Ian McClintock

The Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC didn’t just pull off a surprise on Tuesday night, they delivered a performance that left no room for doubt.

In a commanding and comprehensive showing, the Switchbacks dismantled Sporting Kansas City 3-0. It earned the club’s first-ever win over a Major League Soccer opponent and advanced to the Round of 16 in the US Open Cup for the first time in franchise history.

The result also etched an unwanted mark for Sporting Kansas City, whose three-goal defeat stands as the largest loss to a non-MLS side in club history.

It is also just the 9th game in the US Open Cup’s Modern Era where an MLS team has lost by three or more goals (SEE TABLE BELOW).

Despite the scoreline’s shock value on paper, the numbers — and the eye test — tell a different story.

From the outset, Colorado Springs dictated the tempo, matching Sporting Kansas City in possession (50.8-49.2%) while being far more purposeful with the ball. The Switchbacks consistently turned buildup into chances, finishing with 16 shot attempts compared to just seven for the visitors.

That attacking intent paid off early.

In the 11th minute, Juan Tejada opened the scoring with a composed finish from the center of the box, converting a precise setup from Sadam Masereka. It was the first of seven shots on target for Colorado Springs — five more than Sporting Kansas City managed all night.

The early breakthrough set the tone, and the Switchbacks never looked back.

Colorado Springs continued to apply pressure through wide play and set pieces, forcing Sporting Kansas City into uncomfortable defensive sequences. The disparity showed not just in chances created, but in discipline — SKC committed 21 fouls on the night, more than double the Switchbacks’ nine.

That pressure culminated in the 31st minute.

Masereka, already influential in the buildup, found himself on the scoresheet with a well-placed right-footed finish into the bottom right corner. The goal doubled the lead and reflected Colorado Springs’ growing control, both tactically and physically.

By halftime, the Switchbacks had created more chances, earned more corners (6-1), and forced more saves, with John Pulskamp already called into action multiple times.

Looking to shift momentum, Sporting Kansas City made several second-half changes, but sustained pressure remained elusive.

Dejan Joveljić provided one of the few threats, forcing a pair of saves from Christian Herrera, who finished the night with two stops to secure the clean sheet. In contrast, Pulskamp was forced into four saves, underscoring the volume and quality of chances Colorado Springs generated.

Despite the near-even possession, the effectiveness couldn’t have been more different.

Any lingering hope for a Sporting Kansas City comeback dissolved in the 78th minute.

Shapi Suleymanov was shown a red card for violent conduct, one of three yellow cards and a red issued to SKC on the night. The dismissal reduced the visitors to 10 men and served as a fitting reflection of a frustrating evening defined by fouls and lost composure.

From there, the match tilted fully in Colorado Springs’ favor.

With the numerical advantage, the Switchbacks capitalized once more.

In the 83rd minute, substitute Khori Bennett capped the performance with a clinical finish from the center of the box, pushing the scoreline to 3-0. It was the exclamation point on a night where Colorado Springs outplayed their MLS opponents in nearly every measurable category.

Even late, the Switchbacks pressed for more, nearly adding a fourth as Tejada narrowly missed from distance in stoppage time.

In a deeper look, the old adage of “numbers never lie,” couldn’t ring more true.

For a match that might be labeled an “upset,” the statistical profile paints a different picture:

• Possession: Nearly even, but more effective for Colorado Springs (50.8-49.2%)
• Shots: 16-7 advantage for the Switchbacks
• Shots on target: 7-2 in favor of Colorado Springs
• Corners: 6-1, highlighting sustained attacking pressure
• Fouls: 21 committed by Sporting Kansas City, a sign of defensive strain
• Cards: three yellow and one red for SKC, compared to just one yellow for Colorado Springs

In short, the Switchbacks didn’t just win, they controlled every meaningful aspect of the match.

For Colorado Springs, this victory represents a breakthrough on multiple fronts: a signature win over top-flight opposition, a historic advancement in the US Open Cup, and a performance that signals the club’s continued growth. Next up for the Switchbacks, a date in Commerce City with Colorado’s MLS team, the Colorado Rapids.

For Sporting Kansas City, it’s a sobering result — one defined by inefficiency in attack, lapses in discipline, and an inability to match the urgency of their opponent.

This wasn’t chaos. This wasn’t luck. It was control, execution, and belief, all backed by the numbers and proven on the field.

Call it historic. Call it dominant. Call it deserved.

Just don’t call it a cupset.