Colorado Super League: Fall 2020 - Week 8 Recap

TOP FOUR AMATEUR TEAMS IN THE STATE READY FOR 2019/20 COLORADO SUPER LEAGUE PLAYOFFS

october 14, 2020 | Colorado Super League

Centennial, Colo. - It’s been a long time coming for the top four amateur teams in the state, but playoffs are set and ready to crown the 2019/20 Colorado Super League Champion on Sunday, October 25th.

Colorado Super League, which kicked-off over a year ago on August 18, 2019, concluded it’s regular season this past weekend with several teams booking their ticket to playoffs and an opportunity to win $6,000 in cash prize. Initially, the 2019/20 season was scheduled to end in Spring 2020, but given the COVID-19 global pandemic, that was unable to happen. The year-round schedule was then pushed back and restarted this past August.

Heading into this final weekend of regular season play, FC Denver and Guadalajara were the only teams that had pretty much locked in their spots in the semifinals. Colorado Rush II had to win both of their remaining games, while GAM United FC had it in their own hands to qualify as well. As for Logroñes Denver SC, they needed to win and hope that GAM United FC lost one of their two remaining matches.

GAM United FC & Colorado Rush II ended up winning their make-up games on Thursday and Saturday against CFL Aurora FC and Union Jerez FC, respectively, leveling their opponents with 15 games even heading into Sunday for their 16th & final regular season game.

At the 9:00 am slot, FC Denver won by forfeit after Sunnyside FC showed up, but failed to field a full team for the match. With that result, FC Denver momentarily moved to first place in league standings. On the other field, Rush II took care of business and beat CD Camargo to secure their spot in the 2019/20 playoffs.

Following the morning games, Logroñes Denver SC was scheduled to play CFL Aurora FC and GAM United FC would face off against Guadalajara. Logroñes won in a convincing manner, but still needed to wait on the result between GAM United FC and Guadalajara.

GAM United FC vs Guadalajara

The mighty lions and los rojiblancos showcased an early snapshot of what the playoffs will look like. GAM United FC started off by dominating possession, while Guadalajara was being outplayed for the first fifteen minutes. It wasn’t until el rebaño switched formations and made player adjustments, that the game evened out. Both teams were having good spells of possession, creating chances and testing the opposing goalkeepers. Two of Colorado’s most talented creative midfielders in Zidani Baptiste pulled the strings for GAM, while Omar Valverde did the same for Guadalajara. Combining, creating and drawing fouls. It was GAM who stroke first though, as defender Thomas Broeker connected a shot on goal off a corner kick and with the confusion of two Guadalajara players in the goal line, scored right before halftime.

Five minutes into the second half, Guadalajara winger Jesus Cervantes beat his opponent in the box with speed and drew a penalty kick, giving his team a chance to tie the game. Longtime Guadalajara striker Stibe Torres stepped up to the spot and converted, making it 1-1. Prior to the penalty being taken, GAM United FC captain Inza Cisse was booked after showing excessive disagreement with the referee on the PK call.

Guadalajara continued to push the ball forward after the goal, similar to what GAM did in the first fifteen minutes of the game. The go-ahead goal would come for el rebaño after a beautifully orchestrated sequence of plays on the left flank that involved most of the Guadalajara side in the build-up. Near top of the box, Torres would put the ball on a platter for Valverde to add the finishing touch on a one-time hit from distance that would end up in the back of the net. GAM United goalkeeper got his hands on the ball, but ended up slipping across the goal line. With this result they were out from the playoff race and down to fifth place.

A few minutes later, another breakaway presented itself for Sammy Roche who managed to get the ball past GAM United defender Inza Cisse, who was left with no other option but to obstruct the Guadalajara striker. Cisse was shown a second yellow and the red card, missing the next game if GAM were to go trough to semis.

However; GAM did not go away. Their work rate improved, their coach demanded urgency from the sidelines, there was no tomorrow for them. Inside the pitch, the players picked it up, attacking every chance they could and applying pressure to Guadalajara players. With about five minutes before the final whistle, a ball was played behind the Guadalajara backline and into the box. A speedy GAM United player raced and got to the ball, at the same time the Guadalajara goalkeeper came out and met him right at the end-line as he was trying to make a play. There’s a collision between both opposing players in the box, and the center referee calls a penalty kick in favor of the mighty lions.

The playmaker, the No.10 for GAM United FC, Zidani Baptiste ended up impacting the ball past Gerardo Aguilar and into the net sending GAM United FC to the semifinals with a dramatic draw.

Tiebreakers & Point Reductions

With the point; Colorado Rush II, GAM United FC and Logroñes Denver all reached 31 points each, creating a three way tie. According to the official Colorado Super League Rulebook, Section 7.2-Tiebreakers; the criteria is 1) head-to-head results, 2) total goals “scored against”, 3) total goals “scored for”, 4) goal differential and 5) team with less red cards. With the criteria being properly applied in the “head-to-head”, GAM United FC and Colorado Rush II go through as they both beat Logroñes Denver SC during the regular season.

Another issue that was addressed at the end of the regular season was point reductions for teams showing poor misconduct throughout the year. Dating back to Game #12, Logroñes Denver SC had their coach dismissed from the match against Colorado Springs FC. According to Section 5.4 of the Colorado Super League Rulebook, “there will be a (1) point reduction in standings for coach dismissals”, hence the 30 points shown in the final regular season league standings for Logroñes Denver SC.

Final Seeding

The four semifinalists; FC Denver, Guadalajara, GAM United FC and Colorado Rush II, proved to be the most consistent teams throughout Fall 2019 & 2020, winning important games which would ultimately help them reach this stage.

FC Denver is entering the playoffs as the #1 seed with 35 points, while #2 Guadalajara follows with 34 points. GAM United FC and Colorado Rush II split “head-to-head” results, each taking one game throughout the course of the 2019-2020 season. However; GAM United FC will take the #3 seed for allowing less goals “scored against”, which is the second criteria in the league’s tiebreaker system. Colorado Rush II will then result in the #4 seed.

Fall 2020 | Week 8 | Scoreboard

final 2019-20 League Standings

2019/20 season | semi finals | Schedule

IN ACCORDANCE WITH COVID-19 GUIDELINES & REGULATIONS, THERE WILL BE ABSOLUTELY NO FANS ALLOWED. GAMES WILL BE RECORDED AND WILL BE AVAILABLE TO FANS/PUBLIC BY TUESDAY. NOTE: GAMES WILL NOT BE PLAYED WITH FANS PRESENT.

#1 FC Denver vs #4 Colorado Rush II / 9:30 am / DVRP #2

#2 Guadalajara vs #3 GAM United FC / 1:00 pm / DVRP #2

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