The Legion scored 3 goals Tuesday night for only the second time this season and logged its widest margin of victory so far. The margin was not really the key to the game though as the first wild card tiebreaker is goals scored. The Three Sparks have 4 goals total; among teams on 6 points not currently leading their group that ranks 5th, and there are a couple of teams on 2 games who can also rack up a few more goals.
A good few scoring chances weren’t finished but the Legion did exceed its xG healthily (we’ll get into that in another post tomorrow). It should also provide some real confidence going into a key stretch of 5 league games between this Saturday and July 5th. The team was also able to demonstrate some of its depth with a heavily rotated 18. Here’s how we rate the various individual performances:
GK: JASSEM KOLEILAT – B
Jassem has gone a full 200 minutes without making a save. He has faced only 1 shot on target in that time, which he was unfortunately unable to even see (the Louisville City score). Other than goal kicks, he touched the ball just 19 times, 2 punches and 17 passes, with which he was 88.2% accurate. Well rested for Las Vegas this weekend.
LB: AMIR DALEY – A-
Amir played just the first half, flipping to left back in place of Dawson McCartney who had a minor injury. Working off the wrong side he did more than what was asked. Defensively, just 1 interception and 3 for 6 in duels. However, he created one scoring chance and had a shot off target. He matched Jassem exactly for passing, except that of his 17 passes, 11 were in the attacking half and of those only one failed to connect.
CB: BRYCE WASHINGTON – A
In the absence of Phanny and Dawson, Bryce got the captain’s armband and did solid duty. 6 clearances and 2 interceptions, joined by winning 4 of 7 duels. He racked up 62 passes with a sky-high accuracy of 93.5%. He even managed a pass in the Corpus Christi box, although that was one of the 4 that did not find a man. Phanny, by the way, is on international duty with Rwanda, although it appears both scheduled friendlies were cancelled.
CB: KEEGAN HUGHES- A-
All told a quietish game for Keegan. No heart-stopping headers into the ground at any rate. Nothing in attack, although he did get deep into enemy territory. 4 clearances and 3 interceptions, 5 of 6 in duels. Passing was relatively weak for the back four at 81.5% on 65 tries.
RB: LEO DURU – A-
This was just Leo’s second start of the season and his first since the opening week and also the first going the full 90. He made the most of it. He got much deeper into the attacking half than Amir and Nico Brown combined on the left, with the right wing being rather the stronger for once. He was the only member of the starting back line to make tackles, ending with 4 to which he added 3 clearances. He was also involved in 13 duels, winning 8. He had a shot off target (but barely) and connected on 33 of 39 pqssing attempts.
LDM: SAM SHASHOUA – A
Of the two pivots it was fairly tricky to decide who was the defender and who was the attacker. It didn’t help that they were both little guys named Sam (at least we couldn’t hear the funny accents. Well, one of them anyway). Shashoua (whose name was outrageously murdered by the stadium announcer, a fellow Englishman to boot) was slightly more of both in his 45 minutes. 1 chance creation and 1 blocked shot. 2 tackles, 1 block and 5 for 8 in duels. He traveled all over the field and in doing so managed to accumulate 58 passes, completing 51.
RDM: SAM MCILLHATTON – B-
The other Sam went the full 90. His assist on Romario’s goal was probably an actual shot and took a deflection on its way, but it still counts. 2 other shots were fully blocked, and one was definitely on its way in. Defensively, 3 tackles, 1 clearance, and 2 blocks. 7 of 11 in duels. He likewise floated all over and put up 51 passes, missing on just 3.
LAM: SEBASTIAN SAUCEDO – A
Not only was this Bofo’s first start for the Legion, it was his first start in two-and-a-half years after being dogged by injuries. He made the most of it. He was well on his way to scoring when fouled for the PK, which he converted easily. That ended up his only shot in 65 minutes. HIs 4 crosses were all unsuccessful, although 3 of them were corners. Overall passing was 81.6% accurate on 38 tries, but almost all were in the attacking half.
CAM: PETER-LEE VASSELL – B+
Peter-Lee got the start at CAM and put in 73 minutes of work. He did not get a shot off, although he had a huge chance with the ball coming off his chest a fraction too hard inside the box. He had 1 good cross and created 2 scoring chances. Yet another high-percentage passer, failing to connect on only 2 of 27 deliveries.
RAM: SEBASTIAN TREGARTHEN – A-
Seba’s yellow card was well earned on a dangerous scissor-kick attempt but that was really the only blemish on a really strong game. His goal was one of 3 shots, the others being off target and blocked. He also made two crosses, one of which was good. He went the full 90 and earned himself our Man of the Match honors.
FWD: ROMARIO WILLIAMS – A-
Romario’s goal was a tiny bit sneaky and earned offside shouts from the defenders (he wasn’t). Like Seba he had a blocked shot and 1 off target, but it hit the side netting inches the wrong side of the post. He blocked a shot at the other end to make up for it. Subbed out after a creditable 65 minutes.
SUB: NICO BROWN – A
Nico replaced Amir at halftime for his 4th appearance of the season. He created 1 scoring chance and was more or less impassable in defense. 4 tackles and 1 clearance, 4 of 5 in duels. Passing accuracy was a stratospheric 95.8%, missing just 1 of his 24 attempts, which happened to be a cross inside the Corpus Christi box.
SUB: KADEEM COLE – A
Kadeem came on at the half for Sam Shashoua and had easily his best 45 minutes for the Legion. He assisted on Seba’s goal and created 2 chances besides. 1 tackle, 1 interception, 2 for 3 in duels. And he was perfect on 23 passes spread out over a wide area.
SUB: RONALDO DAMUS – B-
At some point Ronaldo’s scoring drought will end but I suspect he will need to get out of his own head to do it. He has just 1 goal in 560 minutes this year. His only shot yesterday was blocked and he probably should have taken the shot a step earlier and was hesitant at least one other time. 28 minutes of below par play.
SUB: TYLER PASHER – A-
Tyler’s one shot was on target and he knew he should have made more of it. That’s getting to be a bit of a habit. He did his usual thing and reenergized the attack after coming on in the 65th minute. One chance creation and 92.3% accurate on 13 passes.
SUB: SERGE NGOMA – B-
Serge was the last man in, giving Peter-Lee a needed rest. He didn’t do a great deal; 1 interception and 3 duels lost was about it.
HC: JAY HEAPS – B+
Jay had the right game plan for this one and also made the right adjustments when Corpus Christi shifted formation early in the game. His players may not have achieved quite the result he was looking for but that killer instinct is something he is working on. The squad rotation was partially forced and partially by design ahead of Saturday’s game.
