Photo courtesy Ivan Pierre Aguirre / El Paso Locomotive FC
Week 2 of the 2023 USL Championship season gets underway on Wednesday night as a new-look Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC squad makes its season debut with a visit to regional rival El Paso Locomotive FC.
Here’s a look ahead to the action.
Venue: Southwest University Park
Kickoff: 9 p.m. ET
Broadcast: ESPN+
538.com Predictor: ELP 40%, COS 34%, Draw 27%
The Lowdown: Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC kicks off the new season with what’s set to be a new-look lineup led by Head Coach Stephen Hogan against an El Paso Locomotive FC side aiming to rebound from a setback in its opening game of the campaign. El Paso fell 1-0 to Sacramento Republic FC this past Saturday night in new Head Coach Brian Clarhaut’s first game at the helm despite some bright moments from forwards Ricardo Zacarias and Josue Aaron Gomez and newcomer Denys Kostyshyn. Colorado Springs, meanwhile, will see at least seven changes from the lineup that kicked off the 2022 Western Conference Final last November with players such as Cam Lindley, Michee Ngalina and Elvis Amoh all departing this offseason. Hogan, who takes the reins as a former assistant to ex-Switchbacks boss Brendan Burke, does have a group with extensive USL Championship experience to call on, however, with former All-League selections Speedy Williams, James Musa and Romario Williams all on board as Colorado Springs looks to replicate its victorious last visit to El Paso last October.
Spotlight Players
El Paso Locomotive FC – Emmanuel Sonupe: The English winger notched a pair of dangerous efforts for Locomotive FC in its season opener against Sacramento and should engage in an interesting duel with Colorado Springs’ Macauley King.
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC – Matt Mahoney: Appointed the Switchbacks’ captain this week as he enters his third season with the club, Mahoney played a vital role on the back line for the side last season as well as being a threat at set pieces.