Oakland Roots SC and Miami FC played out a goalless draw in USL Championship action on Saturday, with neither side able to find a breakthrough despite a scrappy, ill-tempered affair at Oakland.
The match was physical from the outset. Miami's Tulu picked up the first yellow card of the night in the 18th minute, and teammate Mame Diallo followed him into the book just before halftime in the 44th. The first half ended without a goal but not without incident, setting the tone for a fractious second period.
Things only escalated after the break. Oakland's Bobosi Byaruhanga was cautioned in the 53rd minute, and Jesús de Vicente joined him eight minutes later, picking up a yellow of his own. Miami's Diego Mello was booked in the 72nd minute before Oakland's Daniel Trejo saw yellow in the 81st. Angelo Calfo rounded out a messy evening with Miami's fourth caution in the 86th minute. Seven yellow cards were shown in total — three to Oakland, four to Miami — yet remarkably, no player was sent off.
With so much energy spent on fouls and stoppages, clear-cut chances were hard to come by. Neither goalkeeper was tested enough to produce a defining moment, and the match drifted toward its inevitable conclusion.
The point does little for either side. Oakland Roots remain stuck in neutral at home, while Miami FC will head back to South Florida knowing they were never truly close to stealing all three points on the road.
USL Championship