Monterey Bay FC falls 1-0 to Colorado Springs as Switchbacks clinch a playoff berth at Cardinale

Monterey Bay FC lost 1-0 to Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on Saturday night at Cardinale Stadium in Seaside, a result that clinched a USL Championship playoff berth for the visitors with one round of the regular season left to play.

Juan Tejada scored the only goal in the 28th minute. Isaiah Foster delivered a cross and Tejada directed the ball into the bottom right corner of the net from inside the six-yard box, according to the Switchbacks' match report. It was Tejada's fourth goal of the regular season.

Cardinale Stadium, home of Monterey Bay FC, under the lights. Colorado Springs arrived needing a win to secure a playoff spot and got it, 1-0, on Juan Tejada's 28th-minute goal.

Bpluke01 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0) · Source

Colorado Springs carried the 1-0 lead through the second half and into the playoffs for a sixth consecutive season, the USL Championship reported. Goalkeeper Christian Herrera made two saves to record the shutout, his fourth clean sheet in the last five matches, according to the club report. Patrick Burner won 11 of his 16 duels and Talen Maples led Colorado Springs with seven clearances.

For Monterey Bay, the defeat changed nothing at the foot of the Western Conference. The Union went into the weekend out of the playoff picture and playing for pride over the final two matches of the season, after a 2-1 win at Orange County SC on Oct. 3, Monterey County Weekly reported in its match preview.

Monterey Bay FC forward Adam Larsson in training at Cardinale Stadium. The Union close the regular season at home on Saturday, Oct. 24, against Las Vegas Lights FC.

Kiera Winslow / Monterey Bay FC (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Source

Monterey Bay closes the regular season at Cardinale Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 24, against Las Vegas Lights FC. Colorado Springs finishes the same day at home at Weidner Field against FC Tulsa.