Miami, Fla. (Saturday, April 2) – The Miami Football Club fell to Colorado Springs Switchbacks 2-1 at FIU Stadium on Saturday night. Despite the loss, Miami FC snapped a two-game scoreless streak.
Nine of the 11 players who started against Loudoun United started against Colorado Springs, with forward Kyle Murphy and midfielder Devon “Speedy” Williams returning to the starting lineup. Goalkeeper Jake McGuire, who earned Save of the Week honors last week, started for a third consecutive time.
It did not take long for the Switchbacks to resume their goalscoring spree. Captain Hadji Barry buried a shot from outside the box in the fourth minute.
Head coach Anthony Pulis had to make his first substitution in the 25th minute, with winger Christian Sorto coming off injured for Jamaica’s Lamar Walker. The 21-year-old had an early impact on the game, producing a shot after a solo run up the right flank.
The score at halftime was 1-0.
Miami started the second half on the front foot, with Murphy making an attempt on goal and hitting another off-target.
Two substitutions took place in the 60th minute, with center-back Ben Ofeimu coming on for defender Luca Antonelli and winger Josh Perez departing the pitch for forward Adonijah Reid. The substitution marked Ofeimu’s first appearance for the Miami FC.
Like Walker in the first half, Reid got off to a good start after being subbed onto the game. The Canadian forward hit the crossbar from a tight angle just three minutes after stepping on the field. However, MFC’s momentum was halted abruptly by Colorado Springs’ second goal of the night. Right-midfielder Michee Ngalina scored his third goal in three consecutive games.
Jamaican international Romeo Parkes was subbed on for midfielder Bolu Akinyode in the 72nd-minute and scored his first goal wearing Miami FC colors five minutes after. Frenchman Florian Valot lobbed a ball from a free-kick to the second post, and Parkes met it with his head to beat Colorado’s goalkeeper.
Parkes almost made it two goals in the 88th-minute, but a left-footed attempt from outside the 18-yard-box skimmed off the crossbar for a goal kick.
Miami had several chances in the final ten minutes, but the score remained 2-1 in favor of the Switchbacks.
Up next for Miami FC
Miami FC will play its first 2022 U.S. Open Cup game on Wednesday, April 6, at 7 p.m. ET. MFC will face Miami United, who defeated City Soccer in the U.S. Open Cup first round. The winner will most likely face Major League Soccer’s South Florida side Inter Miami CF in the third round of the Open Cup.
Click here to purchase tickets for Miami FC’s upcoming game against Miami United.
