Déjà vu wasn't kind to the Colorado Switchbacks on Saturday. After gaining an early lead, the Switchbacks conceded two goals to host Birmingham Legion FC in similar fashion and fell 2-1 in Alabama. Birmingham leveled the match seconds before the end of the half in stoppage time.
Switchbacks keeper Christian Herrera saved a shot from midfielder Kobe Hernandez-Foster, but couldn't hold on to the ball and fellow midfielder Dawson McCartney was there for the second attempt and the score. Then in the 85th minute, Legion forward Stefano Pinho scored on a rebound off a Herrera save for the lead. The result snaps a two-game skid for Legion FC.
The Alabama club entered Saturday conceding six times to just one score in its previous two outings. Legion FC also slowed down the Switchbacks' attack. The Switchbacks trailed their opponents in shots for the first time in three matches.
Over that span Colorado Springs outshot opponents by more than a 2-to-1 margin. The Switchbacks seemed to be on track to earn their third consecutive win after midfielder Zach Zandi picked up right where he left off a little over a week ago to begin the match. Zandi missed on a chance in the ninth minute.
But he was sure-footed two minutes later when he put a shot past Birmingham keeper Trevor Spangenberg. The score is his second in as many games. Forward Jonas Fjeldberg recorded the assist, his first of the season.
The Switchbacks (8-7-3) will have to learn quickly from Saturday's defeat as next week they.