Ricardo Perez, on loan from the Rapids, played the full 90 minutes for Colorado Springs Switchbacks on Saturday at Rio Tinto Stadium, in a tough 5-2 loss at Real Monarchs SLC in the USL.
The Switchbacks took the lead on 25 minutes, when Josh Suggs followed up to score after Aaron King’s initial spot kick was blocked.
After that, though, it was the home team in control. They hit four unanswered, including three in six second-half minutes, before Michael Gallagher was sent off for a second bookable offense with almost half an hour left to play.
Daniel Haber added a fifth for the Monarchs, with Kevaughn Frater snatching a consolation for the visitors three minutes from time.
This was a fifth appearance (all starts) for Perez in the colors of the Switchbacks, but only the second in which he has gone the distance.
The Switchbacks sit sixth in the Western Conference, on 13 points (3-4-4), but have played more games than any other team. After three away games on the bounce, the Switchbacks head home on Saturday to tackle Reno 1868 FC.
Charlotte Independence, the Rapids’ USL affiliate, were without a game last weekend. They next head to Orlando City B on Saturday for their first match since crushing defending champions New York Red Bulls 2 back on May 11 by five goals to one.
The Independence are next-to-bottom of the Eastern Conference, with a 2-2-2 record, but they have between two and four games in hand on all other teams.
