Hello and welcome to the blog’s live coverage of Oakland Roots visiting Detroit City at Keyworth Stadium in Hamtramck. It’s marks another rematch of the 2020 NISA Fall Cup Final, which DCFC won 2-1. Today is the two sides’ third meeting in the USL Championship, both teams are looking for its first league victory against each other after finishing to 1-1 draws in 2022 and 2023.
Oakland comes into the night at 2-1-3 and eighth place in the USLC’s Western Conference. Following a dreadful three-game losing streak, Roots are starting to look like they are finding form after its 3-2 win over El Paso and 2-1 win over El Farolito in U.S. Open Cup with its batch of Project 51O promotions. Detroit, meanwhile, are playing extremely well under former Sacramento assistant Danny Dichio and are tied for second in the East.
In today’s match preview, Bloom points out Detroit’s record is a bit inflated by their quality of opponent thus far. He names
Detroit City are 4-0-0 with seven goals scored and only three goals conceded. Maybe they have only played bad teams? Actually, yeah, that’s basically true. They have played Switchbacks (last in the West), Loudoun (7th in the East), Indy (11th in the East), and North Carolina (8th in the East). That is, they have only beaten one team with a better record than the Roots (and Loudoun’s 2-1-2 isn’t much better than the Roots’ 2-1-3).
Initial Takeaways
- Detroit killed them. They looked dangerous on every counter and every time they went forward. I thought Roots had some dangerous moments in the first half and I like that Oakland was pressing in the opponent’s defensive area, but it left them super susceptible going backwards. DCFC is undefeated and proved their clinicality. It was honestly difficult to see Roots getting points in Detroit.
- It was interesting to see Etsgar start and the emphasis on youth development even in league games, but I don’t hate it. It looks like the page is turning on Lindo Mfeka, and if it is, I’m fine Etsgar getting premier minutes and start more often. I think Esgar and Ilya Alekseev represent the organization’s best chance at transferring a player for money–which is the name of the game. It doesn’t look like the pro game is too much for them, and although you’re bound to see some inconsistent moments with them, it feels getting them time should be a priority. In the end, I’m for it.
- Gagi Margvelashvili’s red card leaves Roots in a tough spot, especially with Camden Riley dealing with an injury. With Gagi and Hackshaw out, it looks like it will be a rotation of Rasmussen at LCB, Logue centrally, Tamacas at RCB again. It leaves tough decisions at wingback with Njie still with one game left on his suspension. Potentially Ilya Alekseev will start again at RWB with Memo on the left.
- All that being said, next week at home against Colorado Springs is a very winnable game and Roots should still expect to take the three points. Colorado is still looking for its first win of the season and play today against Indy Eleven. If Roots can pull off the expected victory, it creates some good momentum going into May.
Starting Lineup
- Oakland Roots Starting 11
It was difficult to predict who exactly would play in today’s game and the starting lineup reflects that. Johnny Rodriguez starts, as expected, but Etsgar Cruz starting alonside him is a big surprise. He makes his first professional start. Jeciel Cedeño at CAM, while Irakoze Donasiyano and Danny Gomez in the midfield was largely expected. Bryan Tamacas makes another appearance at RCB, allowing Memo Diaz to start at RWB. Rasmussen moves in at LWB with Njie suspended and Memo on the left. The back line features Gagi central and Logue on his natural left side as well.
- Detroit City Starting 11
Timeline
GAME TIME!!!! Can Oakland Roots get the job done in a difficult away environment?
Roots free kick – 3′
Memo longball punched out
Detroit corner – 6′
Headed out of box but Detroit retained. Shot goes high.
Detroit scores – 8′
Bad giveaway by Danny Gomez leads to a Detroit counter, shot by Ben Morris goes in.
Roots corner – 11′
Johnny shot on counter blocked out.
Cedeño move into box, pass centrally blocked- 15′
Maybe had a shooting lane, passed it up
Koze header on target, not a lot of heat on it – 18′
Good pressing by Roots to not let Detroit out and retain possession.
Roots free kick – 24′
About 20 yards outside of area, taken quickly. Leads to nothing.
Detroit penalty kick – 25′
Yellow on Tamacas. Good counter, Tamacas makes contact on the ankle slightly. Soft but sells it well.
Rodriguez scores. It’s 2-nil
annnnd the feed is down- 29′
Paul big save, tips shot over the bar – 36′
Paul’s 300th save
Johnny pushed in the back in box, no call – 45+4′
First half notes:
Roots trail 2-nil but haven’t looked terrible. Bad giveaway on the first goal and a penalty on the second, which was also on a counter. Oakland wants to press, but it leaves them susceptible going backwards.
Roots with 3 shots, 1 on target and 56 percent possession. Detroit with 6 shots, 3 on target, converted 1 big chance.
Detroit killer counter attack, it’s over – 52′
Not good tracking back. Bazerra with a killer finish.
Reid of for Etsgar – 55′
Another giveaway, Bazerra shot wide – 56′
Reid giveaway
ROOTS GOAL – 57′
Rasmussen with a goal, ball across the face by Gomez
Johnny shot out for a corner. Wish Rasmussen or Johnny would’ve shot earlier – 60′
corner leads to nothing
Gagi second yellow, red card – 60′
Roots corner – 66′
Roots free kick – 68′
leads to a corner, near an own goal
Roots corner- 69′
Ilya coming on for Rasmussen – 73′
Tamacas clears shot off line – 74′
Johnny open in front, Memo pass just misses him for header- 75′
Cedeno shot on target from distance, easily handled – 76′
Detroit wide open header in front sails – 80′
Ali for Gomez and Chery for Johnny – 80′
Detroit corner – 82′
Detroit corner – 88′
Detroit corner – 90′
Roots corner – 90+2′
Roots corner- 90+3′
targets far post, misses Tamacas
Detroit nearly scores again