COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (May 18, 2019) – New Mexico United got three points on Saturday night in their first ever road match at Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC. Kevaughn Frater scored a hat trick to win the game with some fantastic passing up the middle by the visitors.
Kevaughn Frater Brace: New Mexico United Defeat Colorado Spring Switchbacks FC
New Mexico showed their class and organization in the first half and were up 2-0 at halftime. Devon Sandoval, Frater, and Ken Akamatsu combining well in the first half. The team worked methodically through the midfield to create chances and tracked back into a low block 4-4-2 very well.
Frater opened the scoring in the 18th minute. Sandoval held the ball up in the box. It was tackled away but moved towards Frater who buried the chance. Against his former team, he kept the celebration to the minimal.
New Mexico United made it two in the 36th minute. The visitors beat the Switchbacks on an offside trap on a long ball. Andre Rawls made the initial save, but Frater ran unopposed and cleaned up the rebound.
The Boys in Black had some exciting moments on set pieces, crowding the box on in-swingers.
Colorado Springs scored in the 62nd minutes. Chaos ensued off a corner sent in by Ismaila Jome. The ball pinged around in the box before Alexander Molano sent the ball in. Mike Seth got a touch to it to send it past goalkeeper Cody Mizell and into the net.
The match was decided in the 75th minute. Frater got in behind the defense again on a clearance and ran on goal unopposed. Rawls was forced off his line. Frater rounded him and shot into the open net to complete his hattrick. The Swichbacks had some chances in the final minutes but couldn’t make a game of it. The match ended 3-1.
That's number 2 for our favorite Jamaican!
0:2| #COSvNM | #NMUnited pic.twitter.com/nhJ9U2tzUP
— New Mexico United (@NewMexicoUTD) May 19, 2019
Three Takeaways:
Frater burns former club: Kevaughn Frater was fantastic in this game, scoring the three goals.
Switchbacks midfield struggles: The Boys in Black midfield struggles on both sides of the ball. They struggled helping the center backs with picking up Frater and didn’t get the ball forward enough to feed Seth and create chances.
Rapids loaned players: Several Colorado Rapids played in this match. Rawls put in a good shift and couldn’t do much on the three goals. Matt Hundley came off the bench and did ok, with the team already down a man. Abdul Rwatubyaye made his Switchbacks debut and could have done better on the three goals.
