Hello and welcome to the blog’s live coverage of Oakland Roots hosting San Diego Loyal from Laney College Stadium. The Roots enter after a disappointing 2-0 loss to Greenville Triumph in the U.S. Open Cup, while San Diego ranks atop the Western Conference with a 5-0-1 record and hot off of a 4-0 victory against Charleston Battery.
The two sides faced four times last season, Oakland has an early lead on the series at 2-1-1 but are the clear underdogs tonight.
Bloom’s match preview addressed the Loyals’ signing of Andrew Carleton, a devote right-wing fascist (or fascist sympathizer). Here’s a good excerpt that shows the blog’s opinion on his presence in the league:
..The club’s politics have gotten less admirable this season. Loyal signed midfielder and Atlanta United drop-out Andrew Carleton, two months after he posted on Instagram about trying to get to the January 6 riot in Washington. The team has clowned themselves going to bat for this guy, who is not sorry, and so far has barely appeared for them but infuriated at least some of their supporters. I don’t know what to say here. It’s not funny. Welcoming racist traitors back into society was a mistake in 1865 and it’s a mistake now. San Diego could have just not signed him. There really are more important things than winning soccer games.
The Roots Radicals have prepared a tifo in response to Carleton and several recent incidents of racism occurring at interscholastic high school sporting events throughout California. In leaflets, Radicals and other supporters groups within The Function are making fellow attendees aware of four recent racist taunts at CIF games that occurred from July 2021-March 2022; a De La Salle racist taunt toward Sanger HS, two incidents at Clovis Buchannan, and Orange Glen flinging tortillas toward San Diego’s Coronado HS.
The banner has a painted depiction of a classic Oakland sideshow and “510” in the top-left corner, with a “161” in the bottom-right to represent the numerical code for “AFA” or “Anti-Fascist Action” as a calling to combat racism and fascism in sports. Below in two columns reads, “ALWAYS TURNT UP” and “ALWAYS ANTIRACIST”.
Photos:
Key Events
Juan Guerra’s postmatch press conference
Roots goal – stoppage
HOLY SHIT. ROOTS TIE IN STOPPAGE to steal a point. Emrah Klimenta a PERFECT pass to Karlsson for the header goal. What a play.
SD goal in the 53rd. Loose touch by Mati, Carleton flicks pass to Collin Martin. His shot goes in. Bad turn for Roots, playing well up to that point.
Oakland Roots Starting 11 Reaction
I guess the starting 11 correctly for the first time! I think this is the top choice, currently. Formella and Charlie up top with Karlsson, let’s hope Jose can have the same impact as he did against Tampa Bay.
Oakland, your Starting Xl for tonight's matchup against @SanDiegoLoyal.
