2019/20 Colorado Super League: Final Recap

¡Arriba Las Chivas! Guadalajara Defeat FC Denver 3-2 in 2019/2020 Colorado Super League Final Battle

december 15, 2020 | By Abbie Mood

Castle Rock, Colo. - The second season of the Colorado Super League was supposed to conclude in spring of 2020, but when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, everything shut down and the season was up in the air. Luckily, the league was able to resume in August and clubs played a total of 16 games in the 2019-2020 season. 

After playing the semi-final match on October 18, #1 seed FC Denver earned a spot in the finals by beating #4 Colorado Rush II by a score of 6-1. The #2-ranked Guadalajara played a close game with #3 GAM United FC, winning 2-1 in extra time. FC Denver and Guadalajara faced each other twice in the 2019/2020 season, with a 2-2 draw on August 25, 2019, and a 4-0 FC Denver win just over year later on August 30, 2020. 

The final match was originally postponed due to snow, but the two sides took to the pitch a week later at Phillip S. Miller Park in Castle Rock on November 1 to determine who would be the league champion. 

Despite going into the game missing four key players, including former Colorado Rapids Homegrown player Ricardo “Richie” Perez, and assist leader Juan “Junior” Miranda, Guadalajara bested FC Denver in the final with an exciting and hard-fought 3-2 victory. 

Chivas opened the scoring in the 6th minute, when Jovany Herrera sent a cross into the box that both the FC Denver defender and goalkeeper missed. Andres Robles was ready and waiting to blast a shot into the back of the net to put his side up early. 

FC Denver started to get into a groove and tried to get something going, but the momentum shifted back to Guadalajara and the red and white scored their second in the 29th minute. After a missed bicycle attempt by a teammate, Noe Rios took the shot from about 20 yards out and put it in the side netting.

Denver finally got on the board when Jordan Veillette got on the end of a set piece that dropped into the box and put his team back into the game in the 60th minute. 

Guadalajara responded a few minutes later in a play that started with a give-and-go from Jovany Herrera. After a couple of quick back heels at the top of the 18-yard box, Herrera got the ball back and took a shot that ricocheted off the post. Cesar Meza was there to clean up the rebound and increase Los Rojibrancos’ lead to 3-1. 

Denver fought until the very end, showing their strength on set pieces yet again when Keegan Lape scored off a corner kick in the 91st minute. 

But when the final whistle blew, Guadalajara was crowned champion and took home the $6,000 cash prize. 

The win was especially sweet for Josue Miranda, a midfielder who has been with Guadalajara since he was four years old. “I grew up here playing so coming back and winning my first adult title means a lot me,” he said after the game. “It’s bigger than just our name, it’s the shirt that we wear when we come out here and play.” 

Eric Fulton, FC Denver President, had nothing but praise for the Colorado Soccer Association. “I want to thank the CSA for providing the resources to conduct a top-level championship final. The CSA leadership's commitment to playing the final at a proper field, filming it (trying to livestream it) with top refs and a broadcasting crew demonstrates their commitment to the Colorado Super League,” he said. “While the result of the Championship Final didn't go our way, it was a great showcase for elite Colorado soccer.”

Watch the 2019/2020 Colorado Super League Final game highlights between FC Denver and Guadalajara below.

2019/20 Colorado Super League | final | Scoreboard

FC Denver - 2 60’ Jordan Veillette 91’ Keegan Lape (Josh Guzman)

Guadalajara - 3 6’ Andres Robles (Jovany Herrera) 29’ Noe Rios 68’ Cesar Meza

About Colorado Super League Colorado Super League is the state’s only recognized United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA) State Premier League. To learn more about Colorado Super League, visit www.coloradosoccer.org/colorado-super-league