COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Juan Tejada scored the only goal late in the first half as Christian Herrera posted a four-save shutout that included a key late denial as Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC took a 1-0 victory against Las Vegas Lights FC before a sellout crowd of 8,023 fans at Weidner Field in the Western Conference Final of the 2024 USL Championship Playoffs presented by Terminix.

The Switchbacks will now host Rhode Island FC in the 2024 USL Championship Final next Saturday at Weidner Field, with kickoff set for 12 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. MT on the CBS Television Network and TUDN.

The Switchbacks opened brightly and almost grabbed an early lead in the seventh minute when Jairo Henriquez made a driving run down the left side and found Ronaldo Damus for a first-time finish from 10 yards that rang the left post. Three minutes later, the hosts had the ball in the back of the net through Zach Zandi, but the attacking midfielder was ruled offside as he latched onto a through-ball by Matt Mahoney as he stepped forward from the back line.

Las Vegas’ early threat primarily came from Christian Pinzon, meanwhile, who went closest to finding the net in the first half just past the half-hour mark as he cut in from the left but fired just wide of the near post. Seven minutes before halftime, though, Colorado Springs took the lead when Aidan Rocha’s free kick from the right was kept alive by Henriquez and powered home from 10 yards by Tejada in the right side of the penalty area into the roof of the net.

The Lights almost hit back immediately as five minutes later Khori Bennett’s powerful header off a cross by Grayson Doody from the right was tipped over the crossbar by Herrera. The visitors also almost proved the devisor of Colorado Springs’ second after a giveaway inside the opening 20 seconds of the second half set up Henriquez for a chance he curled off the post as he nearly picked out the top-right corner from beyond the top-left edge of the penalty area.

The game then settled into a battle with few chances until with 19 minutes to go a cross from the left by Las Vegas’ Valentin Noël found Vaughn Covil as he cut into the penalty area for a header that Herrera was able to claim. Herrera produced an even better save with a minute to go to deny Pinzon on a header from the top of the six-yard area the Switchbacks’ shot-stopper kept out with his left hand. After a free kick by the Lights’ Charlie Adams went wide of the top-left corner of the net in stoppage time, however, the Switchbacks held firm to claim the first silverware in the club’s history.

Three Things That Mattered

1. JUAN TEJADA MAKES THE MOST OF HIS MOMENT: Juan Tejada hadn’t started a game for the Switchbacks in more than a month – and had logged only 82 minutes since then – but in his return to the lineup the Panamanian delivered a great display as part of Colorado Springs’ attack. Tejada brought energy, as did Jairo Henriquez to impressive effect, and the two ended up combining for what proved the Switchbacks’ winner which Tejada took with aplomb. After scoring the goal that earned Colorado Springs its No. 2 seed late against Sacramento Republic FC in the final game of the regular season, he’s now delivered the goal that brought the first silverware in the Switchbacks’ history.

2. CHRISTIAN HERRERA ROSE TO THE CHALLENGE: Last weekend against Orange County SC, you could say Christian Herrera was at least partially to blame for the early goal the Switchbacks conceded before rallying for victory. This time out, the 27-year-old was basically flawless, making a pair of crucial saves late in either half – including a jaw-dropping one-handed denial on Christian Pinzon that could have sent the game to extra time in the 89th minute – to see out the win. The Switchbacks have been among the hardest teams to rally against in the Championship at home this season – they’re now 11-2-1 when they score first at Weidner Field – but Herrera’s saves were essential to that record adding another win to the first column.

3. LAS VEGAS CAN CARRY ITS HEADS HIGH: Of the performances in the club’s first postseason, this is the one that looked the most like the Las Vegas Lights FC side the achieved a massive turnaround from a year ago under Head Coach Dennis Sanchez. Unfortunately for the visitors, the quality opportunities it was able to create were thwarted this time – just like Raiko Arozarena did in New Mexico last weekend. It’s a sad note to end the season on, but the performance illustrated how far the Lights have come this year and will provide an incentive to get back to this stage again next season and hopefully come out on top second time around.

USLChampionship.com Player of the Game

Christian Herrera, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC – Herrera ensured his side’s goal stood up as the winner with an outstanding shot-stopping performance that included key saves late in either half to keep out the Lights’ Khori Bennett and Christian Pinzon as the Switchbacks earned its first Western Conference title.

Scoring Summary
COS – Juan Tejada (Jairo Henriquez) 38’

Full Box Score