Colorado Springs: For 97 straight minutes The Oakland Roots were under fire and holding on for dear life, as a relentless Colorado Springs Switchbacks attack swarmed their net desperate for a playoff clinching goal. The zombie horde was at the castle walls and I am not talking about some slow Walking Dead zombies, but the Oakland Roots in a game that seemed destined for a 1-0 loss leading to season ending disappointment… Found a way to gut out and survive Colorado Springs with a 0-0 draw and are heading back home to the Bay Area with a point.
This is the third straight shutout for Kendell McIntosh and the Roots have only allowed seven goals in their last 10 contests, with four of those goals coming against Lexington. This Roots defense is truly legit, it is unfortunate that it may have finally clicked just a few games too late for the Roots to make the playoffs in the Western Conference. The Oakland Roots are currently four points behind San Antonio FC for 8th place, with just three games to play. Luckily for the Roots, San Antonio comes to town next Saturday in a true must win contest.
Shoutout to Monterey Bay FC, as the Kelpie enjoyers to the south snapped a 30 game road win-less streak on Saturday and massively helped the Oakland Roots with a 2-1 road victory over Orange County SC. The Orangemen now still sit within reach at 39 points and 7th place in the Western Conference.
Here are our top-10 player ratings from the 0-0 draw with Colorado Springs Switchbacks.
1. David Garcia, 8.0
I truly believe David Garcia could have gotten some MLS looks after this season if he wasn’t already 26. If Garcia was healthy all year I wouldn’t have been shocked if he made the All-USL team at Center-Back, but for now he will just need to be the Oakland Roots best kept secret in the USL. He is by far the Roots best defender and there could be a hipster take of him being best player overall for the Roots. What a signing by the shadow cabal council. Credit where credit is due there.
2. Kendall McIntosh, 7.5
What can you say about Kendall McIntosh? He is savvy, he is a true veteran, he is a gritty smart player and he was always the correct choice in goal for the Oakland Roots. Three clean sheets in a row. Truly, if the Roots make the playoffs, Kendall McIntosh should be one of the first names out of people’s mouths on the subject. If this is his last season with the Roots or not, I’ll cherish each save.
3. Michael Edwards, 7.1
Michael Edwards had some amazing hero moments and he almost cost the roots the game on at least two occasions. Intrigued how Edwards will grow as a defender over time, but Edwards and David Garcia seem like the truth and the future at center back for the Roots. Also shoutout to that saucy move and run he made late in the game.
4. Mark Fisher, 7.1
Mark Fisher had one of the hardest assignments of the evening, as the 25-year old defender had the job of attempting to corral Adrien Perez and Isaiah Foster on his side of the field. Was Fisher perfect? Absolutely not, but the first year Roots player did bend just enough to hold off the left side duo. Fisher eventually moved to the right side when Keegan Tingey came on for Jesus de Vicente later in the game.
5. Tyler Gibson, 6.8
Tyler Gibson continues to know when to just get rid of the ball and not play with his food. I am fully on the Gibson for full time starter train. Will Ryan Martin agree with me? Likely not, but I feel like the grit and veteran savvy that Gibson brings is needed in this midfield.
6. Jesus de Vicente, 6.8
If Jesus de Vicente has to be a true defender for a full game that is not ideal. The first-year Oakland Roots player played well, but you can tell he was hamstrung by the consistent Colorado Spring Switchbacks pressure. De Vicente should have a lot better chances and opportunities against San Antonio FC next week.
7. Bobosi Byaruhanga, 6.6
I really like Bobosi Byaruhanga next to Tyler Gibson and really don’t enjoy him with Tommy McCabe. I am not sure 100% what about that pairing that I am not a fan of. More research is needed.
8. Tommy McCabe, 6.6
Fun new drinking game. Take a shot every time Tommy McCabe passes the ball backwards and kills a positive attack. Overall McCabe was solid coming off the bench, but man is he an offensive buzz kill. I am sure McCabe has a long contract and something needs to be figured out with him at practice.
9. Wolfgang Prentice, 6.6
Wolfgang Prentice was great when it came to recoveries, but his left side with Jesus de Vicente felt like it was in panic mode from the word go. Overall a solid performance and I don’t expect Florian Valot to take his spot in the starting lineup just yet, but the film study this week will definitely be interesting.
10. Danny Trejo, 6.5
Unfortunately, Danny Trejo seems to only have the ability to turn back the clock against the Phoenix Rising. Danny Trejo was just all right on Saturday against the Colorado Springs Switchbacks, as described above, this game was all about the Roots defense and that is just not what you expect much from Trejo. The 28-year old veteran did have one of the few shots on target for the Oakland Roots, but nothing was really that impressive. I expect Peter Wilson back starting next week.