Monterey Bay Scores Stoppage Time Winner in Victory Over Colorado Springs at Cardinale Stadium
SEASIDE, California (Saturday, August 26, 2023) – Monterey Bay F.C. (8-11-7, 31 points) defeated Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (11-12-3, 36 points) 2-1 in come-from-behind fashion in front of a sold-out crowd on Back to School Night at Cardinale Stadium, presented by Montage Health Foundation. Christian Volesky converted two penalties in the final 10 minutes of play to aid the Crisp-and-Kelp in securing the full three points on a wild night in Seaside.
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The first chance of the night for the visitors came in the 17th minute when Juan Tejada intercepted a pass and pushed up the right sideline, but his final ball across the box was blocked by Alex Lara and cleared away. Ugo Okoli and Morey Doner combined down the right flank to earn a corner kick in the 32nd minute. Alex Dixon looped the ball into the box and Lara got his head to it, but the headed shot missed over the crossbar. Colorado Springs’ Jonas Fjeldberg fired a shot from inside the box aimed at the far post in the 37th minute, but Carlos Herrera was there to parry it away and the sides went scoreless into the break.
Switchbacks FC forward Maalique Foster received his second yellow card of the match 15 minutes into the second half and was ejected. Five minutes later, Colorado Springs was forced down to 9 men when Fjeldberg was given his second caution and was dismissed from the match. With a two-man advantage, Monterey Bay took over the majority of possession in the match. In back-to-back minutes, Mobi Fehr had opportunities. The first came from just outside the six yard box on the end of a cross, but his sideways volley missed over the crossbar. Then with the ball falling to his feet from 18 yards out, Fehr blasted a shot aimed at the far post but it missed to the left of the post. Then in the 78th minute, Switchbacks FC sprung a surprise counter attack that caught the Union out of position. A foul occurred that awarded the visitors a free kick from 22 yards out, and Jay Chapman curled it into the top corner to give Colorado Springs an improbable 1-0 lead.
The Crisp-and-Kelp piled on the pressure for several minutes before Rafa Baca earned a penalty in the 88th minute. Volesky stepped up to the spot and smashed the ball past the goalkeeper’s left to level the match at 1-1 for the Union. Five minutes later, Kai Greene was brought down in the box on a corner kick and the referee pointed to the spot once again. For a second time, Volesky stepped up to the spot and buried it into the back of the net, this time to the goalkeeper’s right, to give Monterey Bay the 2-1 lead. Sam Gleadle broke free on the counter looking to extend the lead, but was taken down with a tackle from behind and a straight red card was shown – the third of the night for Switchbacks FC. Three red cards, a free kick goal and two penalties later, the ref blew the final whistle with Monterey Bay in front 2-1.
Up Next: Monterey Bay goes back on the road for two in a row. The first of which is a trip back to Texas for a fixture with El Paso Locomotive FC at Southwest University Park on Saturday, September 2 at 6:30 p.m. PT. The match can be streamed live on ESPN+.
Notes:
– With 5,720 in attendance, the Club announced the third complete sell-out in Club history.
– Missing the match due to injury was Simon Dawkins (knee), Chuy Enríquez (knee), Max Glasser (hamstring), Grant Robinson (abdominal).
Match: Monterey Bay F.C. vs Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
Date: August 26, 2023
Venue: Cardinale Stadium; Seaside, California
Weather: Mostly sunny and 61 degrees
Attendance: 5,720
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
Monterey Bay F.C. 0 2 2
Switchbacks FC 0 1 1
COS: Jay Chapman 77’
MB: Christian Volesky (Penalty) 89’
MB: Christian Volesky (Penalty) 90+4’
Lineups:
Monterey Bay F.C. (3-4-2-1): Carlos Herrera; Hugh Roberts II, Kai Greene, Alex Lara (Jesse Maldonado, 82’); Sam Gleadle, Mobi Fehr (James Murphy, 78’), Rafa Baca, Morey Doner; Alex Dixon (Walmer Martínez, 78’), Chase Boone (Adrian Rebollar, 77’); Ugo Okoli (Christian Volesky, 63’)
Subs not used: Antony Siaha, Nevello Yoseke
Colorado Springs (4-4-2): Joe Kuzminsky; James Musa, Matt Mahoney, Drew Skundrich, Oskar Agren; Jay Chapman (Stevie Echevarria, 80’), Speedy Williams, Juan Tejada (Deshane Beckford, 69’); Tyreek Magee (Duke Lacroix, 68’), Maalique Foster, Jonas Fjeldberg
Subs not used: Christian Herrera, Marco Rios, Jairo Henriquez, Romario Williams
Stats Summary: MB / COS
Shots: 18 / 8
Shots on Goal: 3 / 3
Saves: 2 / 1
Corner Kicks: 8 / 4
Fouls: 10 / 11
Possession: 50.0% / 50.0%
Misconduct Summary:
COS: Juan Tejada (caution) 8’
COS: Drew Skundrich (caution) 20’
COS: Maalique Foster (caution) 33’
COS: Jonas Fjeldberg (caution) 45’
MB: Mobi Fehr (caution) 56’
COS: Maalique Foster (caution, dismissal) 59’
COS: Jonas Fjeldberg (caution, dismissal) 64’
MB: Carlos Herrera (caution) 76’
COS: Devon Williams (caution) 90+1’
COS: James Musa (dismissal) 90+7’
Officials:
Referee: Matthew Corrigan
Assistant Referee: Nicholas Balcer
Assistant Referee: Stephen McGonagle
Fourth Official: Robert Vincze
