COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Jairo Henriquez and Ronaldo Damus scored either side of halftime as Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC took a 2-0 victory against Oakland Roots SC on Saturday night at Weidner Field to advance in the Western Conference Quarterfinals of the 2024 USL Championship Playoffs presented by Terminix.

The Switchbacks will play host to Orange County SC in the Western Conference Semifinals next Saturday night at Weidner Field with kickoff set for 6:30 p.m. ET.

Neither side was able to create much in the opening half-hour as both Oakland’s Justin Rasmussen and Colorado Springs’ Tyreek Magee were off-target with half-chances, but Roots goalkeeper Paul Blanchette was called into action in the 35th minute when he was forced into a good save after a corner kick was redirected on target by teammate Neveal Hackshaw as he competed for a header.

Five minutes before the break, though, the Switchbacks struck through Henriquez. Driving forward from midfield, the El Salvador international combined with Damus before laying a pass off to Zach Zandi, and when his shot was partially blocked it fell back into the path of Henriquez, who finished with aplomb.

Colorado Springs got the chance to double its lead from the penalty spot 11 minutes into the second half after Damus was ruled to have been pulled down in the penalty area by his marker as he tried to get on the end of a cross by Aiden Rocha. The Haitian international stepped up and shot to the right corner beyond Blanchette’s save for his 13th goal of the season.

Roots tried to mount a comeback, and with five minutes to go Dom Dwyer played a reverse pass that sent Ilya Alekseev into place in the right side of the penalty area, only for Christian Herrera to make a low save for the hosts. The Switchbacks would threaten to add to their lead in stoppage time, meanwhile, but eventually saw out a comfortable home win.

Three Things that Mattered

1. HENRIQUEZ TAKES HIS OPPORTUNITY: Jairo Henriquez hasn’t been a mainstay in Colorado Springs’ lineup this season, but when he was given his 10th start of the campaign, he made the most of it. The El Salvador international did positive work on either side of the ball, including winning 2 of 2 tackles, but his ability to shift through opponents proved crucial in creating the Switchbacks’ opening goal. There was an element of fortune about the chances when it came off a deflection, but Henriquez made his own luck in the sequence that preceded Zach Zandi’s shot and finished emphatically. It remains to be seen what role he'll have next weekend against Orange County, but this display made the case he can be a difference-maker this postseason.

2. DAMUS ON THE SPOT: As we noted prior to the postseason, there’s only one player in the USL Championship this season with double-digit goals that’s scored a higher percentage of his finishes from the penalty spot than Ronaldo Damus. At the same time, when you’re as good at converting them as the Haitian is, then you can’t say we didn’t warn you about fouling him. Damus drew the penalty he then converted for his eighth postseason goal in the USL Championship all-time, making him 7 of 8 from the spot this season. Getting Damus more involved could be important next week – he took only 16 touches overall in 83 minutes – but his touch in front of net remains the same.

3. ROOTS CAN’T FIND EDGE: Oakland Roots had their moments on Saturday night, but overall it wasn’t going to be enough to deliver the sort of road upset the side has become known for in its USL Championship tenure. The experienced trio of Johnny Rodriguez, Jose Sinisterra and Dom Dwyer failed to register a shot on target between them as the Switchbacks goalkeeper Christian Herrera was only called on to make two saves overall. That was symbolic of the club’s season, which ran hot and cold but eventually petered out, leaving the side to figure out what’s next this offseason.

USL Championship.com Player of the Game

Jairo Henriquez, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC – Henriquez scored an opportunistic opening goal and was solid overall, winning 2 of 2 tackles and 4 of 8 duels defensively to help send his side into the next round.

Scoring Summary
COS – Jairo Henriquez 41’
COS – Ronaldo Damus (penalty kick) 56’

Full Box Score