In a disappointing home debut for new Legion head coach Mark Briggs, the home team fell to a 0-1 loss. That means the team has earned just 1 point in 3 straight games against the bottom 3 teams in the Eastern Conference.
Unlike 11 days prior in Tampa, the Three Sparks started the game in a very sluggish manner, registering only 2 shots before the visitors scored the game’s only goal in the 14th minute on a Maxi Rodriguez strike.
The home team did pick up the pace somewhat after that and dominated the remainder of the first half, putting up another 4 shots, including a crafty long-range attempt from the center circle by Ronaldo Damus, although only one was on target.
The momentum appeared to be in the Legion’s favor until Sam McIllhatton was shown a second yellow card for a tackle on Maxi Rodriguez. The tackle was deemed a foul but looked to be at worst careless if not completely clean. In any event, the damage was done and the Legion would play the entire second half with 10 men.
Ironically, the Legion played better short-handed. The attacking chances were limited, of course, and the team was outshot in the second half 10-2, but Rhode Island was prevented from adding to its lead. Matt van Oekel made a total of 7 saves in the game, including an incredible double save, to keep the final score close, but the hosts were unable to create any strong chances to even the scoreline.
Phanuel Kavita and Mark Briggs were both critical of the team’s performance, especially in the early going. Phanny said, “Frustrating. A little embarrassed. I think the game plan was pretty spot on. I think we gotta take ownership on…the first 20 minutes was not good enough. I think we didn’t start the way we should have. I think how you start games is very, very, very important to how it carries on into the first half, second half or whatever…After that we started connecting a few passes. I think we were trying to go a little more.”
He added, “So the team’s coming to our house. We got to put the pressure on them early and fast and get them uncomfortable. And they did that to us.”
Briggs was even more brutally honest. “I thought the way we started the game, it was basically the whole game, we never got going. Very slow out of the gates. We looked nervous, looked anxious and I think you saw that in the first half performance.
“We had to get more organized. But the biggest thing was, we had to try and instill a little bit more energy and a little bit more belief. Second half was a little bit better but you’re down to 10 men. You’re climbing a mountain. We’ve just gotta be better.”
As for what he thinks needs to be done, he took much of it on his own shoulders. “Look, I think I’ve got to learn more about the guys. I’ve got to learn more about their, you know, individual tendencies, their collective tendencies.” He didn’t excuse the players though: “Forget tactics, forget the quality. If you don’t run and don’t compete, you don’t win games. And for me in the first half there was a lack of effort, not from everyone, but there’s a lack of effort as a collective…and I think that’s first and foremost the biggest problem.”
The Legion now has a short turnaround to implement some of the needed fixes. Detroit City comes to Protective Stadium Sunday at 4:00pm.
