The Swope Park Rangers (14-7-6, 4th place) are back in action this weekend when the side travels to take on Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (9-11-8, 10th place) at 7 p.m. CT on Saturday at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
The Rangers can clinch a playoff berth with a victory this weekend, and can also do so in several other scenarios. SPR will clinch a spot in the 2017 USL Cup Playoffs in the following instances:
- Orange County SC loss on Friday OR
- Swope Park Rangers win on Saturday OR
- Orange County SC draw on Friday AND a Swope Park Rangers draw on Saturday
The Rangers are coming off a stunning 5-2 victory over the best defensive team in the league, San Antonio FC, last Sunday at Swope Soccer Village. SPR dominated from start to finish, with Sporting KC Academy products stealing the show throughout the contest.
Nansel Selbol found the net twice for his first career brace, while fellow Sporting KC Academy products Felipe Hernandez and Max Rugova also found the net. Rugova’s strike was his first in a professional match, while newly signed Sporting KC forward Kharlton Belmar also netted his team-leading 11th goal of the season in the rout.
That inflicted just San Antonio’s third loss of the season in 27 games and marked the first time the Texas side had conceded more than two goals in a match.
Colorado Springs enter Saturday’s match looking to snap a five-game winless streak. The Switchbacks last took all three points in a USL match on August 8 when the side cruised to a 4-0 road win over Orange County SC. Since then, the team has gone 0-3-2, including last Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Seattle Sounders FC 2.
Henry Wingo gave Sounders FC 2 the lead in the first half before Jack Jones equalized for the Switchbacks moments before halftime as the two sides claimed a point apiece.
The Rangers are an unbeaten 1-0-1 against the Switchbacks in the two clubs’ brief all-time series. SPR stole a point from Weidner Field last season when Alex Molano curled home a stunning injury-time free kick to make the final score 1-1 before the Rangers came from behind to take a 2-1 win at Swope Soccer Village earlier this season behind goals from Liam Doyle and Christian Duke.
Game 28
Date: Saturday, September 23, 2017
Kickoff: 7 p.m. CT
Location: Weidner Field (Colorado Springs, Colo.)
Swope Park Rangers: 14-7-6 (48 pts), 4th in Western Conference
MLS Affiliate: Sporting Kansas City
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC: 9-11-8 (35 pts), 10th in Western Conference
MLS Affiliate: None
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Live Stream: The game will be broadcast on YouTube.com/USL
SOCIAL TAGS
Game-specific hashtag: #COSvSPR
Swope Park Rangers
Twitter: @SwopeRangers
Instagram: @SwopeParkRangers
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
Twitter: @SwitchbacksFC
Instagram: @SwitchbacksFC
GAME NOTES
