Seven players on loan from the Colorado Rapids saw time in the USL over the past week, including the returning Caleb Calvert, and Kip Colvey.
Calvert, who had not featured since May 6, came off the bench for the Rapids’ USL affiliate, Charlotte Independence in their 1-0 home win over Nashville SC last Wednesday.
This was Charlotte’s first win and first shutout in eight games, against a Nashville side which would have risen to fourth in the Eastern Conference had they triumphed. Victory lifts Charlotte back above the playoff line to eighth.
Other Rapids players to feature for the Independence included Andrew Dykstra, Sam Vines, and Ricardo Perez, who came off the bench with four minutes remaining. Calvert’s return was cut short, as he was sent off in stoppage time for violent conduct.
The Independence tackle two teams from the top four in the next few days. They travel to leaders FC Cincinnati on Wednesday, before playing at Louisville City FC on Saturday.
Colvey made his debut for Colorado Springs Switchbacks last Saturday, starting and playing the full game, which was a 1-0 home loss to Sacramento Republic FC. He was joined on the Weidner Field pitch by Rapids teammate Sam Hamilton.
Without a win in four, the Switchbacks are at home again on Saturday, when they host Tulsa Roughnecks.
Mike da Fonte and Phoenix Rising FC suffered a 4-0 loss at Fresno FC last weekend, having kept clean sheets in the previous five games. Their cause was not helped by the sending-off of Kevon Lambert just before the break, when 1-0 down.
Fresno also finished the game with 10, with Zachary Ellis-Hayden sent off six minutes from time for a second bookable offense, by which stage the outcome was assured.
Phoenix slipped from second to fourth in the Western Conference with this result, but will be confident of a more positive scoreline on Friday, when bottom side Seattle Sounders FC 2 head to Arizona.
