Juan Tejada is far from the biggest player on the pitch, but he was the guy the Switchbacks needed in a figurative bar fight at Weidner Field.

Saturday night’s contest against Birmingham Legion FC featured red cards to both teams, 20 minutes of second-half stoppage time and an altercation between a fan and a visiting player. But Tejada’s score in the ninth minute of second-half stoppage time marked the Switchbacks’ second score in four minutes to complete a late 3-2 comeback win for Colorado Springs. 

In the deciding moment, Colorado Springs forward Adrien Perez’s free kick curved into the box, bounced off the head of Switchbacks captain Matt Mahoney and landed at the left foot of Tejada who put it in from just beyond the six-yard box. 

Just 13 minutes earlier, the Switchbacks were down 2-1 despite being up a man. 

Tejada came in a minute later. 

“I was coming in when (Birmingham’s) second goal came in and every single player had a belief that we’re gonna get a point (draw) minimum,” Tejada said. “Chances after chances, we were going to put it in but then (Perez) gets the second one and thank God, I got that one in the box and put it in. I’m very happy because that’s a wonderful way to help the team and we need these three points in the league.” 

Birmingham’s late advantage came off of a costly mistake from Switchbacks keeper Colin Shutler. The Switchbacks back line shut down a chance for the visitors and passed it to Shutler who attempted a pass out of the middle of the box. Legion FC forward Serge Ngoma pounced on the pass and put it in the back of the net. 

“I just had in my head that we were up a man, so gotta play out of everything, just find the open guy and it didn’t pull off and I’m very thankful that the guys really dug in and dug me out of hole,” Shutler said. 

Perez provided the first bit of relief for Shutler. Midfielder Tyreek Magee sent a pass into the box and Perez put a header past Birmingham keeper Trevor McMullen in the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time. 

Tejada’s ensuing goal made Shutler’s error a distant memory and led some fans to chant “zero points” at the Birmingham staff and players, referring to the fact that a loss yields no points toward league standings.

Those same fans were hollering at Switchbacks coach Alan McCann before Legion FC’s second score, asking him to put Tejada in because they knew he had the heart and the determination to make a game-winning play.

Tejada’s reputation precedes him as even before the season began, McCann singled out the Panamanian forward as a difference-maker who was often the catalyst behind big comebacks in preseason team scrimmages during training.

“I think it’s going to be basic to say the love for the game but I know and a lot of players that I’ve played with and coaches always tell me the energy that I bring coming in or playing it’s what characterizes the player I am,” Tejada said of his determination. “Honestly, I love coming in at Weidner Field just because I feel the love of the people. I can hear them pushing me to go and get something and so today that was the case.”

The Switchbacks were able to make the comeback thanks to a planned 11 minutes of stoppage time, resulting from a long delay in play after Birmingham players got into it with some fans in the southwest corner of the stadium. Legion FC players hopped the sideboards at Weidner Field to yell at the fans. Shortly after play resumed, the Switchbacks PA announcers reiterated the club’s policy on the use of racial slurs. 

Switchbacks officials had no comment regarding the incident following the match, but the club is investigating the matter internally.

As usual, Colorado Springs enjoyed a healthy advantage over its opponent in terms of attacking stats. The Switchbacks were able to apply continuous pressure in the second half after visiting forward Nico Brown, who scored the opening goal of the match in the 24th minute, was shown a straight red card in the 49th minute after a dangerous high kick to the face of Switchbacks defender Markhus “Duke” Lacroix. 

After Tejada scored the game-winning goal, Switchbacks defender Garven Metusala received a second yellow card and was sent off with a red in the 11th minute of second-half stoppage time. 

Metusala was instrumental in Saturday’s contest as he scored an equalizer for Colorado Springs at the end of the first half. He netted his second goal of the season off a header in the fourth minute of stoppage time in the first half.