San Francisco pulled out a 2-1 victory over FC Edmonton last Saturday at Kezar Stadium. Here are three things we learned from the game:

1) The Deltas have a new hero every game

Most of San Francisco’s wins can only be defined as ‘team wins.’ It feels like almost every game a different Deltas player comes onto the field and delivers an important goal or result. On Saturday Bryan Burke, who had not played significant minutes since July 2nd, started out wide for the Deltas. Although naturally listed as a defender, Burke’s made a huge impact offensively as a midfield winger in a 3-5-2 formation. His goal was absolutely stellar when he outfought the Eddies’ Pedro Galvão to head home a Devon Sandoval cross.

Burke’s cross later in the first half also caused trouble for Edmonton and forced an own goal by defender Albert Watson. You also have to mention the contributions of Sandoval, who scored twice after substituting in against the Cosmos last Wednesday. His assist on Saturday helped him cement NASL player of the week honors. He is the fifth different Deltas player to earn the honors this season (Tommy Heinemann, Kyle Bekker, Pablo Dyego, Cristian Portilla have also been named).

For the Deltas, winning as a team is not just a motto but a reality.



2) San Francisco’s defense is susceptible to long balls over the top

Although the Deltas have continued to not give up many goals they have proven vulnerable to long balls into the penalty box. In last Saturday’s game, a long pass from the Eddie’s Sainey Nyassi found Dustin Corea who headed the ball past Deltas keeper Romuald Peiser. In last Wednesday’s game, a long ball by Cosmos defender Javi Marquez also landed in the Deltas box and during the scramble was finished by New York’s Juan Guerra.

The Deltas have settled into their 3-5-2 defense this season and still are not allowing a large number of goals. However, the long ball goals is a glaring weakness that has to have Deltas head coach Marc Dos Santos concerned.



3) After next weekend the road gets crowded for SF

The Deltas better enjoy their long layoff till next Sunday because the schedule becomes positively brutal for San Francisco the final month of the season. After the October 1st game in Edmonton, San Francisco travels to South Florida to play Miami FC for two away games on Wednesday, October 4th and then Saturday, October 7th.

Then SF travels back home to Kezar to play two home games against Indy Eleven on Wednesday, October 11th, and Puerto Rico FC on Saturday, October 14th.

San Francisco then will play an away game at North Carolina FC on October 21st and finish at home in San Francisco against Jacksonville on October 28th. The team also has a home game to be made up against Miami FC that would most likely be played either Wednesday, October 18th or Wednesday, October 25th.



Luckily San Francisco has put in some hard work to open up a six-point lead on fourth place in the league but it will be a brutal eight-game slog for a team with a short bench. There are inklings that defender Nana Attakora might be able to return from his knee surgery before the end of the season. That should help out but it looks like San Francisco will have to grind out results to ensure that they achieve their goal of making the NASL postseason.