Hello and welcome to the blog’s live coverage of Oakland Roots visiting Colorado Springs Switchbacks. Oakland walks into the match on its first winning streak since last year, while Colorado has won four straight USL Championship matches going back to when they visited Roots at Pioneer Stadium.
Pending how the day’s results go, a win could catapult Oakland higher in the Western Conference. In today’s preview, Bloom highlights how Switchbacks results may be a bit inflated.
So Switchbacks enter on a four-match winning streak, but all four victories over teams that the current Roots are probably better than: the Delgado Roots, El Paso (2-2-8), Hartford (4-0-6), and Rhode Island (1-7-3). That run of form has been lead by Ronaldo Damus, who has five goals in his last three league games, three of them penalties.
Initial Takeaways
- Stale second half
Roots had some dangerous looks in the first half with nine shots, including Reid hitting the woodwork, but only took four attempts in the second half. Colorado Springs struck early on a laser into the net and you definitely feel hard done by the rescinded penalty call but Oakland had a lot of time to respond.
The plan just didnt seem to connect in the second half. It seemed like the large plan as the game continued was frequent long balls out of the back, but the passes weren’t landing.
- Couldn’t execute
Oakland had some chances but couldn’t find the finishing touch. Tamacas had a shot narrowly go high in the first half, then Reid had a beautiful curling shot ring off of the crossbar. There were also some dangerous crosses out front, like from Rasmussen to Riley, but he couldn’t get a foot on it.
In the second half, it looked like the plan was to just bomb it long, but Oakland couldn’t create at a consistent level. The defense did the job shutting down COS’ attack, for the most part, so you would’ve liked to see some challenging looks.
- Reid still looks dangerous
Although there were definitely some things to clean up today, Trayvone Reid continues to look like Roots’ most dangerous player. He seems to offer most when attacking the net right now, showing willingness to pull up from distance.
He still needs to correct some things, but he continues to look like a must-start.
- International duty looms
With World Cup Qualifiers starting next week, meaning Bryan Tamacas, Neveal Hackshaw, and Koze Donasiyano will be missing time.
El Salvador plays on Jane 6, June 9 and June 14. With important national team matched for Tamacas, it wasn’t a surprise to see him come off at half.
Hackshaw and T&T play two matches, June 5 and June 8.
Koze joins Burundi for matches on June 7 and June 11.
Starting Lineup
- Oakland Roots Starting 11
It’s a 4-2-3-1 with Chery leading the attack once again, while Lindo Mfeka gets the start at CAM. Reid to the left and Cedeño kicks out wide to the right. Donasiyano and Riley pair in the CM spot, including a back-four of Rasmussen, Hackshaw, Margvelashvili, and Tamacas.
Timeline
GAME TIME!!! Can Roots continue ascending?
Pierra scores a rocket from distance for COS – 2′
Damus header on target – 5′
Roots penalty overturned – 12′
Ball in by Reid made contact with Zandy, but call overturned
Reid shot narrowly wide – 15′
Cedeño shot blocked – 19′
Reid shot wide – 25′
Riley header wide – 33′
Reid header wide – 33′
Tamacas shot tipped over – 37′
Reid hits woodwork – 42′
First half notes:
Roots trail early but have had chances. Tamacas had a shot narrowly high, Reid hit the woodwork and had some looks go narrowly wide. Oakland has 9 shots but none on target, nearly 60% possession. COS with 7 shots, 3 on target.
Memo on for Tamacas – 46′
Roots corner – 46′
leads to another
Roots corner – 47′
trickles out, Roots retain
COS botched counter attack – 48′
COS counter blocked out for a corner – 51′
Dangerous counter
COS corner – 51′
leads to nothing
Memo goes for glory from past midfield – 56′
COS free kick –
On edge of area on the left side.
cleared out, starts long counter to Reid
Johnny on for Chery- 59′
Cedeño shot very wide- 61′
Reid bad pass kills nice counter – 64′
Roots corner – 65′
Reid cuts back to himself, I thought he had a shooting lane – 70′
Napo and Njie on – 70′
Reid and Lindo off
Roots free kick – 72′
About 12 yards above penalty area.
Njie shot tipped over the bar for a corner
Roots corner- 74′
Goes straight through, skimmed header
Damus scuffs open look – 77′
Johnny shot blocked – 79′
Roots corner – 80′