On Saturday evening the Colorado Springs Switchbacks head to the Bay Area to face the red-hot Oakland Roots. The match in NorCal will kick off at 8pm from Pioneer Stadium on the campus of California State University, East Bay, with live coverage by the voice of the Switchbacks, Ryan Kaufman, beginning at 7:30pm on XTRA Sports1300AM.
Saturday’s opponents played on June 2nd at Weidner Field in downtown Colorado Springs, with the Roots winning 1-0 behind an early goal from Oakland’s leading scorer, Johnny Rodriguez. Oakland is unbeaten in their last six matches entering this weekend’s contest, while the Switchbacks head to the Golden State after taking four points from a two-match homestand in Southern Colorado.
What the Switchbacks Say:
Winger Jonas Fjeldberg. Fjeldberg scored a brilliant equalizer against Tulsa in the Switchbacks’ most recent game on August 9th :
“We just have to find our identity again [in Oakland], play like we want to play, not worry about them too much, and take command of the game from the first minute. I knew coming here I was going to have the support [of the staff]. I’ve played against [the Switchbacks’ players] a lot and I know they’re great guys and obviously great coaches. It took me a while to get into it because of my injury, but now that I’ve found my feet, I’m really happy and I know that [the team] have got my back.”
Head Coach Stephen Hogan: “[Jonas has been] phenomenal. I think he’s now catching up. [He’s] getting there, [his] fitness is getting there – we’re working on a lot of structural body stuff with him, and he’s really adapted to it. He really wants the extra [work]. His mindset is fantastic in terms of when he’s playing, he understands the role [and] he understands what he can give to the team [with his] left and right foot. That’s why we [went] after him – that’s what we saw last year when we were scouting him, with those types of finishes out of nowhere [and] reading the flight of the ball [and] understanding where it can go. Jonas has that in his locker every day of the week and we’re excited for more.
“We’ve been working everything in and around the 18 [yard box] and figuring out where we can exploit [Oakland]. The idea is focusing on everything when we create chances – the half yard we need to take a strike, to filling the box with numbers after a strike or a play is created. We want to really get after these next two weeks and really establish something on the road in terms of how aggressive we can be because I think it’s time to flip a switch. And if it works, God help anyone.
Roots Roundup:
“The structure of how [Oakland] play and the understanding of their defensive structure is very, very good,” said Head Coach Hogan. “[The Oakland coaching staff have] got them really locked in, and the mindset of [how they’re] not going to be in charge of a lot of games, but as a unit that defends really well. That’s where we have to exploit [them] because if we let them sit in, it will be similar to the Tulsa second half. If we can exploit them earlier [and] exploit them within the first half, [Oakland will] have to come out which will give us a lot more advantage. The players up top like [Johnny] Rodriguez and [Jeciel] Cedeno can create chances and score goals, so you have to be careful of that. [Leading scorer Rodriguez is] not one of these explosive players like a Hadji [Barry] or a Michee [Ngalina], but his movement off the line [and] his movement off the shoulder are very good, and obviously his technique is very good. [Oakland] got the goal here from him back in June, but that was a mistake on our end – we should have
really picked that one up. Where [Rodriguez] picked the ball up [and] his movement with the ball, then his accuracy got them to win here, so hopefully we can take care of him and go the other way.”
Vargish’s View:
Saturday’s match has all the hallmarks of a low scoring, grinding, tense duel. The Roots have scored a total of three goals over their last three matches but picked up seven points in that span courtesy of two wins and a draw. The Switchbacks found their footing at Weidner Field after a difficult afternoon during their most recent visit to California in San Diego on July 30th. There were swaths of the match between the Roots and Switchbacks on June 2nd that were a struggle to watch. Oakland’s early goal gave them license to sit behind the ball and their defensive plan was both tactically and energetically executed to perfection. The Roots will be forced out of their shell – and neutrals will be treated to an enjoyable contest – if the
Switchbacks can notch the opening goal on Saturday evening.
