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The Foxes(2) travel to take on Reno(3) at Greater Nevada Field. The Foxes are looking to bounce back from a 2-1 defeat at Tulsa last week. Reno is coming off a run of three consecutive losses – two of which happened at home. It will be a match where both teams will be looking to plant their flags in the ground and create a clear stake in the second-place spot. The Little Cities Derby should be a cracker with both teams desperate to get something.

Reno’s Woes Worsen

Reno is currently in 3rd place, but they have suffered a series of defeats both at home and on the road. Their recent dip in form might be partially accounted to the loss of players like Brian Brown, but it seems to be something more systemic.

Reno was outscored significantly in the last three games they’ve played. While Phoenix beating Reno fits with the current narrative about that team (16 wins is not a fluke), the loss to San Antonio is probably more worrying for the 1868 because San Antonio sits pretty deep in the table.

If Reno loses to Fresno, they will be in dire straits. Not only will Fresno be 6 points clear in second place, but if Austin manages a win, then they will be just one point above fourth place. That puts them in a tough position. Their moral is probably low, but they have the pressure of the must-win situation that could propel them to greatness or crush them.

Recent Signings

Some bad news for the Foxes revolves around two signings Reno made in the two last week. Reno put pen to paper to sign two separate forwards one Cuban and one German. Four days ago Reno signed Mattia Trianni from VfR Aalen, a team in the 3rd league of the German Pyramid. He is an experienced player with over 185 senior team caps and 25 goals. On August 29th Reno made a first of a kind signing of a Cuban player on loan from the Guatemalan first division. Luis Paradela is the first Cuban athlete to sign on a P1-A Athlete visa – and Reno searched him out to bring goals to the team.

The signings, specifically Paradela, are worrying. Paradela is an experienced international with three starts for Cuba in the Gold Cup, and Trianni brings a wealth of experience with him from Germany. The Foxes are currently experiencing an injury glut, and it remains to be seen how Smith will deal with all of the missing players and bring together a team who can get something from this game.

How Do We Respond?

We are flush with injuries, and it has led to some strange formations from Coach Smith. The two striker system we have been fielding is hit or miss considering we play two target men rather than a quick or pacy poacher. We need to figure out the wings and get a clear forward midfield replacement for Basuljevic if we are going to score.

Luckily our defense is very good, but they will have to be exceptional this game. The threat of Reno’s new signings and Corey Hertzog’s 13 goals are a threat that looms over our possibilities. We need to be systematic in how we shut them down, close down lanes, and keep possession. I would like to see Caffa moved forward this game, and someone like Alihodzic moved into a defensive holding role with Kurimoto. Those two together can keep possession well, they have great passing percentages, and they can stop the play in its tracks.

Predictions

This is going to be a tough game simply because we don’t know what is going to happen. Who will Reno play? How will the new forwards be used? Its a puzzle for Smith this week and the best solution might just be to play to our own strengths and not worry about Reno?

I think historically, three 1-1 finishes shows how close our match-ups have been in the past. I think 1-1 is a safe but also fair prediction.

#DaleFresno #SomosZorros