The Colorado Springs Switchbacks settled for a 0-0 tie with OKC Energy on Sept. 5 at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs. Players from both teams kneeled during the national anthem and wore "Black Lives Matter" T-shirts to peacefully protest social and racial injustices. (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette)
The Colorado Springs Switchbacks took on the OKC Energy at home on Sept. 5, 2020. The match ended in a 0-0 tie after 90 minutes of back-and-forth action. Near the end of the match a confrontation broke out on the field between the two teams following a Switchbacks player getting knocked down after a play. (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette)
Colorado Switchbacks player Everardo Rubio kneels during the national anthem before the start of the match between the Switchbacks and the OKC Energy during the match on Sept. 5, 2020 at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs. (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette) (Forrest Czarnecki)Players from the OKC Energy team kneel and wear Black Lives Matters shirts during the national anthem before the start of the match between the Colorado Springs Switchbacks and the OKC Energy on Sept. 5, 2020 at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs. (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette) (Forrest Czarnecki)Charles Morrison, right, and his girlfriend, Sarah Ruble, left, share an embrace before the start of the match between the Colorado Springs Switchbacks and the OKC Energy on Sept. 5, 2020 at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs. Morrison and Ruble were dressed up as superheroes because they love superheroes and thought it would be fun. (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette) (Forrest Czarnecki)Seats are marked with social distance check marks as fans take their place before the start of the match between the Colorado Springs Switchbacks and the OKC Energy on Sept. 5, 2020 at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs. (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette) (Forrest Czarnecki)From left, Jesse Swonger, Sydra Swonger and Jonathan Swonger make their way to their seats before the start of the match between the Colorado Springs Switchbacks and the OKC Energy on Sept. 5, 2020 at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs. The Swongers were dressed as superheroes and Braveheart to support a campaign from the Children’s Hospital to dress like a superhero at Switchbacks games. (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette) (Forrest Czarnecki)Colorado Switchbacks left back Joan Cervos (2) tries to bump OKC Energy’s Zachary Ellis-Hayden (22) during the match on Sept. 5, 2020 at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs. The match ended in a 0-0 tie. (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette) (Forrest Czarnecki)Players from the Colorado Springs Switchbacks and the OKC Energy kneel at center field to peacefully protest social and racial injustices in the United States during the match on Sept. 5, 2020 at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs. The players kneeled at the seven minute mark until 8:47 of the match. The match ended in a 0-0 tie. (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette) (Forrest Czarnecki)Colorado Springs Switchbacks player Rony Argueta (6) reacts after being tripped during the match against the OKC Energy on Sept. 5, 2020 at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs. The match ended in a 0-0 tie. (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette) (Forrest Czarnecki)Colorado Switchbacks Hiroki Kurimoto (8) tries to put a move on some OKC Energy defenders during the match on Sept. 5, 2020 at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs. The match ended in a 0-0 tie. (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette) (Forrest Czarnecki)Colorado Springs Switchbacks player Rony Argueta (6) attempts to put the ball past an OKC Energy defender during the match on Sept. 5, 2020 at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs. The match ended in a 0-0 tie. (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette) (Forrest Czarnecki)Colorado Switchbacks player Christian Volesky (9) fights for a loose ball during the match against the OKC Energy on Sept. 5, 2020 at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs. The match ended in a 0-0 tie. (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette) (Forrest Czarnecki)Colorado Switchbacks player George Lebese (17) fights OKC Energy’s Joe Amico (5) for possession during the match on Sept. 5, 2020 at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs. The match ended in a 0-0 tie. (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette) (Forrest Czarnecki)OKC Energy’s Arun Basuljevic (10) pops the ball over Colorado Switchbacks player Hiroki Kurimoto (8) during the match on Sept. 5, 2020 at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs. The match ended in a 0-0 tie. (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette) (Forrest Czarnecki)Colorado Switchbacks goaltender Sean Melvin (1) makes a save during the match against the OKC Energy on Sept. 5, 2020 at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs. The match ended in a 0-0 tie. (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette) (Forrest Czarnecki)OKC Energy’s Jose Hernandez (8) reacts to a referee’s call during the match on Sept. 5, 2020 at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs. The match ended in a 0-0 tie. (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette) (Forrest Czarnecki)OKC Energy’s Nicolas Taravel trips Switchbacks’ Andre Lewis during a match on Sept. 5 at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs. (Forrest Czarnecki, The Gazette)OKC Energy’s Christian Ibeagha (8) reacts to a referee’s call during the match on Sept. 5, 2020 at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs. The match ended in a 0-0 tie. (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette) (Forrest Czarnecki)Colorado Switchbakcs player Andre Lewis (77) reacts after being tripped during the match on Sept. 5, 2020 at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs. The match ended in a 0-0 tie. (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette) (Forrest Czarnecki)OKC Energy’s Christian Ibeagha (4) winces as a teammate adjusts his leg after being knocked down during the match on Sept. 5, 2020 at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs. The match ended in a 0-0 tie. (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette) (Forrest Czarnecki)Colorado Switchbacks player Andre Lewis (77) bumps the ball down before making a pass during the match on Sept. 5, 2020 at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs. The match ended in a 0-0 tie. (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette) (Forrest Czarnecki)Zachary Ellis-Hayden (22) of the OKC Energy knocks down Switchbacks forward Luke Ferreira (10) during the match on Sept. 5, 2020 at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs. Ellis-Hayden was issued a red card on the play. (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette) (Forrest Czarnecki)Colorado Springs Switchbacks center back Arturo Diz Pe (16) gets in a confrontation with OKC Energy midfielder Jon Brown (26) after Switchbacks forward Luke Ferreira (10) was knocked down after a play by OKC Energy’s Zachary Ellis-Hayden (22) during the match on Sept. 5, 2020 at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs. Ellis-Hayden was issued a red card on the play. (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette) (Forrest Czarnecki)Switchbacks fans cheer as OKC Energy’s Zachary Ellis-Hayden (22) is issued a red card during the match on Sept. 5, 2020 at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs. Ellis-Hayden knocked down Switchbacks player Luke Ferreira (10) after a play had ended, and a larger confrontation between both teams followed shortly after. (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette) (Forrest Czarnecki)Players from the Colorado Springs Switchbacks and the OKC Energy confront each other after Switchbacks forward Luke Ferreira (10) was knocked down after a play by OKC Energy’s Zachary Ellis-Hayden during the match on Sept. 5, 2020 at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs. Ellis-Hayden was issued a red card on the play. (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette) (Forrest Czarnecki)OKC Energy’s Zachary Ellis-Hayden (22) reacts and leaves the field after being issued a red card during the match on Sept. 5, 2020 at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs. Ellis-Hayden knocked down Switchbacks player Luke Ferreira (10) after a play had ended, and a larger confrontation between both teams followed shortly after. (Forrest Czarnecki/The Gazette) (Forrest Czarnecki)
