Hello and welcome to the blog’s live coverage of Oakland Roots visiting Indy Eleven, coming to you from Homegrown Hooligans’ watchparty at Cato’s Ale House on Piedmont Ave. Roots appear to be in a solid run of form coming off a 1-0 win over New Mexico and 3-1 U.S. Open Cup win versus El Farolito, a win today would come against a solid Eastern Conference foe.
Anuar Pelaez gets the start up top, receiving his second consecutive USL Championship cap. Oakland enters the night with the same back line as what featured against New Mexico after players like Bryan Tamacas and Neveal Hackshaw featured for 90 minutes against El Farolito.
Indy Eleven enter the match with a 1-2-0 record and bring a cast of players with a lot of experience in the league. Noah Delgado mentioned how Indy has a tendency to possess the ball with its midfield, so it will be interesting to see what the Oakland gaffer has planned.
“It’ll require a lot of hard work, Indy is a very talented team. They have a very good midfield and keep the ball for most of the game,” said Delgado.
Bloom named USL Championship veterans like Aodhan Quinn, Sebastian Guenzatti, Samuel Asante, Jack Blake, and Cameron Lindley as his players to watch.
Aodhan Quinn has been top three in minutes for his teams–Orange County (18-20) and Phoenix Rising (21-22)–for five straight years… Guenzatti played for Tampa from 2017 to 2022, scoring 59 goals in those six seasons, including a 21 goal campaign in 2021… Asante moved to Indy Eleven last season after four productive years at Phoenix Rising. Asante had a disappointing 2022 scoring once and contributing six assists… English central/right-sided midfielder Blake joined Indy this offseason from San Diego Loyal… Lindley is a more deep-lying midfield…
https://oaklandrootsblog.com/2023/04/07/indy-11-vs-oakland-roots-match-preview-april-8-2023/
Man of the Match – Darek Formella & Lindo Mfeka
We nominate Darek Formella and Lindo Mfeka as our joint Man of the Match recipients given both were critical parts of the opening two goals. In Mfeka’s opening goal in the 43rd, Formella was situated opportunely to jump on a loose ball, sending a perfect pass over the top to Lindo charging through the back line. The South African gathered the ball by heading it past the keeper and could’ve easily walked it in.
The goal in the 71st was another product of the two. This time, Mfeka forced a turnover deep in Indy’s own penalty area, and then unloaded a shot on target. Mfeka’s shot was saved off of Oettl’s foot but rebounded perfectly to Formella. With his first touch, he slotted it home.
Initial Takeaways
- Roots might be good? This is a great result against a Eastern Conference playoff contender with some of the expected starting lineup still on the subs list, like Hackshaw and Tamacas. It shows how creative Noah Delgado can be with the players he has available.
- The result also shows Delgado is a strategic planner. He knew Indy was coming in as a possessive group and they did just that by holding 63 percent of possession, but Delgado was able to find a neutralizing effect to Eleven’s system. Oakland was effectively able to work the ball into space with long balls, while Rito’s goal to end the game was on a counter attack to kill the game. I called for a Rito goal to kill the game in the match preview.
- Honestly, it’s hard to call that Roots’ best performance of the season. They missed Rito charging down the right side on numerous occasions and it seemed to frustrate our 2022 Player of the Year, but he converted his shot attempt when it mattered. It was still a very strong performance, notably from midfielders Irakoze Donasiyano and Joseph Nane.
Key Events
- ROOTS GOAL – 75′
Joseph Nane with a PERFECT pass over the top to Rito on a counter attack. He chips the keeper for the goal, its ooooooover.
- ROOTS GOAL – 71′
Lindo steals a ball high, takes a shot that is saved off of the keeper. Formella follows up with the shot and goal. His first of the year.
- ROOTS GOAL – 43′
LINDO COULD’VE WALKED IT IN! Formella with a perfect ball over the top to Lindo.
- Oakland Roots Starting 11
Anuar Pelaez gets the start up top, earning another opportunity to show how his physical play can impact games. I’m excited to see if Johnny can land a second-half blow, yet again.
Bryan Tamacas and Neveal Hackshaw get the start, providing fans its first look at Oakland’s top grouping for its backline. Memo Diaz gets the start at left back ahead of Kevin Wright, not much of a surprise there. Same goes for Darek Formella at left wing, who has proven he’s the man for the job so far through three matches. Surprisingly, Napo is out of the 18, he must still be dealing with an injury.
- Indy Eleven Starting 11
Timeline
Gametime! Oakland Roots look to keep its good run of form and take three points back to California. Can they get the job done? Scroll down for all the latest updates.
Anuar Peláez (Oakland Roots) header from the centre of the box is saved in the center of the goal. – 7′
Peláez right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. – 11′
Indy’s Blake right footed shot from the center of the box is blocked – 21′
Indy shot blocked – 25′
Sebastián Guenzatti header from the right side of the six yard box is close – 27′
Roots free kick – 30′
Leads to nothing.
Pelaez misses header, nice pass by Memo – 30′
Bad attempt.
Koze shot blocked – 31′
Pelaez called offside in good area. Kills a possible counter – 38′
Indy easy shot on target to Paul – 41′
Roots free kick – 42′
Cleared.
ROOTS GOAL – 43′
LINDO WALKS IT IN! Formella with a perfect ball over the top to Lindo.
First half notes:
Oakland makes it 1-0 with a goal by Lindo Mfeka after a perfect pass by Formella. Roots have six shots, three on target, two big chances and one missed. Indy has five shots, two on target, and 56 percent possession.
Roots stop solid counter attack – 49′
Bad interplay between Indy, but Roots did well to position themselves correctly.
Formella long cross goes to no one on a counter attack – 52′
Roots corner – 54′
Rito draws a corner on a cross blocked out.
Play to the near post leads to nothing.
Indy free kick on left side – 61′
Claim by Paul.
Dangerous ball cleared by Memo – 65′
Ball trickles through area on a low cross. Memo cleared it out, thankfully.
Lindo starts counter, by Pelaez with a weak shot. Would’ve liked to find Rito – 67
Johnny on for Pelaez – 68′
Memo can’t find Johnny on cross – 70′
Indecisive moments from Roots.
ROOTS GOAL – 71′
Lindo steals a ball high, takes a shot that is saved off of the keeper. Formella follows up with the shot and goal. His first of the year.
Paul with a big save – 72′
ROOTS GOAL – 75′
Joseph Nane with a PERFECT pass over the top to Rito on a counter attack. He chips the keeper for the goal, its ooooooover.
Emrah red card – 82′
Picks up a second yellow.
Indy free kick – 83′
Leads to nothing.
Indy shot high – 88′