Hello and welcome to the blog’s live coverage of the Oakland Roots playing away at Las Vegas, coming to you from the Roots supporters’ section in Sin City.
The Roots enter with a 1-5-4 record and sit two points from the bottom of the table, while Vegas is 4-2-4 and in sixth. With a win, Oakland would overtake RGV Toros in 10th and be three points shy of seventh place to put itself back in the playoff discussion.
Provided is an excerpt from Bloom’s preview of tonight’s match, where he highlights the Lights’ current run of form after their 1-nil loss to Monterey Bay:
Every highlight in this is a Monterey Bay chance, some of them thwarted through good defense, some through questionable finishing. Monterey Bay ultimate took the lead on a screamer from Walmer Martinez right at the 55 minute mark. It’s worth watching for the goal and for the sunset behind the goal. That stadium is immediately the prettiest I have seen in USL. Possession was pretty much even through the game, but lights registered 6 shots, 1 on target, and deserved no more than they got.
https://oaklandrootsblog.com/2022/05/14/las-vegas-lights-vs-oakland-roots-match-preview-may-14-2022/?amp=1
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RootsBlog Man of the Match
Ottar Magnus Karlsson gets my RootsBlog Man of the Match after tying the league lead in goals with six. He also tied last year’s highest goal scorer from Roots, Jeremy Bokila.
He has Roots’ highest rating with a 7.6, recording:
One goal with two shots that were both on target, completed nine of 14 passes, two successful dribbles in as many attempts, won 1/1 tackle, one clearwnce, two recoveries, won 4/9 ground duels, 1/2 aerial duels, and drew one foul.
Key Events
- ROOTS GOAL – 3′
Johnsen with a great run, plays through to Ottar–GOAL
- Oakland Roots Starting 11
I hit 100 percent on the starting 11, Mikael Johnsen gets his first start of the season beside Jose Hernandez. Matias Fissore is back, as expected, and can provide defensive stability in the second half.
Timeline
Gametime!
ROOTS GOAL – 3′
Johnsen with a great run, plays through to Ottar–GOAL
Roots sub – 15′
Klimenta on for Fuenmayor, picked up an early knock.
Lights corner – 21′
Cleared out
Azocar shot sails – 22′
Lights corner – 23′
Header goal ties it.
Ottar header – 25′
Ottar header tipped over the bar for a corner. Nice pass from Formella
Lights near through ball – 30′
Klimenta kicks out after ball gets by morad. LV keeps ball in
Roots hold ball in but JCA shoots really high – 34′
Save Benny – 37′
Run at the left post by Iksenderian
Dennis shot high – 38′
LV corner – 40′
Lights corner, cleared out this time. Lights retain possession.
Rito down, looks in pain. Calls straight to bench. – 41′
LV corner – 44′
Nice counter attack leads to a corner. Cleared out.
First half notes:
Even match, tied 1-1. Roots have 49 percent possession with three shots, two on target. Lights with four shots, two on target, drawn four corners. LV takes advantage of Oakland’s set piece defending for the goal.
Roots corner early cleared out.
Danny Barbir shot on target – 51′
Easily saved.
JCA low cross cant connect – 52′
Behind Ottar
Roots corner – 53′
Dennis cross in cleared out.
Rito play in – 57′
Rito 1-on-1, looks to cutback on a pass. Nobody home.
Johnsen shot sails – 59′
Formella shot high – 59′
Tipped by a foot for a corner.
Roots corner – 60′
Cleared out.
Roots corner – 62′
Dennis cross caught by keeper.
Dennis off the post- 63′
Formella finds Dennis, his shot hits off of the left post. Leads to a corner, nada.
Lights playing aggressive, controlling possession and shutting down middle of the park.
Chuy draws corner – 83′
Nice run by Chuy, defended out for a corner.
Roots sub – 84′
Memo and Johnny on for Barbir and Formella. Johnsen moved to left back
Roots corner – 85′
Chuy cross cleared out.
Roots chance – 87′
Memo ball to Johnny, gets a foot on it and goes across face.
JCA header blocked – 89′
Nice cross, headed straight to the feet of a defender.
Roots set piece – 90′
JCA skies a shot attempt.
Roots corner – 90+3′
Chuy cross headed out for another corner.
2nd attempt leads to a counter. Rito defends.
Game, ends tied 1-1. Roots’ record moves to 1-6-4