Our thoughts exactly, Tomi. (screenshot from Rowdies highlights)

All for Naught

Eddies generate chances despite being dominated, but still frustrated by lack of execution in a tight loss to Tampa Bay.

Coming into the match, the Eddies knew things had to change. They had been shut out for 180 minutes, and nothing from their play has indicated much of a scoring threat from anywhere or anybody.

To the surprise of many—and the delight of some—Shamit Shome made his professional debut in place of Cruz. It was a bit of a gamble, but the young Canadian kept his cool with a relatively mistake-free shift. Smith filled in for Zebie who picked up a knock and Eckersley who is still recovering from injury. Keegan’s lively appearance off the bench against Minnesota earned him a start in tandem with Fordyce, meaning Ameobi was relegated to the bench. Corea started for the first time this season, replacing Nyassi.

They were, however, about to face off against a team that plays very well in the middle, and the game certainly developed that way. Tampa Bay ended up with a vast majority of the possession at 66%. Defensively, the Eddies played well, winning many of their duels and making their presence known physically, letting the Rowdies play their game but not allowing much to develop around the 18-yard box and dealing with crosses effectively, save for one moment, but more on that later.

Of concern for the eddies, poor general passing accuracy, even worse accuracy in the opponent’s half.

But, rearing its ugly head once again was the Eddies inability to link plays together through out the match. Most passes going forward and in their seemed to be just too far ahead or behind their targets. The miscommunication was also stark, with some passes backwards finding no one at times, out to touch, or just plain straight to the opposition.

FCE full match passing chart. Note the lack of green arrows denoting successful passes in the attacking third.

Fordyce and Corea were both taken off at 70 minutes in like-for-like substitutions in the form of Ameobi and Nyassi. Perhaps Miller sensed a crack in the pressure from the Rowdies, and bringing on a touch of energy from the speedy Nyassi and the height of Ameobi could have been the spark needed to snatch a goal and even a result from the game. This, however, made the timing of the goal all the more unfortunate.

Edmonton did very well to keep the Rowdies at bay but were ultimately broken just a few minutes after the double substitution. The goal came as a result of an excellent cross from Nanchoff and a good move by Heinemann to rid himself of Diákité’s marking for just a split-second. Van Oekel could do nothing but watch the header tuck in just beside the post. Football is about taking your chances, and sometimes a team only needs one moment, and Tampa Bay took advantage.

A goal down, and finally playing with more urgency, FCE managed to string passes together generating two decent scoring chances in the final 20 minutes. Nyassi was called offside very closely late in the match when it appeared that he was clear in on goal.

The pressure was enough, that in a final last throw of the dice, Edmonton charged down the right side and a cross from Nyassi was blocked by Collins’ arm in the box. It seemed, for just a few moments that all the work of the previous 20 minutes would finally pay off.

Ameobi was tasked with taking the penalty, a duty he had taken over from Fordyce and Frank Jonke, last year. With Fordyce off, Ameobi was the natural choice to take the penalty. The shot was hit low along the ground, very narrow and well within reach of Pickens, whose grab turned out to be the final play of the match.

I was going to post two .gifs comparing Ameobi’s miss w/ Jonke’s against FTL last year, but here’s an appropriate .gif of a sighing Rabbit from Winnie the Pooh instead.

If there was a silver lining for the Eddies it came in the form of producing more offensive opportunities than in the previous two matches. While much can be said about their problems of linking plays together, the Eddies managed to produce opportunities on the counter. It was perhaps the most dangerous they have looked in their three games, with 4 shots on target and an additional 4 being blocked. The Rowdies did commit mistakes as well facing this defence—resulting in opportunities—and FCE can find a little comfort that they managed to stifle a good midfield for most of the match.

But, at the end of the day, Eddies fans are left with the same questions as before, and some more. Where will the goals come from? What is the plan when this team is in transition? What will it take to get this offence on the same page?

This team can not be dependent on its defensive exploits if they are to win at all this season. It been 270 minutes now with out a goal. Something needs to change, and quick.