Game day, Roots fans! Roots host New Mexico United at the unusual 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 31 at Pioneer Stadium on the campus of CSU East Bay in Hayward, California. Roots enter off of a tough 1-1 draw against Memphis 901 F.C. and New Mexico off of a win over Colorado Springs Switchbacks. New Mexico sit atop the Western Conference, a position they have earned as the consistently best team throughout the season.
:gulp:
Sure, there are other bands from New Mexico, but why would I bother finding them?
Around the Western Conference
Roots basically stood pat with a draw against Memphis.
Tulsa beat Detroit in Detroit 1-0 despite playing 24 minutes down a man. Roots still have seven points on Tulsa (although Tulsa have two games in hand) so I am willing to call this one more funny than worrying. Charleston stomped Orange County 6-0 in Charleston, New Mexico beat Switchbacks 1-0 in Colorado Springs. Monterey could not score against El Paso, splitting the points at home. Lights beat Indy Eleven 3-2 in Vegas, Republic beat San Antonio 1-0 in Sacramento, and Phoenix could not score at home against NCFC, splitting the points.
Midweek, Switchbacks beat Memphis 3-1 in Colorado Springs.
Roots are even on games played with Switchbacks and Lights, who both sit only two points below them. If the Roots want a home playoff game, they need to be getting points three at a time, not one at a time. However, not as much damage has been done as might have been done by the Roots two points in two weeks.
New Mexico United
New Mexico have a seven-point lead over second place Sacramento Republic, with games in hand as to most of the field. They are rightfully first in the conference. United have just been consistently good, although they had one particularly great stretch with 13 points from 15 in June-July. United had a little wobble with back-to-back losses at home against Lights and Loui City, but have ten points from a possible twelve since then.
United have 37 goals on the season, good for second in the Western Conference, but their 31 goals against, while in the top five in the Western Conference, is not far off of average. This gives them only a +6 goal-differential–third-best in the Western Conference, but not blowing anyone away.
United’s goals come from Greg Hurst (9), Daniel Bruce (5), and are otherwise spread around. Hurst is a 6’1″ Scot who played in the Scottish leagues until 2019 when he moved to Chattanooga Red Wolves, then Union Omaha, before making the jump to the USL Championship with Phoenix Rising in 2022. Hurst scored the second-minute opener in the Roots’ meeting with New Mexico in May.
Oh right, the one with the sun in Paul’s eyes. Daniel Bruce you might remember from every time the Roots have every played New Mexico United. He somehow has 132 matches with United (which he joined straight out of four years at UNC Charlotte).
Roots’ Form
Well, it’s okay. As discussed above, two points in two weeks isn’t great, but for the most part, other competitors for third did not make up much ground. Lights and Switchbacks picked up points, but the Roots, I think, gained ground on the race for fifth, although Tulsa’ two games in hands are concerning.
Anyway, the Roots dominated Memphis for 20 minutes, were even for ten minutes, then predictably conceded an outrageous goal from outside the box. They then failed to generate much in the way of offense for what felt like several hours before equalizing in the 61st. Fotmob tells me that although Memphis had six shots on target, they only created one big chance. It also tells me that man-of-the-match was Akeem Ward. <3.
Roots need offense. Dwyer doesn’t play and Chery has not produced much in awhile. Sinisterra is apparently not ready yet, Mfeka has not dressed recently, and Cedeno plays for Detroit City. That leaves only Johnny, who was not fit to start against Memphis. Oof.
Lineup and Score Predictions
Bloom
Dwyer and Mfeka were in the stands last week, so I’m not optimistic they’ll start, even if they dress. So I think this is our best currently performing lineup.
I predicted 1-1 against Memphis, and even though they’re a rival for a home playoff berth, and Roots were hosting, I felt like that would be a good result. I think the performance was not great over 90 minutes, but I stand by the point being pretty good.
I am predicting 1-1 again and I think we would have to consider that good. New Mexico are a very solid team.
Jon
First off, I’ve heard nothing about Sinisterra being ready to start. I have heard, however, that he looks great in practice. So, screw it, I’m throwing him into the starting lineup. Wouldn’t that be cool? Aside from that, no surprises in my lineup.
Roots grind out a 1-nil win at home.
Aaron
Huge blow to lose Tamacas. I know he wasn’t getting too much playing time, but effectively replacing Tamacas with Sinisterra is a step away from our ideal lineup here (10 defenders + Paul).
This team has a way of surprising us, zigging when we expect them to zag, and playing up for the bigger opponents. Personally, I’m conditioned to be looking for exactly how the Roots will try to win 1-0. But while both Oakland and New Mexico started the season playing tighter, lower-scoring affairs, recent results have required a bit more work out of the scoreboard operator. Roots have been trying to tamp things back down recently, but I have hunch New Mexico will force them to come out of their shell. Either 3-2 Roots, or 1-1, also to the Roots (in our hearts).