sailed over the targets in the middle waiting for a cross. Deshane Beckford then threatened with 10 minutes to go as he got into space in the right side of the penalty area and had his cross blocked away before regathering possession and shooting from a narrow angle only to be denied by Deric.

A minute later, however, Beckford set up Barry’s second of the night, receiving possession on the right from Jose Francisco Torres and delivering a piercing ball to the top of the six-yard area that the Guinean forward tucked home at close range to move to 23 goals for the season. The Toros tried a late effort by Vicente Sanchez with two minutes to go from beyond the penalty area that was easily smothered by Melvin, while in stoppage time the Switchbacks goalkeeper claimed a header back across goal by Ycaza before it could get turned in. There would be no late equalizer for the hosts, however, as their winless run continued and the Switchbacks continued to push onto a place in the postseason.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Hadji Barry, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC – Barry was clinical with his two chances on the night to pull the Switchbacks ahead and also won 3 of 3 tackles and completed 2 of 4 dribbles in a good all-around display.

Scoring Summary
RGV – Emilio Ycaza (Frank Lopez) 26’
COS – Hadji Barry (Andre Lewis) 49’
COS – Hadji Barry (Deshane Beckford) 81’

Full Box Score