Oakland Roots vs. Sacramento Republic - Match Preview (October 6, 2021)
The Oakland Roots will host Sacramento Republic in the fourth and final fixture of the Capitol Corridor Derby*. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m., and the match will be broadcast on ESPN+ and KOFY TV. It's dollar beer night, friends. Make responsible decisions.
*name pending USSF approval
[Source: Oakland Roots SC]
Reading that recap is an interesting little experiment in perspective. On August 11 we were desperate for signs of life in the team. Roots controlled the match with 60% possession, and had several great attempts on goal, including Bokila somehow getting in completely point blank in the 63rd. The Roots had only scored in two games in the two months leading up to this match. Fruitless but promising attacks constituted a massive improvement.
Sacramento’s Form Since the Last Match-Up
Republic have gone 4-2-4 since these teams’ last meeting, and their record is pretty close to the chalk all the way down.
I don’t particularly recommend the highlights from Sacramento’s 1-0 win over Tacoma unless you enjoy watching the futility of Tacoma’s attack. I am finding that I do, and I’m a little worried.
[Source: FBRef]
Frustrating.
Oakland needed to win this game.
*name pending USSF approval
(if you stretch the pronunciation, "El SACvOAK" works, but it's still not that funny).
Roots’ History Against Republic: 0-3-0
Last Match-Up Between These Teams
Roots’ History Against Republic: 0-3-0
Last Match-Up Between These Teams
These teams last met on August 11 in a 0-0 draw at Las Positas. That point was the first point that the Roots had picked up since their last 0-0 draw away to Sacramento in early July. Oh baby, the rivalry is spicy.
To give you some context on how long ago this was, Danny Flores started (Flores remains with 1 goal and 2 assists for Virginia Tech, has started their two recent games since his goal in their win over Notre Dame).
Reading that recap is an interesting little experiment in perspective. On August 11 we were desperate for signs of life in the team. Roots controlled the match with 60% possession, and had several great attempts on goal, including Bokila somehow getting in completely point blank in the 63rd. The Roots had only scored in two games in the two months leading up to this match. Fruitless but promising attacks constituted a massive improvement.
Sacramento’s Form Since the Last Match-Up
Republic have gone 4-2-4 since these teams’ last meeting, and their record is pretty close to the chalk all the way down.
I don’t particularly recommend the highlights from Sacramento’s 1-0 win over Tacoma unless you enjoy watching the futility of Tacoma’s attack. I am finding that I do, and I’m a little worried.
Sacramento then lost at home to Galaxy II, which I would mock them more for, except that game was sandwiched between Galaxy II’s win over Oakland at Laney and 3-0 win over Phoenix in Carson. This is an unfortunate time for basically everyone in the Pacific Division for Galaxy II to be putting things together. Galaxy II’s win streak ended with a 3-0 loss to San Diego this past weekend, which I assume is contractually required the week that your parent club unveils Landon Donovan’s statue.
Horrifying.
There is one (1) highlight from this match in the first half. Los Angeles went ahead in the 67th when the Republic keeper misplayed a sensational free kick lofted into the box by Daniel Aguirre and Jalen Neal tucked away the rebound. The commentary in the highlights indicates that Republic had the momentum in the second half, and perhaps deserved a better result than they got. The second goal in the 90th minute I think says more about Sacramento’s push for an equalizer than the quality of their defense.
Sacramento’s most recent fixture was a 3-1 victory over Tacoma in Sacramento. Cameron Iwasa’s opener right at the 8-minute mark was really a pretty impressive bit of skill and/or complete failure of defending. A dubious offside call took away a second, but Sacramento would make good on the second goal in the 66th with a risky pass by Maalique Foster that Emil Cuello controlled and then curled in past the advancing keeper. Tacoma got on the board with a Fall-esque long range free kick, but Sac would regain their two-goal advantage with an absolutely stunner from Luis Felipe. Seriously watch this one, it’s at the 2:15 mark of the video.
Sacramento’s most recent fixture was a 3-1 victory over Tacoma in Sacramento. Cameron Iwasa’s opener right at the 8-minute mark was really a pretty impressive bit of skill and/or complete failure of defending. A dubious offside call took away a second, but Sacramento would make good on the second goal in the 66th with a risky pass by Maalique Foster that Emil Cuello controlled and then curled in past the advancing keeper. Tacoma got on the board with a Fall-esque long range free kick, but Sac would regain their two-goal advantage with an absolutely stunner from Luis Felipe. Seriously watch this one, it’s at the 2:15 mark of the video.
Tacoma get battered! Everywhere they go! Tacoma get battered! Everywhere they go! Everywhere they go!
Oakland’s Form Since the Last Match-Up
Oakland’s Form Since the Last Match-Up
Frustrating.
Oakland needed to win this game.
Having gone back over the highlights and recap from the last Sacramento match, I think what is frustrating about the Lights match from last Saturday is that we would have been pretty happy with that performance two months ago. The Roots were completely dead in the water in August, turned their season around entirely, and have now dropped just enough points to not control their destiny going into this last stretch.
The other frustrating thing is obviously that the Roots had some incredible opportunities that they didn’t convert (Amarikwa, like Wal Fall, considers penalties gauche and unsporting), some bad luck (Rodriguez off the post), and then were in a position to win based on some incredible luck (Leone’s thumping header). So obviously I think Roots overall deserved to win the game, but they could have and didn’t and will pay for it through AT LEAST unnecessary stress. Hopefully they don’t pay for it by missing the playoffs.
Pacific Division Run-In
The other frustrating thing is obviously that the Roots had some incredible opportunities that they didn’t convert (Amarikwa, like Wal Fall, considers penalties gauche and unsporting), some bad luck (Rodriguez off the post), and then were in a position to win based on some incredible luck (Leone’s thumping header). So obviously I think Roots overall deserved to win the game, but they could have and didn’t and will pay for it through AT LEAST unnecessary stress. Hopefully they don’t pay for it by missing the playoffs.
Pacific Division Run-In
[Source: FBRef]
Suboptimal, folks.
Tacoma have a game in hand, and a win would put them ahead of Oakland. A draw would put them level on points with Oakland. The first tie-breaker is head to head points, where Oakland currently have the advantage, as they are 2-0-1 on the season series. The second tie-breaker is goal differential head-to-head, where Oakland have a 2 goal lead. With the remaining head-to-head fixture, Oakland controls its destiny with respect to Tacoma. Tacoma also still faces Austin on the road and a home fixture with Orange County. Their final run-in is at Sacramento, home to Oakland, home to LA II, and away at Phoenix.
Los Angeles II has really stepped up recently, and put themselves into a playoff spot. They travel to Las Vegas, which should be a win for them, but then play at Sacramento, host El Paso (who lead the Mountain Division), travel across the country to face a mid-table Charleston team, travel back across the country to face Tacoma in Tacoma, and finish their season away to an Orange County team who will be jockeying for playoff positioning.
Sacramento’s run-in includes two matches with San Diego, who are still fighting to keep a playoff home game, plus Oakland, Los Angeles II, and a trip to Phoenix. The match tonight determines whether Oakland controls its destiny with respect to Sacramento. The Roots have gotta do it.
Tacoma have a game in hand, and a win would put them ahead of Oakland. A draw would put them level on points with Oakland. The first tie-breaker is head to head points, where Oakland currently have the advantage, as they are 2-0-1 on the season series. The second tie-breaker is goal differential head-to-head, where Oakland have a 2 goal lead. With the remaining head-to-head fixture, Oakland controls its destiny with respect to Tacoma. Tacoma also still faces Austin on the road and a home fixture with Orange County. Their final run-in is at Sacramento, home to Oakland, home to LA II, and away at Phoenix.
Los Angeles II has really stepped up recently, and put themselves into a playoff spot. They travel to Las Vegas, which should be a win for them, but then play at Sacramento, host El Paso (who lead the Mountain Division), travel across the country to face a mid-table Charleston team, travel back across the country to face Tacoma in Tacoma, and finish their season away to an Orange County team who will be jockeying for playoff positioning.
Sacramento’s run-in includes two matches with San Diego, who are still fighting to keep a playoff home game, plus Oakland, Los Angeles II, and a trip to Phoenix. The match tonight determines whether Oakland controls its destiny with respect to Sacramento. The Roots have gotta do it.
Here is the google sheet that has been updated in advance of tonight's fixture.
Predictions
Bloom - I am worried about the Roots right now. They are scoring goals, and are clearly at a level with the teams that will get the third and fourth playoff spots in the West. Unfortunately, they are not playing enough better than those other teams to avoid having games decided by luck, and they are in a position where a little bad luck makes things very difficult. I am also a little worried about the defense, the unit on the team that looked so strong for so many weeks. Unfortunately I think that the Roots are the Republic are locked in a cycle of draws that will last for eternity in defiance of the broadcasters’ insistence on the rivalry. 1-1.
Lawson - I, too, am a little worried about Oakland. You can make the case at this point that the 6-3-1 run that got them into playoff contention was as much about (1) no one having any idea what kind of tactics a fully healthy Roots squad would utilize, and (2) everyone overlooking Roots on account of the fact that, after the Tacoma debacle, Roots were 1-3-8 and no one’s idea of a threat. Both the Galaxy II loss and the Lights draw can be explained, but we’d rather not have to explain both of those results. The announcing crew suggested during the last Sacramento tie that there might be some bad blood brewing between these teams, so hopefully that gives Oakland the edge they need to get back into the win column. This game also has added importance because with a win, Oakland will control the tiebreakers against two of the squads they are fighting for the last playoff spot. My head says this is a draw, but my heart is saying 3-1 Roots.
Predictions
Bloom - I am worried about the Roots right now. They are scoring goals, and are clearly at a level with the teams that will get the third and fourth playoff spots in the West. Unfortunately, they are not playing enough better than those other teams to avoid having games decided by luck, and they are in a position where a little bad luck makes things very difficult. I am also a little worried about the defense, the unit on the team that looked so strong for so many weeks. Unfortunately I think that the Roots are the Republic are locked in a cycle of draws that will last for eternity in defiance of the broadcasters’ insistence on the rivalry. 1-1.
Lawson - I, too, am a little worried about Oakland. You can make the case at this point that the 6-3-1 run that got them into playoff contention was as much about (1) no one having any idea what kind of tactics a fully healthy Roots squad would utilize, and (2) everyone overlooking Roots on account of the fact that, after the Tacoma debacle, Roots were 1-3-8 and no one’s idea of a threat. Both the Galaxy II loss and the Lights draw can be explained, but we’d rather not have to explain both of those results. The announcing crew suggested during the last Sacramento tie that there might be some bad blood brewing between these teams, so hopefully that gives Oakland the edge they need to get back into the win column. This game also has added importance because with a win, Oakland will control the tiebreakers against two of the squads they are fighting for the last playoff spot. My head says this is a draw, but my heart is saying 3-1 Roots.
Comments
Post a Comment