Oakland Roots vs. Las Vegas Lights - Match Preview (October 2, 2021)
Oakland Roots host Las Vegas Lights at 7:00 p.m. at Laney College on October 2, 2021. The match will be broadcast on ESPN+ and KOFY.
Roots' Form Since the Last Match-Up
The Roots' improved form this season has continued, but they have had some unlucky results, and we have to hope that they don't get too much more bad luck. Since September 8, the Roots have gone 2-1-2, with the wins coming over San Diego and Tacoma and the draw also to San Diego. Frankly, three good results, but the losses to Galaxy II and Orange County are no less gutting.
You may recall in that San Diego game Johnny Rodriguez scored his other goal of the season, the greatest bicycle kick since Peter Crouch.
Lights' Form Since the Last Match-Up
Lights started the season bad and have become terrible. Since a 2-2 draw at home to Phoenix Rising on August 8, the Lights have lost nine straight. Dear God, please do not let Oakland drop points in this game.
On September 15, the Lights managed to score away to Phoenix Rising, but lost 4-1.
Last weekend Las Vegas hosted San Diego and it looked (from my view on the ESPN app) like they had something going on. Lights took the lead in the 27th with Daniel Trejo tucking away a well-threaded cross by Christopher Jamie. That was basically the end of the competitive part of the match, though. San Diego equalized, and then within two minutes Tumi Moshobone put Loyal ahead and then doubled that lead. Cal Jennings put a second on the scoreboard for Las Vegas in the 73rd. Auggie Williams would seal the final with a simple backpost finish just after the 76 minute mark.
Pacific Division Standings
Predictions
Bloom - The Roots have to win this one. Vegas, like the other MLS B-teams, seem to have a lot more attacking talent than defending talent, and Cal Jennings has scored a respectable 8 goals this season. Even this late in the season, Jordan Ferrell tinkers with his lineup more than I would expect. The Roots have a midweek fixture this coming week, but are coming off of a full week off for the first time since July 25. I hope we will see the strongest 11, unless there are injuries we don’t know about, and the Roots’ best 11 beats Vegas like a drum. Roots 3-0.
Lawson - Strictly bangers in this one, imo. Oakland are too locked in right now to let this get away, but they’re also playing at Laney, where they’ve put together their best performances. I think they’ll absolutely dominate this one, but surrender some fluky goal, and be forced to make a second half comeback that will feature two absurd goals. 2-1 Oakland.
Roots' History Against Las Vegas Lights: 2-0-1
Last Match-Up Between These Teams
These teams last met on September 8 in a 1-0 victory for the Roots in Las Vegas.
These teams last met on September 8 in a 1-0 victory for the Roots in Las Vegas.
It was hotter than blue blazes and the Roots took more than an hour to get on the scoreboard.
Johnny Rodriguez picked up his first goal for the Roots on a goal that was not broadcast live, because a replay of a non-goal was being shown at the time. Lights’ defender Traore somehow did not see Wal Fall, the largest person there is, and passed the ball right into him. Fall sent a ball through to Rodriguez who was essentially alone on the box, but played onside by another Lights defender (who, to be fair, cannot really be blamed for playing JRod on-side). Lights’ Keeper Alex Rando managed to get a hand to Rodriguez’s shot, but it had enough power to find its way home nonetheless.
Roots' Form Since the Last Match-Up
The Roots' improved form this season has continued, but they have had some unlucky results, and we have to hope that they don't get too much more bad luck. Since September 8, the Roots have gone 2-1-2, with the wins coming over San Diego and Tacoma and the draw also to San Diego. Frankly, three good results, but the losses to Galaxy II and Orange County are no less gutting.
You may recall in that San Diego game Johnny Rodriguez scored his other goal of the season, the greatest bicycle kick since Peter Crouch.
Get on your bike! 🚲
— USL Championship (@USLChampionship) September 30, 2021
This stunner from @oaklandrootssc's Johnny Rodriguez has won the vote for Goal of the Week presented by @select_america!
More 👉 https://t.co/tE6CBmFNyN pic.twitter.com/GiD9jPTJY6
Oakland started so hot on the road against Orange County last weekend, and Ariel Mbumba could have had three in the first 30 minutes.
Although I liked him in prior games, I have decided I’m finnished (eh?) with Mikko Kuningas. He should have been sent off, and scoring a shitty go ahead goal well into stoppage time is just classless. I’ve been getting a lot of questions about my player hate ranking, so I had our graphics department put together this ranking:
As you can see, Kuningas makes the top 5, but behind not only the three worst, but also behind a player to be named later when something actually happens in a match against Oakland’s purported arch-rival Sacramento.
Lights' Form Since the Last Match-Up
Lights started the season bad and have become terrible. Since a 2-2 draw at home to Phoenix Rising on August 8, the Lights have lost nine straight. Dear God, please do not let Oakland drop points in this game.
On September 15, the Lights managed to score away to Phoenix Rising, but lost 4-1.
At the 1:42 mark, Lights turn the ball over in a dangerous position and we get the following sensational commentary:
Color: When you’re up against a side as mature and powerful and strong [turnover] as Phoenix you take the risk of getting absolutely thumped, and it could happen.Rising doubled in the 17th with a professional header off of a curving set piece. Lights cut the deficit right at the 26 minute mark off of a very slightly re-directed free kick, but then conceded again two minutes later when Phoenix’s Arturo Rodriguez scored on a thumping shot just after another egregious turnover by the Lights in their own defensive half.
Play-by-play: Here’s Aodhan Quinn--an early chance--it’s in!
Last weekend Las Vegas hosted San Diego and it looked (from my view on the ESPN app) like they had something going on. Lights took the lead in the 27th with Daniel Trejo tucking away a well-threaded cross by Christopher Jamie. That was basically the end of the competitive part of the match, though. San Diego equalized, and then within two minutes Tumi Moshobone put Loyal ahead and then doubled that lead. Cal Jennings put a second on the scoreboard for Las Vegas in the 73rd. Auggie Williams would seal the final with a simple backpost finish just after the 76 minute mark.
Lights are really bad, but these two results show that their offense has some teeth. They are 20th in USL in goals per 90 with 1.23. That’s obviously not great, but it’s five notches above Oakland with 1.08. Lights have, however, the worst defense in the entire league, conceding 2.38 goals per 90.
Pacific Division Standings
Everything is fine.
Here’s the run-in for the non-Vegas, non-Phoenix teams in the Pacific Division:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1gwkMqCA8WVvypzQRv7k-wFPTyUQcU9y6NH2Q2uE_xHQ/edit?usp=sharing
I am working on keeping it updated as we go.
Orange County host Phoenix this weekend, Sacramento host Tacoma, and LA II host San Diego. Three weeks ago I would have said I hoped LA II beat San Diego, but now I think we need to hope San Diego pulls away. Phoenix aren’t exactly a weak team on the road, but all four of their losses and half their draws are on the road. Finally, we probably want to hope that Sac and Tacoma split the points. Tacoma have a game in hand, so it is more important that they drop the points, if you need a way of splitting hairs there. The matches all kick off at 7 or 7:30, so we’ll know how things have changed within 30 minutes after Oakland wrapping up their match against Vegas.
Orange County host Phoenix this weekend, Sacramento host Tacoma, and LA II host San Diego. Three weeks ago I would have said I hoped LA II beat San Diego, but now I think we need to hope San Diego pulls away. Phoenix aren’t exactly a weak team on the road, but all four of their losses and half their draws are on the road. Finally, we probably want to hope that Sac and Tacoma split the points. Tacoma have a game in hand, so it is more important that they drop the points, if you need a way of splitting hairs there. The matches all kick off at 7 or 7:30, so we’ll know how things have changed within 30 minutes after Oakland wrapping up their match against Vegas.
Predictions
Bloom - The Roots have to win this one. Vegas, like the other MLS B-teams, seem to have a lot more attacking talent than defending talent, and Cal Jennings has scored a respectable 8 goals this season. Even this late in the season, Jordan Ferrell tinkers with his lineup more than I would expect. The Roots have a midweek fixture this coming week, but are coming off of a full week off for the first time since July 25. I hope we will see the strongest 11, unless there are injuries we don’t know about, and the Roots’ best 11 beats Vegas like a drum. Roots 3-0.
Lawson - Strictly bangers in this one, imo. Oakland are too locked in right now to let this get away, but they’re also playing at Laney, where they’ve put together their best performances. I think they’ll absolutely dominate this one, but surrender some fluky goal, and be forced to make a second half comeback that will feature two absurd goals. 2-1 Oakland.
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