Hello and welcome, once again, to the blog’s live coverage of Oakland Roots taking on Birmingham Legion in Alabama. Roots travel to the No. 2 team in the Eastern Conference, looking to claim its first win in the last four matches.
Oakland hasn’t taken over two shots on target in the last four games and haven’t scored a goal from open play since the 3-nil win over Indy Eleven. Regardless of the scoring drought, coach Noah Delgado said the goals are on the way during our last conversation following the 0-0 tie with Miami.
“We had some good chances and some good looks throughout the game. We had service in the box to dangerous areas. It felt like a goal was coming, I felt the team was playing well enough and creating enough chances. There were a couple of deflections where I thought they were going to go in and find their way. But credit tot he boys for getting the shutout defensively, I think that’s important. Just creating chances, playing well, and getting shutouts leads to bigger and better things,” said Delgado.
Bloom takes a look at Birmingham’s run of form coming into today’s match in his preview. His players to watch include Enzo Martinez, Neco Brett, and Alex Crognal.
Overall yes [they are good], but they are in a rough patch. Birmingham are 5-1-3, on the season, but that represents some cooling off from their blistering hot 3-1-0 start. Birmingham’s wins are over teams with a combined record of 5-11-15 (two wins over Hartford, who admittedly Oakland struggled with).
Initial Takeaways
- Roots finally break the scoring drought. Going into tonight’s game, Oakland hadn’t scored a goal from open-play since facing Indy Eleven back on April 8 nearly a month ago. Moreover, Oakland finally had more than two shots on target–something they haven’t done since April 8’s win. Roots finished with 14 shots, nine on target, hit the woodwork once, and had six big chances with three missed. Being a man-up undoubtedly was beneficial, but finding productivity in 11v10 isn’t always assured.
- Slow start for Oakland, but they got the job done. Going into the Roots’ goal in first-half stoppage time, nothing was looking overtly challenging for Roots, but Birmingham only had one shot on target through the first 45 minutes. Roots’ defense feels a little bend-don’t-break, but you can’t argue with results with two goals allowed in three games.
- Interesting decisions to start Darek Formella over Johnny Rodriguez and Anuar Pelaez, while it was also an intriguing choice to list Danny Gomez over Irakoze Donasiyano. That being said, I thought Gomez had a good game and did well executing the game plan. He wasn’t a game-breaker, but he wasn’t a liability in any instance.
- Roots came one goal away from setting a team scoring record. Regardless of being a man-up, Birmingham came in as the No. 2 ranked Eastern Conference–making this an impressive bounce-back performance. With Oakland’s current form, you couldn’t have convinced me Roots would put in four goals today and nearly bag a fifth with Pelaez late in the game.
Key Events
- ROOTS GOAL – 88′
Johnny Rodriguez drills it from about 10 yards above the penalty area, the ball deflects off Reveno and into net. His fourth goal of the year, third in the USL Championship.
- ROOTS GOAL – 71′
Birmingham stretched. Rito a shot on target falls perfectly to Trayvone Reid for his first goal in an Oakland Roots’ uniform.
- ROOTS GOAL – 63′
Formella steps up for the penalty kick, once again. Birmingham stops the initial shot, but Lindo crashes in for the rebound goal.
- Legion goal – 49′
Ball in from a free kick to Enzo Martinez, header goal. It’s tied.
- ROOTS GOAL – First half stoppage
Darek Formella slots home a PK to make it 1-nil going into halftime. Legion’s Kavita gets a second yellow for his handball. Oakland will have another 45 minutes up a man.
- Oakland Roots Starting 11
Formella starts, once again, in the 9-role. Pelaez and Johnny on the bench. Rito returns to right wing. Big surprise is Danny Gomez starting in the midfield. Kevin Wright gets the start at LB.
- Birmingham Legion Starting 11
Timeline
Gametime! Can Roots get back on track? They have a tough task against a top Eastern Conference foe.
Danny Gomez shot on target from distance – 2′
Legion shot blocked – 8′
Lopez shot high for Birmingham – 14′
From about 8 yards above penalty area.
Birmingham shot narrowly wide by Lopez – 17′
Birmingham controlling action, keeping it in Oakland’s zone.
Roots corner – 23′
Rito draws the corner.
Collin Smith shot on target from distance for Legion – 27′
Birmingham corner – 27′
Roots corner – 31′
Lindo ball in claimed.
Formella shot deflected out for a corner – 39′
Finally some action for Oakland.
Lindo ball in cleared.
Oakland looks dreadful moving in transition – 41′
Rito closed out by the keeper, ball deflects out for a corner – 42′
Birmingham comes way out of the box, fouls Rito.
Roots corner – 43′
Ball trickles around and falls to Hackshaw, gets a foot on it but its was never a challenge. Went wide.
ROOTS DRAW A PK – Stoppage
Rito shot goes into Kavita, who already had a yellow. Birmingham goes down a man and Roots go tot he spot.
ROOTS GOAL – Stoppage
Formella with a great PK, Roots go up 1-nil going into halftime.
First half notes:
It honestly wasn’t going very well prior to Oakland’s penalty kick goal. Roots have 6 shots with 3 on target, mostly playing out of their back with long balls into space. It hasn’t been the most effective, but Rito was able to get free, leading to his shot. Birmingham with 5 shots, 1 on target.
Legion free kick – 47′
Foul on Kevin Wright, he gets a yellow.
Ball in to Enzo Martinez, header goal. It’s tied.
Legion draws a corner – 52′
Birmingham pressing forward despite being down a man.
Roots corner – 55′
Rito sends it centrally, deflects out the back–nearly an own goal.
Lindo ball to Hackshaw, header sails.
Tamacas on the ground, holding his ankle area – 58′
Tamacas pulled down, PENALTY KICK – 63′
Formella steps up, once again. Birmingham stops the initial shot, but Lindo crashes in for the rebound goal.
Legion’s Kasim shot trickles wide – 68′
Formella shot on target from distance – 69
Trayvone botches counter attack – 70′
Had Formella asking for it in the center of the area, but he tried to do it on his own.
ROOTS GOAL – 71′
Birmingham stretched. Rito a shot on target falls perfectly to Trayvone Reid for his first goal in an Oakland Roots’ uniform.
Memo on for Tamacas – 74′
Kasim shot deflects wide for Legion – 82′
Johnny and Pelaez coming on for Lindo and Formella – 85′
ROOTS GOAL – 88′
Johnny Rodriguez drills it from about 10 yards above the penalty area, the ball deflects off Reveno and into net. His fourth goal of the year, third in the USL Championship.
Pelaez puts one wide, good counter attack. Nearly a team scoring record.