It was a disappointing performance by Oakland Roots in its 1-nil loss to Colorado Springs Switchbacks, keeping them tied for 11th place with Lexington FC at the bottom of the USL Championship Western Conference. Roots showed moments where they can build in transition and ping passes around, but continue to lack quality around the box.
Colorado Springs got on the board with a wicked free kick in the 39th minute by Marco Micaletto, whipping in a shot on the left side a couple of feet above the penalty area. It becomes yet another Worldie goal added to the catalogue against Roots after, once again, committing a foul in a dangerous area.
Roots never truly challenged Switchbacks goalkeeper Christian Herrera. Although Oakland got itself in good positions multiple times, it couldn’t find the finishing touch. More on that in our talking points.
Talking Points
- Finishing. Finishing. Finishing.
Oakland got itself into dangerous positions against Colorado Springs time and again. Although there were times Roots looked great stringing together passes, they couldn’t find the net. With proper finishing, the match could’ve easily been a one- or two-goal win.
Roots missed a nearly identical chance on Saturday as they did the previous week against San Antonio. On a long free kick in the 62nd minute, Panos Armenakas aired out a pass to Neveal Hackshaw, making a run at the far post. Hackshaw headed a pass back centrally toward Kai Greene, wide open in front of the net, but the ball was too far out in front.
That was just Roots’ most clear opportunity. In the 48th minute, Oakland showed more successful buildup when Jose Luis Siniterra worked the ball to Panos atop Colorado Springs’ penalty area, rolling it slowly to Wolfgang Prentice running down the left side. But Prentice didn’t show his same accuracy as earlier in the season, powering a shot high above the net.
It was a similar situation to when Panos airmailed a shot in the 81st. On a good buildup down the right side, Morey Doner targeted Julian Bravo, making a run at the far post. Similarly to Hackshaw, Bravo headed the ball centrally to Sinisterra. The Colombian rolled a ball back to Armenakas atop the box, but his shot sailed over the net.
With just five shot attempts, Roots needed to put away the chances they created. There are signs of progress, and a smooth fluidity when building up, showing they can move the ball around to the left, right, and over the top.
But lacking quality in the final third has been a trend since early in the season. Now holding just 11 points through 13 games, signs of life need to become more than just moral victories.
- Strong game by Kendall McIntosh
Kendall McIntosh kept Oakland in the match. His presence since returning from a concussion makes a visible difference in Roots’ defense, making his injury scare in the 54th all the more scary.
McIntosh, thankfully, was able to continue and continuously generated in critical moments.
His first big save came in the 35th minute when he stopped a shot by Yosuke Hanya. With the match winding down, McIntosh made a huge stop of Juan Tejada running freely into the box down the right side in the 71st.
McIntosh came up again one minute later when saving a free kick by Quenzi Huerman. He finished with five saves and two by dives, stopped three shots from inside the box, had 10 recoveries, and completed four long balls.
- More minutes for Gagi Margvelashvili
Gagi Margvelashvili could be the biggest benefactor of Benny Feilhaber’s arrival, now earning two league appearances and one start for the new head coach.
Prior to last week against San Antonio, Gagi played in just 57 minutes with four appearances off the bench, including logging just two minutes, nine minutes, and one minute in first three matches.
Under Fielhaber, the Georgian international has already appeared for 135 minutes. Ironically, Saturday’s appearance in the starting lineup was his first in the USL Championship since Oakland’s Conference Quarterfinals loss to Colorado Springs in November.
Margvelashvili played all 90 minutes, winning seven duels, six recoveries, three clearances, and won 3/4 tackles.
Starting Lineups
- Oakland Roots
Gagi Margvelashvili is back in the lineup, sake with Jurgen Damm–marking the only changes from last week. Elmasnaouy also gets his second straight start.
- Colorado Springs Switchbacks
Timeline
Game 2 for Feilhaber, can they get the job done!
No Rasmussen or Spiegel.
Hackshaw still clinging up on the left side, Gagi playing centrally – 1′
Wolfgang draws foul in a good area – 7′
Free kick about 15 yards outside the area along the left side- 8′
Gibson whips in a dangerous pass but it goes to the keeper.
Sinisterra makes a great run down the right side, but passes an outrageously overpowered cross – 9′
Damm sails a shot on the volley – 12′
COS sails on a shot of their own atop the box – 14′
Tyler Gibson blocks a shot from atop the box – 17′
COS shot wide by Hanya, not even close – 23′
COS’ Huerman pulls a shot very wide – 30′
McIntosh big save on Hanya – 35′
Shot from a couple feet inside the box goes straight to McIntosh.
Gibson blocks another shot atop the box – 35′
COS draws a free kick in a good area, a couple of feet above the area on the left side – 38′
Free kick ensuing is a banger by Marco Micaletto – 39′
Whips in a shot that goes over the wall and to the top bin to the right of McIntosh. Roots fail the Don’t Give Up a Worldie challenge.
COS corner – 45+2′
Plays short, works to the top of the box but gets cleared back.
COS corner – 45+3′
COS hits the crossbar. Nearly a second goal.
First Half Notes:
Roots fail the Don’t Give Up A Worldie challenge in the 39th minute when Marco Micaletto sent in a beautiful arcing free kick from a couple of feet above the area. Oakland has stung itself multiple times now after allowing free kicks in dangerous areas. Aside from that, Oakland hasn’t looked terrible. They are showing connectivity in moments we’ve rarely seen them play thus far, but still have to finish the product. Roots with 52% possession, but just 1 shot to COS’ 8 and 2 on target.
Sinisterra pulls a shot a couple of feet wide – 46′
Does well to free himself up atop the area, but sends a shot wide.
Wolfy misses a big chance – 48′
Good work from Sinisterra to Panos, who rolled it slow to Wolfgang, but his shot lets him down and sends it way over the crossbar.
COS shot wide – 49′
Good work in transition by Roots, but can’t find their shooting boots – 50′
COS’ Huerman shot blocked out for a corner – 51′
COS corner – 51′
Headed out by Hackshaw for another corner.
COF corner – 52′
Dangerous ball falls and a shot by Real goes narrowly over. Should’ve been a second goal. Looks like Gibson got a piece of it, likely saved a goal.
McIntosh is down, looks shaken up – 54′
He’s continuing on.
Ali shot blocked from top of box – 56′
Sinisterra with a slow shot on target – 57′
Great work by Gibson down the right side, centering a pass to Sini, but his attempt didn’t have much power on it.
Free kick – 62′
Roots jusssssst miss. Panos sends a long pass to Hackshaw at the far post and he centers a ball to Kai Greene, but he can’t get a toe on it. Huuuuuuuge change for Oakland.
Hackshaw sends a ball in to Peter Wilson a few feet in front of the goal – 65′
Damm off, Doner on. Bravo on, Wilson off – 67′
COS sends a shot high – 70′
Huerman shot like 6 yards above the box.
Big save by McIntosh diving to his right to stop Tejada close to the net on the right side – 71′
COS free kick – 72′
Shot forced another save out of McIntosh.
Long free kick – 75′
Along the left side, Panos ball in can’t get past the first man.
COS free kick – 77′
Draws a foul in another dangerous spot, just a yard above the box. Micaletto’s range again.
Huerman sends a shot at McIntosh, he pushes it over the crossbar for a corner.
COS corner – 78′
Ball in cleared out.
Panos sends a shot high from top of the box – 81′
Another well-worked play. Panos kicked it out wide to Doner, sending a cross to Bravo, who headed it centrally to Sinisterra. He sent it back to Panos, sending a left-footed shot way too high.
Johnson on now – 83′
Panos off for Ilya – 90+1′
Free kick along the left sideline – 90+3′
Gibson long ball in. Doner later floats in a long pass and Herrera grabs it.
Thought the first half was mostly altitude and game delay issues, the second half seemed like it might be a way forward — maybe the best half the Roots have played all season.