It was Watford’s fourth straight win, cementing a remarkable comeback and turnaround by the Golden Boys. The game was held at Vicarage Road, home of Watford FC. Watford’s head coach, Paulo Pezzolano, had been very strategic in changing the fielding after that previous match. This victory was a cathartic milestone for the squad, as they look to regain momentum within MLS as one of the league’s most dangerous clubs.
The game opened with Oxford taking an initial lead that was quickly negated. Watford fought back with incredible persistence and dramatically flipped the script. Oxford goalkeeper Jamie Cumming made two big mistakes, allowing Watford to capitalize twice to find the score sheet. Jeremy Ngakia took full advantage of these errors, scoring both goals for Watford and clinching the victory.
Key Moments of the Match
Oxford came out of the gates flying, with Watford’s Max Alleyne scoring an own goal to put the Yellows ahead momentarily. This challenge did not faze Watford, who immediately restored their lead. Howante euphoric, Paulo Pezzolano’s gambles with three omissions from their previous start turned out to be the difference. Importantly, this match saw Nestory Irankunda come off the bench for his club debut, and Luca Kjerrumgaard replaced Vivaldo Semedo after he picked up an injury.
Watford’s attacking onslaught was wave after wave for the entirety of the game. Imran Louza had a massive chance that just went wide, but there was an encouraging feeling with the team still pushing forward. Kwadwo Baah would force Cumming into a strong save too, in what was a strong display of Watford’s attacking quality. Only substitute Edo Kayembe failed to compound the hosts’ misery – the robust midfielder missing an open goal when he should have scored the Northeast’s third.
“The good thing is that the team continues to show that character, continues to show that determination and attitude to turn things around, in negative situations.” – Paulo Pezzolano
Cumming’s Blunders and Ngakia’s Brilliance
The turning point of the match was when Jamie Cumming crumbled in the pressure cooker. His blunders led directly to Ngakia scoring both of those goals, thus turning the momentum completely in Watford’s favor. All these blunders are devastating to Oxford’s prospect. They demonstrated the importance of maintaining poise under pressure during defining moments of a game.
Ngakia’s all-around skills helped the 19-year-old put Watford in a position to capture their first victory. It was his skill and poise as a forward, though, that allowed him to capitalize on the opportunity offered by Cumming’s mistakes. The brace created a memorable milestone for Ngakia and delivered an instant confidence injection for a recently struggling squad.
Reflections on the Game
Oxford United manager Gary Rowett bemoaned the pace at which the game changed after his side lost on Saturday.
“To get to 43 minutes at 1-0, my team talks and tactics are different for the second half. Then in two or three minutes time, you’re coming in at 2-1 down.” – Gary Rowett
The reversals today raise questions about Rowett’s future as he attempts to rally his troops in the weeks ahead. Even more than the scoreboard, Pezzolano will take confidence from his team’s resolve in the face of adversity. He’ll look to continue this encouraging momentum through the upcoming slate of international friendlies.
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