PEORIA, Ariz. – Luke Vercollone scored a pair of goals as Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC took a 3-0 victory against Arizona United SC in the Third Round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup at the Peoria Sports Complex on Wednesday night. The Switchbacks will face the Colorado Rapids in the Fourth Round in two weeks at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.

Arizona came out brightly, and had the better of the early chances as midfielder Luke Rooney had a shot turned aside for a corner kick, and Uchenna Uzo had a header saved a minute apart. The Switchbacks got onto the front foot soon after, but Sam Garza also went close for United when he volleyed wide off a cross by Nick Costa.

As the half went on, though, the Switchbacks started to find some chances, including when Jordan Burt sent a shot wide on a counter-attack in the 19th minute. Arizona also pushed forward well, with Brock Granger going close just before the half-hour mark, and Long Tan hitting a long-range shot that didn’t trouble Switchbacks goalkeeper Billy Thompson.

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Arizona almost took the lead seven minutes before halftime when Tan’s shot was parried by Thompson, and Tyler Blackwood had his rebound effort cleared off the line. The denials proved critical a minute later, when the Switchbacks took the lead through Vercollone as he sent home a rebound to put Colorado Springs up at the break.

United again had more possession at the start of the second half, but just before the hour-mark the Switchbacks doubled their lead as Saaed Robinson had his initial effort saved, but Aaron King cleaned up the rebound to make it 2-0.

Arizona almost halved Colorado Springs’ lead in the 62nd minute as his chipped shot came back off the crossbar, while Blackwood had a shot charged down with nine minutes to go as United looked to find a way back into the game. Vercollone’s second of the game two minutes later put paid to those hopes, however, as the Switchbacks wrapped up their victory, and a rematch with the Rapids in the Fourth Round on Wednesday, June 15.