Arizona United SC falls to Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC

Arizona United SC drops third USL match in a row

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (May 2, 2015) — Arizona United Soccer Club scored back two goals in the second half thanks to forward Jonathan Top and midfielder Jose “Chiva” Cuevas, but it wasn’t enough as the club dropped its third USL match in a row, 3-2, to the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC.

“We didn’t make plays today,” Arizona United SC head coach Michael Dellorusso said. “We can possess all we want, but we didn’t make plays today.”

With Arizona United SC trailing 3-0 in the 50th minute, forward Brad Stisser possessed the ball down the right side of the field roughly 20 yards from the box. With space, Stisser served a long diagonal ball into the penalty area and found the head of a diving Top, who buried the service into the back of the net for Arizona’s first goal.

In stoppage time, Top continued to be dangerous, running into the box and earning a penalty for Arizona United SC. Chiva took the ensuing penalty kick, and while the penalty kick was initially blocked, the ball bounced back to Chiva, who easily slotted the ball into the net to make it 3-2. Arizona United SC had one last gasp, but a free kick from Chiva rattled off the near post before the referee blew the final whistle.

“(We had) great movement off the ball and we didn’t make plays,” Dellorusso said. “That’s what it comes down to.”

Switchbacks drew first blood in the match, taking advantage of a defensive miscue along the back line that left the Switchbacks’ Aaron King alone on Arizona United SC goalkeeper Jacole Turner. After making an initial save, King picked up the rebound and easily scored.

Arizona United SC appeared to have the perfect opportunity to draw level 30 minutes into the match after the referee called a penalty on Switchbacks goalkeeper Devala Garrick for taking out Stisser while trying to reach a cross. Top took the penalty kick but was denied by Garrick.

The Switchbacks took advantage of the save, quickly countering on the play and eventually drawing a penalty of their on at the other end of the field. Switchbacks captain Luke Vercollone took the penalty kick and shot right as Turner dove left to make the match 2-0.

Colorado added one more goal just before the end of the half. Following an attempted corner, there was a mad scramble for the ball inside the box. The ball eventually fell to Switchbacks forward Mike Seth and he buried the chance a foot outside the mouth of the goal

Arizona United SC falls to 3-3-0 while Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC improves to 3-3-0. Arixona United SC plays it’s next match on Saturday, May 9 at Scottsdale Stadium at 7:30 p.m. against Tulsa Roughnecks FC. 

For additional ticketing information that includes season tickets and mini-game plans, contact the Arizona United SC front office by calling 623-594-9606 or email at info@arizonaunited.com. Additionally, all Arizona United SC home matches include free parking.

For more information on Arizona United Soccer Club, follow the team on Facebook www.facebook.com/ArizonaUnitedSoccer,  Twitter @AZUnitedSC and Instagram @AZUnitedSC.

Match: Arizona United Soccer Club vs Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
Date: May 2, 2015
Competition: USL
Venue: Scottsdale Stadium
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. PT
Weather: Cloudy, 70 degrees
Attendance: 3,088

Scoring Summary:
CO – Aaron King – 4th minute
CO – Luke Vercollone – 33rd minute
CO – Saeed Robinson – 45th minute
AZ – Jonathan Top (assist: Brad Stisser) – 50th minute
AZ – Jose “Chiva” Cuevas- 90th minute

Misconduct Summary:
CO – Josh Phillips (caution) – 3rd minute
AZ – Jonathan Top (caution) – 5th minute
CO – Shintaro Harada (caution) – 22nd minute
CO – Devala Gorrick (caution) – 31st minute
CO – Miguel Gonzalez (caution) – 41st minute
CO – Shintaro Harada (second caution – RED) – 52nd minute
CO – Saeed Robinson (caution) – 69th minute
CO – Josh Phillips (caution – RED) – 71st minute
AZ – George Malki (caution) – 81st minute
CO – Kleynar Bejarano (caution) – 81st minute
AZ – Alex Shinsky (caution) – 89th minute
CO – Royn Argueta – 90th minute

Lineups:

Arizona United SC: Jacole Turner, George Malki, Tyler Ruthven (Robbie Derschang 86′), Rob Valentino, Scott Morrison (Alex Shinsky 67′), Joey Dillon (Milton Blanco 76′), Jose “Chiva” Cuevas, Jonathan Top, Danny Garcia (Dennis Chin 52′), Long Tan, Brad Stisser

Substitutions not used: Carl Woszczynski, Devon Grousis, Brock Granger

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC: Devala Gorrick, Kleynar Bejarano (Carlos Contreras 90′), Josh Phillips, JJ Greer, Taylor Hunter, Shintaro Harada, Luke Vercollone, Mike Seth (Davy Armstrong 83′), Miguel Gonzalez (Rony Argueta 54′) , Aaron King (Jordan Burt 63′), Saeed Robinson (Jamie McGuiness 74′)

Substitutions not used: Samir Badr, Kevin Durr