To paraphrase an old joke, soccer is a simple game. Twenty-two men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, San Antonio FC always wins.

At least, at this point, that’s got to be how it feels for Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC.

On Wednesday night, San Antonio took a 2-0 victory at Weidner Field behind a brace from Luis Paredes. It moved SAFC into first place in Group 2 of the USL Jägermeister Cup, but it also extended SAFC’s undefeated streak against the Switchbacks to 15 games across all competitions.

And San Antonio knows it.

“We know the record against the Switchbacks and that’s something we had in mind as well this game,” said SAFC defender Shannon Gomez postgame. “Knowing the history between San Antonio and Colorado [Springs], I think the boys understood that, and we can come out to this game and try to get a result.”

• CAUGHT IN A TRAP: The last time Colorado Springs took victory against San Antonio on March 23, 2019, Steve Trittschuh was still the club’s manager. Since then, SAFC has gone 12-0-3 across all competitions against the Switchbacks, including Wednesday’s cup victory and two wins in the USL Championship Playoffs.

• POWERING UP: There’s been little question over San Antonio’s dominance either. Across the 15 meetings, SAFC has outscored the Switchbacks 28-9 and posted a +10.5 Expected Goal Differential, running up a 28.23 Expected Goals mark.

• MISSED OPPORTUNITIES: The Switchbacks have held the upper hand in games, but each time they’ve been thwarted. SAFC has gained seven points from losing positions during the streak, compared to only two for Colorado Springs. There have also been seven games in which the Switchbacks have held the in-game advantage for Expected Goals but still come up blank.

That was part of the story on Wednesday night as San Antonio rolled out a rotated lineup and had to deal with pressure from the Switchbacks. A key second-half goal line clearance by SAFC’s Nicky Hernandez was followed by a remarkable sequence that saw the Switchbacks score on a rebound opportunity, only for Juan Tejada’s shot to deflect off a prone Anthony Fontana – who’d had the first bite at the rebound – to rule out the goal for offside.

It’s those sorts of breaks that have somehow seemed to go against the Switchbacks when San Antonio has come to town in the past six years and counting since their last win.

“I think we should have been well ahead in the first half, and it’s the same story,” said Switchbacks Head Coach James Chambers. “We don't take the chances that we create, and then we give up two ridiculous goals. It’s just the same story at this moment. Pretty low night to be honest.”

San Antonio will head to Weidner Field for the return fixture in the Championship’s regular season on October 4.

You can already guess what one of the storylines in the buildup will be.