The USL’s decision to continue playing during the World Cup may provide the Roots with a timely opportunity. Miami FC will enter Saturday’s match without two key contributors. These absences will completely alter the complexion of the matchup.
Will the World Cup Benefit the Roots?
Miami FC goalkeeper Eloy Room made the Curacao World Cup squad. The 37-year old projects as Curacao’s starting keeper in their opener against Germany.
The World Cup leaves Miami without its keeper for nine of its twelve matches. Some of Miami’s results came on the back of strong performances from Room. Matches against Hartford, Birmingham Legion, Brooklyn, and Western Conference leader San Antonio saw Room perform at a high-level.
While Room has served as the anchor of the defense, the tip of the spear for Miami’s attack will also be on national duty at the World Cup.
Forward Jurgen Locadia will also represent Curacao at the World Cup. The former PSV Eindhoven and Brighton & Hove Albion FC player is Miami FC’s leading scorer and focal point of their attack. Beyond his scoring prowess, Locadia impacts all aspects of Miami’s game. He ranks in the top quarter at his position in passes, long balls, chances created, and the top 7% in big chances created. His possession won in the final third is tied for the team lead, a critical factor in Miami’s ability to launch quick counterattacks.
With Locadia out, expect Miami to start 19-year old Mathieu Ndongo. He has started the previous matches that Locadia missed due to national team obligations. While possessing potential, Ndongo’s per 90 stats compare poorly to Locadia and he lacks the veteran know-how Locadia brings.
No USL team has more to lose from the World Cup than Miami. The absences of Room and Locadia strip away the foundation of both their defense and attack. It will create opportunities for the Roots to both get back on track offensively and continue to experiment on the defensive end.
Can the Roots Finish?
Room’s absence should help the Roots deal with some of their finishing woes and overcome Miami’s overperformance on defense.
Miami’s defense is constantly under siege. Their 47.3% possession and 40.6% field tilt indicate a team that plays most of the match in its final third. Their 15.1 shots against per 90 ranks second to last in the league. These statistics paint a picture of a team that is under constant pressure.
In spite of that, Miami has found a way to log four clean sheets this season. As stated earlier, much of this has come from some huge performances from Room. These performances have led Miami to overperform in terms of xGA. Their expected xGA is 1.82, while their actual xGA is 1.58.
Room’s absence will push Felipe Rodriguez into the starting lineup. The 22-year old has shown flashes in limited action, earning strong Fotmob ratings against Rhode Island and Sporting Jax. However, his most recent start against Pittsburgh in a 2-0 defeat was a reminder that inconsistency typically plagues young players.
The opportunity comes at a valuable time for Oakland. The Roots have struggled to convert their best chances this season, ranking fourth in the league with 18 big chances missed. Their match against Colorado Springs offered only one big chance.
Against a team that is constantly under siege with a backup keeper, Saturday is a chance to rebuild confidence in front of goal. More importantly, it may develop positive momentum for secondary attacking options like Danny Trejo, Tucker Lepley, or Bertin Jacquesson.
Does Bravo Start at Center Back Again?
With Miami FC’s attack weakened due to the absence of Locadia, it may prove beneficial for the Roots to start Julian Bravo at center back again.
The defender started the USL Cup match and proved pivotal in the Roots’ first clean sheet across all competitions in three months. His ten defensive contributions led the team. He was a magnet to the ball, as his seven clearances led the Roots as well.
As we wrote post-match, the more interesting development was Bravo’s performance as a distributor. His 46/53 passes at a 87% completion rate tracked well above his season average of 72.8%. He progressed the ball efficiently with 6/10 long passes and nine passes into the final third.
With only one remaining USL Cup Match, Ryan Martin’s opportunities to experiment with the lineup are dwindling. A home matchup against a weakened side that travelled cross-country presents one of the final low-risk opportunities to evaluate whether Bravo can handle the position.
The World Cup may have weakened Miami. For Oakland, it provides another opportunity to define what the best version of the team looks like.