COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC rallied twice before falling 5-4 in the seventh round of a penalty shootout against the Colorado Rapids in the Round of 16 in the 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday night after the sides had played to a 2-2 draw through extra time at Dick’s Sports Goods Park.
The Rapids twice took the lead in the first half through Alexis Manyoma and extra time via Georgi Minoungou only for the Switchbacks’ Brennan Creek to answer before the halftime break and Khori Bennett to convert a 120th-minute penalty kick to send the game to a shootout.
After the two sides had exchanged goals in the opening two rounds, Colorado Springs’ Sam Williams was denied by Rapids goalkeeper Nicolas Hansen to open the third round. The hosts converted in the third and fourth round, but after Tyreek Magee scored for the Switchbacks to open the fifth, Minoungou hit the left post with his chance to seal the result for the Rapids.
The Switchbacks were unable to take advantage of a pair of reprieves, however, as Patrick Burner hit the right post to open the sixth round before Colorado Springs goalkeeper Christian Herrera saved from Josh Atencio to send the shootout on. When Jonas Fjeldberg was also denied by Hansen, however, the Rapids’ Keegan Rosenberry shot low to the left corner past the dive of Herrera to send the hosts through.
In regulation, the Switchbacks had an early escape as Colorado produced a swift move upfield that released Rafael Navarro into the left channel, but his finish past an advancing Herrera slid just wide of the left post. In a similarly incisive move, the Rapids took the lead in the 25th minute when Manyoma latched onto a pass by Navarro into the penalty area before sneaking a finish past Herrera.
The Switchbacks hit back in the 33rd minute, however, when a corner kick from the left by Adrien Pérez was kept alive at the near post by Garven Metusala before falling to Creek for a close-range finish for the visitors.
The game went to the halftime break level but the Rapids threatened again 11 minutes into the second half when a turnover in midfield allowed the host to spring forward with Darren Yapi, whose finish was cleared inside the six-yard area by Switchbacks defender Matt Mahoney.
Sadam Masereka and Creek had efforts for the Switchbacks as the second half progressed, but the visitors went up a player with 13 minutes to go when the Rapids’ Kosi Thompson was sent off for a hard foul on Yosuke Hanya. Despite that, Colorado applied pressure in the minutes that followed as Dante Sealy had a shot blocked behind as he and Minoungou threatened around the penalty area.
Herrera then made a key save in second-half stoppage time for the Switchbacks, denying Navarro from close range before Mahoney headed over the crossbar to clear the danger and send the game to extra time.
After a nervous start to the additional 30 minutes, the Switchbacks began to make their player-advantage turn into pressure. Both Magee and Aiden Rocha had efforts from just outside the penalty area blocked, while Juan Tejada sent a loose ball wide of the left post when it fell inside the six-yard area after a low cross by Fjeldberg wasn’t dealt with cleanly by the hosts.
Navarro had a chance for the Rapids in stoppage time of the first period of extra time as he got in behind the Switchbacks back line but was denied by a fine one-on-one save by Herrera. In the second period of extra time, however, Minoungou caught the Switchbacks on a long pass and flick-on by Navarro to get in behind the back line and finish cleanly into the right corner of the net.
With three minutes to go the Switchbacks were handed a lifeline as Atencio was ruled to have handled a cross by Williams inside the penalty area, sending the visitors to the spot. Bennett stepped up and slotted his shot low to the left corner to level the game in the 120th minute, sending the game to a shootout. From there, however, the Rapids held their nerve and earned victory from the spot.
Scoring Summary
COL – Alexis Manyoma (Rafael Navarro) 24’
COS – Brennan Creek (Garven Metusala) 34’
COL – Georgi Minoungou (Rafael Navarro) 114’
COS – Khori Bennett (penalty kick) 120’
Penalty Shootout
Colorado Rapids – Rafael Navarro, scored; Rob Holding, scored; Lucas Herrington, scored; Dante Sealy, scored; Georgi Minoungou, missed; Josh Atencio, saved; Keegan Rosenberry, scored
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC – Khori Bennett, scored; Juan Tejada, scored; Sam Williams, saved; Talen Maples, scored; Tyreek Magee, scored; Patrick Burner, missed; Jonas Fjeldberg, saved
