Oakland Roots vs. LA Galaxy II - Match Preview (August 14, 2021)

The Oakland Roots host LA Galaxy II on August 14 at Merritt College somewhere in the Oakland Hills at 2:00 p.m. This is the Roots’ third different home location, meaning (1) of the nine venues they have played at this season, three of them were “home”, and (2) they have played more games away at LA Galaxy and away at Sacramento then they have played at Laney College. We anticipate that the game will be broadcast on KOFY TV and ESPN+, hopefully with better picture quality than the game on Wednesday.

Last Match-Up

These teams last played on July 25 in Los Angeles. This was Roots’ first game following a number of missed games due to COVID, and they managed to field 11, but with only 4 substitutions including GK Zeus.

We recapped that game in more detail here.

And here are the highlights, although we DO NOT recommend that you watch them.



You may be surprised to hear this, but in that game, the Roots came out strong and looked threatening, before lapsing into a combination of passive possession and last-ditch defending off of turnovers. Roots conceded in the 33rd, and then managed to keep things close for much of the game, but conceded in the 78th and then again about five minutes later to ensure the last minutes were not particularly exciting.


LA Galaxy II’s Form Since the Last Match-Up


[Source: FBRef]

Galaxy II have only played two matches since these teams played on July 25, where Oakland have played four. The Roots were going to have a compressed schedule just on the basis of starting the season with two weeks off (we believe an attempt to give the field more time to arrive). With the field not arriving, and then canceled matches for COVID, things have gotten insane and will not be getting better.

Galaxy II faced San Diego Loyal on August 1 at the Dignity Health Sports Park and the Loyal showed Galaxy II no human kindness (sponsor the Blog) taking an early 2-0 lead over Galaxy II and never giving it up. Galaxy II played 10 of the same 11 to start against Loyal as they had run out in their victory over the Roots.


 
The first goal in the 9th minute was a miserable turnover by Galaxy II centerback Justin Harvey, who was futzing around aimlessly with the ball around the halfway line. San Diego striker Corey Hertzog pounces on the ball and chips the keeper from just a shocking distance. It is worth watching both for this and for the hilarious “Come On” from the keeper.



Last weekend, Galaxy II packed up their bags, took the Artesia Highway to the 5, went past Santa Ana, and took Sand Canyon all the way to Great Park Boulevard.



Galaxy II again made only one change from the prior week (so two changes from the Roots’ match--not a reversion to the same lineup).

Orange County opened the scoring in the 30th with a great pass from Ronaldo Damus to Chris Wehan, who one-time poked it past Galaxy II defender Josh Drack, then flat out beat the Drack to the ball, took two touches carrying it into the box and beat the keeper. Preston Judd would even things up just in to first-half stoppage time. The teams each picked up another in the second half, before Galaxy II took the winner in the 88th minute on a drilled near-post shot from Axel Picazo.


 
Roots' Form Since Last Match-Up

We don’t have to do this. You’re all enjoying your Friday.

Roots scored a goal and picked up a point in the last week. Things are trending upwards at a break-neck pace!

Roots looked good against Sacramento Mid-Week--the defense has stabilized and the attack is creating chances. There were nervy moments against Sacramento, but the game could be roughly divided between about 66% time where Roots looked by far the better team, and about 34% of the time where Roots looked modestly the better team.

Here is our analysis of those two games:

Tacoma 3 - Roots 1

Roots 0 - Republic 0

I did not actually intend to write a real "form analysis," but this is something similar and I think it is useful to take stock of how things have gone for the Roots since shortly before the last fixture against Los Dos:  On July 10, the Roots hosted Las Vegas Lights at Las Positas and lost a number of starters due to COVID protocols between five minutes before kickoff and kickoff--starters that had already been announced by the PA announcer. The Roots scored first, but lost this game. They then played Galaxy II more than two weeks later, described in more detail above, with only four subs still due to COVID protocols. Six days later, on July 25, they hosted Orange County at Las Positas, and lost 3-0. In that game the wind was so strong that Oakland could not move the ball in the air in the first half, and conceded their first goal on a long-range FK that no one in USL should realistically be scoring. Fair play to Kuningas, but the wind helped him a lot. When it was Roots’ turn to play with the wind at their back in the second half, they played well until Max Ornstil got a bullshit red card, for all purposes ending the game. On August 4, Roots hosted the best team in at least the Pacific Division, if not USL overall, and held them to 1-0. Four days later the Roots lost to the Assistant Referee in Tacoma. Then, mid-week, Roots had the 0-0 draw to Sacramento.

Excuses don’t win games, but the Roots are (1) in their first season, (2) probably out of the playoff hunt, and (3) not at risk of relegation. In light of those considerations, we here at the Blog actually are interested in excuses, because what matters is the Roots’ long-term building as a team. Missed opportunities for points where the Roots are the better team actually are likely predictive of future success. In light of that, we are inclined to say that the Roots are nowhere near as bad as their results have looked, and the signs are there that the team is ready to make a turn. They are probably not as good as Rising, but they are not as bad as their record.

Predictions

Bloom: I said mid-week I would predict 2-1 to the Roots until it happens. It’s going to happen. If you can’t have blind, ludicrous faith in your local second-division soccer club, what can you have blind, ludicrous faith in?

Lawson: Twenty RootsBlog bucks says the inconsistent Los Dos are not ready for this new version of Oakland Roots. I predict a frustrating first hour in which Oakland controls the game but doesn't score, a Los Dos goal against the run of play, and a late equalizer from Bokila that will turn out not to be indicative of anything. 1-1, and Bloom is able to erase the memory of Arsenal's inexplicable draw to Brentford.


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