Oakland Roots vs. Tacoma Defiance - Match Preview (August 28, 2021)
Oakland Roots host Tacoma Defiance at Laney College on August 28 at 5:10 p.m. We anticipate the game being broadcast on ESPN+ and KOFY TV. Anyone reading this may have figured this out already, but the KOFY TV broadcast may not actually be listed on the TV Guide--it was not on Wednesday--but the game was still broadcast on KOFY TV.
New Signing Alert
[Source: Oakland Roots SC]
You may notice familiar name Chris Wehan mentioned in those highlights. Brown’s first goal is pure poaching, but the second is a magnificent first-time effort.
Brown’s other brace from 2018 came in this match, where it was matched by a brace for Swope Park Rangers by Tyler Blackwood. Also on the scoresheet for Swope Park is current USL goals leader Hadji Barry, and a keen observer will notice recent USMNT-call up Gianluca Busio:
I am extremely skeptical of the stats I am finding for the Albanian league, but it looks like Brown made a number of appearances for Partizani before COVID stopped everything.
Brown’s most recent goal came on July 3 against El Paso, about the 50 second mark of this video:
Roots' Form Since the Last Match-Up
[Source: Oakland Roots SC]
Nonetheless, the Roots have climbed out of last place in the Pacific Division. They are ahead of five other teams league-wide in points and have passed four teams in goals scored per 90 minutes. Relatedly, I cannot tell you how many times I have watched these highlights:
Defiance have eleven points in their last five matches. Only two teams in the league have a better record over their last five matches (several are tied, fortunately one of them is Oakland). Tacoma are on an eight-game unbeaten streak, last losing on July 3 in a match away to Las Vegas. That form has seen them move up to third in the division, two points behind Orange County and tied with San Diego, but each of those two have played 20 where Defiance have played only 17.
Tacoma have two quality wins since they played Oakland on August 8. The first, a 2-1 over San Diego in San Diego. Loyal went up, but Defiance equalized on a backpost poach by Alex Villanueva, a 19-year-old who somehow looks even younger. Defiance then took the lead in the 71st with a hilarious Mesut Ozil-esque one-touch bouncing effort by Carlos Anguiano off of a great parried save by Loyal GK Guerrera.
Predictions
Bloom - These are the in-form teams in the Pacific Division. Of the five wins between the two teams since they last played, you’d have to say that Oakland’s win over Phoenix is the best win, but Oakland’s wins over Las Vegas and Los Angeles are the two least impressive. Incredibly relatably, Tacoma’s most recent dropped points are draws to Sacramento and New Mexico. It is hard to find an obvious thing to point to here as the difference maker except rest, which hugely favors Tacoma. That being said, if I was the Roots, I would be livid about the last match-up. I suspect the players will be. The players will have the Laney crowd behind them. 3-2 Roots.
Lawson - I’ll go glass half full and say that the layoff will hurt Defiance. Roots are in a rhythm, and Defiance will need some time to find one of their own. I think that’s going to be especially important since the air looks like it will be borderline poisonous in downtown Oakland for the match, and accordingly I expect little action towards the latter stages of the match. I think we’ll see Johnny Rodriguez’s first contribution, and it will be a difference maker. 2-1 Oakland.
New Signing Alert
[Source: Oakland Roots SC]
Roots have acquired 28-year-old Jamaican forward Brian Brown on loan from New Mexico United, in an apparent swap deal for centerback/fullback Saalih Muhammad. I feel somewhat responsible for this, having posted this gif of Muhammad to show off New Mexico’s absurd kit sponsor:
Let’s take a look at Brown’s numbers:
[Source: FBRef]
Brown has two goals in thirteen matches, which is pretty low, although he has only played seven Full 90s in those thirteen matches. Two goals and an assist in seven Full 90s is not terrible, and would put him near the top for the Roots so far this season.
Brown has netted everywhere that he has played. After time in the Jamaican league, he moved to the US and scored in his limited playing time for Philadelphia Union in MLS, before settling at Reno 1868. Brown played in Reno in the 2017-2019 seasons, which means he played three full seasons with now-teammate Lindo Mfeka and the 2019 season with Emrah Klimenta. Wikipedia tells me that Brown is the Reno franchise leader in goals.
Here are highlights from a 2018 game where Brown scored a brace:
Brown has two goals in thirteen matches, which is pretty low, although he has only played seven Full 90s in those thirteen matches. Two goals and an assist in seven Full 90s is not terrible, and would put him near the top for the Roots so far this season.
Brown has netted everywhere that he has played. After time in the Jamaican league, he moved to the US and scored in his limited playing time for Philadelphia Union in MLS, before settling at Reno 1868. Brown played in Reno in the 2017-2019 seasons, which means he played three full seasons with now-teammate Lindo Mfeka and the 2019 season with Emrah Klimenta. Wikipedia tells me that Brown is the Reno franchise leader in goals.
Here are highlights from a 2018 game where Brown scored a brace:
You may notice familiar name Chris Wehan mentioned in those highlights. Brown’s first goal is pure poaching, but the second is a magnificent first-time effort.
Brown’s other brace from 2018 came in this match, where it was matched by a brace for Swope Park Rangers by Tyler Blackwood. Also on the scoresheet for Swope Park is current USL goals leader Hadji Barry, and a keen observer will notice recent USMNT-call up Gianluca Busio:
Brown did not skip the 2019-2020 seasons, but instead was just outside of FBRef’s coverage, playing for FK Partizani in Tirane, Albania, having moved mid-season from Reno. Here are some highlights of a truly incredible cup performance from subersub Brown. Brown appears about the two-minute mark of the highlights and after some good efforts, equalizes the cup tie in the 88th minute, then gets his brace and hatty in the 94th and 99th minutes, sending the irredentist ultras into complete hysteria.
I am extremely skeptical of the stats I am finding for the Albanian league, but it looks like Brown made a number of appearances for Partizani before COVID stopped everything.
Brown’s most recent goal came on July 3 against El Paso, about the 50 second mark of this video:
If you can tolerate the popups, this interview with the Albuquerque journal gives some insight into Brown. Comeaux also already did a quick run-down on Brown that you can find here.
My feeling is that this move is all upside. I have liked what I have seen from Muhammad this season, but Ferrell seems to see him as the fifth choice centerback behind Klimenta, Morad, Greene, and Ornstil, and the third choice defensive midfielder behind Fissore and Ornstil. Ferrell runs either one or zero defensive midfielders, so depth there is not a huge concern. If I am right about how Ferrell is viewing this, then Muhammad is better off on a team where he’ll see playing time, and Oakland is better off with depth in a position that rotates significantly.
I also think there is some chance that the success Amarikwa has had in igniting the Roots’ attack has inspired Ferrell to find another pacey striker to fit a fast-moving transition attack. Brown could either spell Amarikwa, or supplement at a minimum off the bench, if not starting.
Brown has not actually played since August 1. With New Mexico’s offense struggling, it’s not exactly clear why. If I thought this was a signing of necessity, I would be concerned about his fitness. Because it is not, I am not too worried.
Now, on to the preview.
Roots’ History Against Tacoma Defiance: 0-0-1
Prior Match-Ups This Season
The Roots fell 3-1 to Tacoma Defiance on August 8--the Roots’ last loss. As you may recall, we were not thrilled with the refereeing in that match. The referee herself was okay, but she deferred to the assistant referee a frustrating amount, and essentially every time she did so, the assistant referee was demonstrably wrong and always at Oakland’s expense.
Tacoma scored three times in the first half, including on a penalty. In the second half the Roots looked a lot better, and Wal Fall scored the first of his season, an excellent freekick. The goal is at the 1:45 minute of these highlights. If you choose to watch even one second before or after that goal, you are only hurting yourself:
My feeling is that this move is all upside. I have liked what I have seen from Muhammad this season, but Ferrell seems to see him as the fifth choice centerback behind Klimenta, Morad, Greene, and Ornstil, and the third choice defensive midfielder behind Fissore and Ornstil. Ferrell runs either one or zero defensive midfielders, so depth there is not a huge concern. If I am right about how Ferrell is viewing this, then Muhammad is better off on a team where he’ll see playing time, and Oakland is better off with depth in a position that rotates significantly.
I also think there is some chance that the success Amarikwa has had in igniting the Roots’ attack has inspired Ferrell to find another pacey striker to fit a fast-moving transition attack. Brown could either spell Amarikwa, or supplement at a minimum off the bench, if not starting.
Brown has not actually played since August 1. With New Mexico’s offense struggling, it’s not exactly clear why. If I thought this was a signing of necessity, I would be concerned about his fitness. Because it is not, I am not too worried.
Now, on to the preview.
Roots’ History Against Tacoma Defiance: 0-0-1
Prior Match-Ups This Season
The Roots fell 3-1 to Tacoma Defiance on August 8--the Roots’ last loss. As you may recall, we were not thrilled with the refereeing in that match. The referee herself was okay, but she deferred to the assistant referee a frustrating amount, and essentially every time she did so, the assistant referee was demonstrably wrong and always at Oakland’s expense.
Tacoma scored three times in the first half, including on a penalty. In the second half the Roots looked a lot better, and Wal Fall scored the first of his season, an excellent freekick. The goal is at the 1:45 minute of these highlights. If you choose to watch even one second before or after that goal, you are only hurting yourself:
Roots' Form Since the Last Match-Up
The Roots have eleven points in their last five matches. Only two teams in the league have a better record over their last five matches (several are tied, unfortunately one of them is Tacoma). Roots have scored nine goals over their last four, which is just over half of their season total. That is a good thing that still kinda makes me sad.
Nonetheless, the Roots have climbed out of last place in the Pacific Division. They are ahead of five other teams league-wide in points and have passed four teams in goals scored per 90 minutes. Relatedly, I cannot tell you how many times I have watched these highlights:
I think it is worth noting that the Roots are 3-2-1 in games where Wal Fall plays 45+ minutes.
What is most encouraging about the offense over the last month or so has not just been the players who are back at fitness, but at the improvement in the guys who have played all season brought about by Fall and Hernandez being back.
Defiance’s Form Since the Last Match-Up
What is most encouraging about the offense over the last month or so has not just been the players who are back at fitness, but at the improvement in the guys who have played all season brought about by Fall and Hernandez being back.
Defiance’s Form Since the Last Match-Up
Defiance have eleven points in their last five matches. Only two teams in the league have a better record over their last five matches (several are tied, fortunately one of them is Oakland). Tacoma are on an eight-game unbeaten streak, last losing on July 3 in a match away to Las Vegas. That form has seen them move up to third in the division, two points behind Orange County and tied with San Diego, but each of those two have played 20 where Defiance have played only 17.
Tacoma have two quality wins since they played Oakland on August 8. The first, a 2-1 over San Diego in San Diego. Loyal went up, but Defiance equalized on a backpost poach by Alex Villanueva, a 19-year-old who somehow looks even younger. Defiance then took the lead in the 71st with a hilarious Mesut Ozil-esque one-touch bouncing effort by Carlos Anguiano off of a great parried save by Loyal GK Guerrera.
We highlighted Anguiano as a player to watch in our last preview. I am not sure I believe that Anguiano meant to bounce this shot, although I think if he had smashed it straight on that Guerrero might have saved it. Credit to him for getting the ball into the back of the net any way he could.
Somewhat frustratingly, Defiance’s last game was August 18, meaning they will have 10 days off. Roots have played two matches during Tacoma’s layoff. In that last fixture, Defiance beat Orange County 3-1 at Orange County Great Park, handing Orange County their worst result of the season. Defiance’s goals were from three different players, and were bagged early, right at the break, and at the death for a comprehensive victory. Samuel Adeniran’s goal at the 1:04 mark is pretty special.
Somewhat frustratingly, Defiance’s last game was August 18, meaning they will have 10 days off. Roots have played two matches during Tacoma’s layoff. In that last fixture, Defiance beat Orange County 3-1 at Orange County Great Park, handing Orange County their worst result of the season. Defiance’s goals were from three different players, and were bagged early, right at the break, and at the death for a comprehensive victory. Samuel Adeniran’s goal at the 1:04 mark is pretty special.
Predictions
Bloom - These are the in-form teams in the Pacific Division. Of the five wins between the two teams since they last played, you’d have to say that Oakland’s win over Phoenix is the best win, but Oakland’s wins over Las Vegas and Los Angeles are the two least impressive. Incredibly relatably, Tacoma’s most recent dropped points are draws to Sacramento and New Mexico. It is hard to find an obvious thing to point to here as the difference maker except rest, which hugely favors Tacoma. That being said, if I was the Roots, I would be livid about the last match-up. I suspect the players will be. The players will have the Laney crowd behind them. 3-2 Roots.
Lawson - I’ll go glass half full and say that the layoff will hurt Defiance. Roots are in a rhythm, and Defiance will need some time to find one of their own. I think that’s going to be especially important since the air looks like it will be borderline poisonous in downtown Oakland for the match, and accordingly I expect little action towards the latter stages of the match. I think we’ll see Johnny Rodriguez’s first contribution, and it will be a difference maker. 2-1 Oakland.
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