The San Francisco Deltas played their worst game of the season in front of the home crowd, losing 3-0 to the Jacksonville Armada. Here are three things we learned from the game:
1) Were the Deltas worn out?
That was the question after the Deltas came into Friday night’s game playing their third match in six days. The Deltas did start out strong, putting the visiting Armada on their heels the first fifteen minutes.
Then the Armada took control with several good chances before Jacksonville’s Zack Steinberger headed one home in the 28th minute. His second goal just before the half all but put the game out of reach for San Francisco.
The Deltas thin roster was tested last week and is also missing Danny Cruz who is set to return soon from a thigh injury. Let’s hope that some time off will get the team ready for their away game in New York on Saturday.
2) The Deltas defense looks susceptible to crosses
Through the first seven games of the season, the San Francisco defense has been incredible allowing only four goals. On Friday night they gave up three. Center back Nana Attakora, who has been tremendous all season, had a night he would rather forget. Steinberger’s two goals both came on crosses into the box where the Armada attacking midfielder created space away from Attakora. Jacksonville also had another golden opportunity on a cross earlier in the first half that was saved point blank by goalkeeper Romulad Peiser.
The question going forward is, was this just one game issue of defensive coverage or will opposing teams start to flood the box with crosses? It has to be a point of concern for head coach Marc Dos Santos.
3) Why aren’t the Deltas getting the results at Kezar?
San Francisco has been incredible on the road this season. Through four games they have two wins and two losses and have only given up one goal.
At Kezar? The Deltas have one win, one draw, and two losses and have given up six goals. The announcers on the broadcast Friday night noted that the team might be unfamiliar with the field. They don’t practice at Kezar but rather split their time between Balboa Stadium and Beach Chalet. It also appears as if the pitch plays a little hard with passes on the ground sometimes bouncing.
Whatever the reason, let us hope that the Deltas can turn around their home performances for the remainder of the spring season. Their last four matches are against Indy Eleven, FC Edmonton, and Puerto Rico FC and Miami FC. The first three currently occupy the bottom three positions in the NASL standings. The Deltas finish up the Spring season against league-leading Miami FC on July 15th. If San Francisco can get wins at home, that match could possibly decide who wins the title in the first half of the NASL season.
