COLORADO SPRINGS (DA) — Curaçao international Jürgen Locadia left with an apparent right hamstring injury as Miami FC suffered a 2-0 defeat to Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on Wednesday night at Weidner Field.
Locadia went down in the second half and was replaced by Mason Tunbridge in the 72nd minute. The forward had Miami’s first dangerous attempt after halftime, but his left-footed shot from outside the penalty area was blocked in the 52nd minute.
Fellow Curaçao international Eloy Room played the full match and kept Miami level until the closing stages. The goalkeeper denied Adrien Pérez, Brennan Creek, Jonas Fjeldberg and Sadam Masereka before Colorado Springs finally broke through.
Khori Bennett opened the scoring in the 79th minute, heading Sam Williams’ cross into the net from close range following a corner. Bennett struck again during second-half stoppage time, finishing a counterattack after receiving a pass from Masereka.
The brace moved Bennett into a tie for the USL Championship lead with 11 goals this season and helped the Switchbacks climb to fourth place in the Western Conference.
Miami’s best opportunity came in the 55th minute when Rodrigo da Costa directed Matías Romero’s cross on target, but goalkeeper Colin Shutler made the save. Joel Soñora also sent a late free kick narrowly over the crossbar.
Miami FC will return to Pitbull Stadium for consecutive matches against Eastern Conference opponents Tampa Bay Rowdies and Detroit City FC.