Welcome to the blog’s live coverage of Oakland Roots hosting the Tampa Bay Rowdies from Laney College Stadium. The Roots enter with a 0-1-3 record, still looking for its first win while hosting the defending USL Championship finalists, who are 2-2-0 after four appearances. What can go wrong?
Through four matches, Oakland has scored five goals but have conceded eight. They rank around the middle of the league in both shots on target allowed and shots on target recorded with 11 and 10 respectively.
The Roots come in after drawing 2-2 with New Mexico, featuring a back-three formation with Tarek Morad, Danny Barbir, and Alejandro Fuenmayor. Do they run it again? Predicting Oakland’s lineup in these early games require some guesswork, check out RootsBlog’s three lineup predictions in today’s match preview.
Defending Tampa Bay poses a real dilemma. If you try to funnel them through the middle, the back 3 are perfectly capable of bypassing your midfield overload with a long ball to one of the wingers. But if you close down the center backs you might be leaving Rowdies’ midfield with too much space to operate. And if you force the ball outside, you’re practically playing into Rowdies’ hands. Rowdies’ ability to switch play will probably neutralize what you’re doing anyway. Tampa also counterattacks with lightning speed, and takes every throw and restart more quickly than any team I’ve ever seen. Honestly, in terms of attack, this squad has the complete package, and they play like they know it: relentlessly, and with pace. Also, they’re pretty good with corners.
Key Events
Juan Guerra postgame press conference
Oakland Roots Starting XI reaction:
Roots leaked their Starting XI early, it’s a similar formation to Wednesday, 3-4-2-1. Same back line, only changes are Jose Hernandez on for Joseph Nane, Lindo Mfeka on for Darek Formella.
More aggressive with Jose Hernandez, but good to see this formation back for a second consecutive match. Tampa Bay will require more defensively out of Juan Carlos Azocar and Edgardo Rito.
Timeline
Chuy goal wiped – 90+1
perfect ball to chuy, his header goal wiped off.
Rito shot stopped – 90+1′
Rito with a nice run in. Cant make good contact on his attempt
Nane shot stuffed – 89′
on counter, Chuy plays ball to Nane. Keeper meets him at the ball
Diaz big save – 88′
TBR with their best look, shot on target saved.
Fuenmayor with a last ditch block – 86′
leads to a corner
TBR shot on target – 82′
Goes straight to Diaz
Chuy on for Dennis – 81′
TB free kick – 78′
Long ball in, header not on target.
Nane in for Mati
TB spot try – 76′
low ball in cleared out
Formella coming on 70′
Formella on for Lindo
barbir last ditch tackle -62′
good tackle Barbir to stop a potential scoring opportunity
Roots corner – 54′
Ball played to Ottar, his shot goes over
Halftime
Roots, truthfully, have been the better side.
7 shots with 3 on target, 1 big chances missed. Tampa Bay with just 1 shot attempt.
Karlsson shot deflected wide – 41′
Rito feeds Karlsson, his shot deflected wide by a defender. Leads to 2 corners.
Empty possession – 34′
Rito plays ball across the area, no one home. Second buildup like that. Jose wanted a foul earlier.
Dennis to Azocar – 25′
Dennis sends a cross targetting Ottar, flicks on to JCA. His volley deflects into himself.
Dennis shot high – 21′
Dennis takes a shot that sails high.
Dennis header near goal – 9′
Dennis thinks his header went in, very close. Cleared off line by GK. Leads to 2 corners.
We are facing the #1 Eastern Team and this line-up left me feeling REAAAAAALLLLYYYY good about today’s game. The defensive sacrifice you alluded to, with Rito and Azocar alternating defensively and offensively can be challenging for all players and physically challenging Rito and Azocar. But it gives Fissore and Hernandez more creative freedom and if they can hold the center of the field, attacking options will be abundant and overwhelming. It’s a great test for Karlsonn and Oakland’s offense, I sense it will give us many goals.
Do you know if Memo Diaz on the substitute bench? Thanks
We are facing the #1 Eastern Team and this line-up left me feeling REAAAAAALLLLYYYY good about today’s game. The defensive sacrifice you alluded to, with Rito and Azocar alternating defensively and offensively can be challenging for all players and physically challenging Rito and Azocar. But it gives Fissore and Hernandez more creative freedom and if they can hold the center of the field, attacking options will be abundant and overwhelming. It’s a great test for Karlsonn and Oakland’s offense, I sense it will give us many goals.