After a pivotal 1-0 victory on the road against San Antonio FC, the Roots kept their playoff hopes alive.
Still, the bigger question remains: did Saturday represent a turning point, or did the Roots simply survive?
Saturday offered reasons for optimism, reasons for concern, and some lingering questions for the playoff push.
Loved: David Garcia’s Passing
In a match decided by fine margins, David Garcia was one of the Roots’ most important players.
The Spaniard tied for match-high defensive contributions with twelve. He won all five of his ground duels and won five of six aerial duels.
He drew two fouls to help the Roots maintain possession.
Just as impressive as his defensive contributions was the impact his passing made on the game.
Garcia went 35/47 on passes on the match. On the surface level that does not appear overtly impressive. Digging deeper reveals how impressive Garcia’s distribution was.
Garcia led the Roots by going 6/8 on accurate long balls. No other Root had more than two long balls on the night. Four of his passes went into the final third.
Garcia’s return comes at an ideal time for Oakland. His defensive quality is obvious, but Saturday showcased another part of his game. For a team that struggles so often to connect defense to attack, Garcia’s ability to bypass lines with his passing adds a dimension to the attack that’s been lacking for big chunks of the season.
Unsure: Did We Learn Anything New About the Offense?
The vibes are great following the win. Hopium has been injected to the veins of Roots’ supporters.
In spite of that, the question remains: did we learn anything new about the offense?
After the first half, it felt like the Roots should have had at least a goal. Their high press disrupted San Antonio FC and created threatening moments in transition.
But still, how many times this season have the Roots felt like they should have had at least a goal after a half?
On one hand, the performances passed the eye test. On the other, the offensive numbers looked awfully familiar.
The Roots’ offensive output on Saturday fell in line with most of their season averages. They logged 10 shots, slighlty below their output of 11.1. They put two shots on target, which fell below the season average of 3.3. Those dangerous moments in transition only created two big chances, another number that slightly fell below the season average of 2.8.
Beyond that, the same issues that have plagued the Roots’ attack during their swoon reared their heads. The final pass was often missing. Oakland created opportunities but still struggled to turn them into goals. Tyler Gibson definitely has one he wishes he could get back from the 78th minute.
The performance felt different. The box score didn’t.
Still, the only stat that matters is 1-0. The Roots kept their playoff hopes alive.
Questions still persist though.
If Peter Wilson doesn’t win and convert a penalty in stoppage time, are we still talking about playoff hopium? Or are we more focused on how the offense produced another frustrating scoreless performance?
Right now, I’m still not sure.
Hated: Not Seeing Bruno Lapa and Peter Wilson Share the Field
One way to jump-start the offense? Bruno Lapa and Peter Wilson sharing the field.
Since Lapa’s first appearance against Las Vegas and the three subsequent games , Lapa and Wilson have only played together for 87 minutes out of a possible 360. 55 of those minutes came in the match against El Paso where Lapa started as the forward and Wilson played out of position on the left wing.
After Lapa’s signing, Oakland search for the best way to utilize him. Over the last two weeks, it appears that they found it. Starting Bertin Jacquesson up top with Wolfgang Prentice and Florian Valot on the wings allows Lapa to operate as more of a #10 that can drop deep and connect the defense and the attack.
His heat map reflects this:
With Lapa’s role seemingly settled and the wings locked down, what to do with Peter Wilson remains a question.
On Saturday, Peter Wilson came on as a sub and immediately made his presence felt. He displayed all the traits that make him one of the best forwards in the league.
His strength allowed him to hold off a defender near the penalty spot, turn, and log a shot on target in the 73rd minute. His off ball movement helped create the big chance for Tyler Gibson in the 78th minute. Wilson’s motor and speed forced SAFC’s goalkeeper to make a decision and the mistake that led to the Roots’ penalty. His finishing ability and composure allowed him to put the ball in the back of the net after SAFC’s attempts to ice him with obvious time-wasting.
Going forward, Wilson needs to reclaim his role. It will be extremely difficult for the Roots to make the playoffs without one of their best players starting, let alone in form. Saturday represented a solid first step.
No more experiments on the wing. No more asking him to spend significant portions of matches defending near his own box like he did against El Paso.
The Roots appear to have found a structure that brings out the best in Lapa. The next step should be obvious. Let Lapa conduct the show from midfield and put the reigning Golden Boot winner back where he belongs: leading the line.