Hello and welcome to Saturday’s live coverage of Oakland Roots hosting Los Angeles Galaxy II at Laney College. The Roots enter with a 1-6-4 overall record and have gone 1-4-1 over the last six games, currently in 11th and six points back of the 7th place playoff qualification zone. Could tonight be the turning point for Oakland’s season?
Los Angeles comes into Laney in 8th at 4-2-5, but are coming off of a disastrous 5-nil loss to Memphis 901 earlier this week on Wednesday. Tonight’s match carries similar undertones to Oakland’s 2-1 victory over Galaxy II in the 14th game of last season when Roots SC held a bleak 1-4-8 record. Like that August-win over LA, a victory would inch the Roots out of the cellar and back into the Western Conference discussion.
Here’s an excerpt from Bloom’s official preview, where he highlights both team’s run of form and points out that Oakland can still bring itself back in the race:
Turns out I was right about everything [in 2021] except the Roots being out of the playoff hunt, which they absolutely were not. Things are currently better for the Roots than they were when I wrote that last season. Sure, the playoff hunt is likely slightly harder this season, but there is a lot of time to catch up.
https://oaklandrootsblog.com/2022/05/20/oakland-roots-vs-los-angeles-galaxy-ii-match-preview-may-21-2022/
Postgame Pressers
Juan Guerra’s postgame interview
Timothy Syrel’s postgame interview
RootsBlog Man of the Match
Tim Syrel
Timothy Syrel deserves a shout for stepping into a critical moment, helping close out the win after entering in the 71st minute. And how cool was his interview? His ear-to-ear grin showed what his USL Championship debut meant to him. He’ll be off to compete with UC Davis to start his college career after graduating from De Anza High School in the coming weeks.
Syrel had 19 minutes in his debut, his official stats from the appearance are currently not available. He could have an opportunity to play on May 28 versus Sacramento if Paul Blanchette (COVID) is unable to return.
Ottar Magnus Karlsson
Ottar Magnus Karlsson also gets a shout after scoring his seventh goal of the season; he’s currently tied for the USL Championship Golden Boot with San Diego’s Kyle Vassell. Karlsson’s goal surpasses Oakland’s top goal scorer from last season, Jeremy Bokila, after just 12 games. What’s best of all is we have truly not seen the best of the Big Fucking Viking in Juan Guerra’s attack.
In 90 minutes, Karlsson scored once with six shots, one on target, and one blocked, to go along with completing 19 of 22 passes, 2/3 long balls, 1/1 successful dribbles, one interception, four recoveries, won 1/4 ground duels, 1/2 aerial duels, and finished with 33 total touches.
Key Events
- ROOTS GOAL – 36′
Dennis runs in the box and pulled down from behind. LA been handsy all match. Ottar steps to the spot and buries it
- Oakland Roots Starting 11
We guess the starting 11 correctly again. Emrah Klimenta in for an injured Alejandro Fuenmayor while Mikael Johnsen gets his second consecutive start. Big match for Roots, they’ll need Johnsen and Jose Hernandez to control the midfield and push up centrally.
Timeline
Roots draw three corners early
Ottar header hits the crossbar from corner
Roots fourth corner – 9′
Leads to nothing
Rito with a shot on target saved, tight angle – 11′
LA set piece goes out – 13′
LA shot wide – 26′
Roots set piece – 29′
Ball in by Azocar goes straight to the keeper
Roots set piece – 30′
Ball in by Dennis leads to another corner. Play short, ball cleared out.
Roots play in – 35′
Rito tries to center a pass, but it’s cleared out.
Dennis draws a pen! – 35′
Dennis runs in the box and pulled down from behind. LA been handsy all match.
Ottar steps up and burries the PK, Roots lead 1-nil. Karlsson’s 7th goal of the year.
Jose shot on target – 42′
Function singing his name.
Roots corner – 45+2′
Leads to nothing.
LA set piece
Ball cleared out bg Johnsen
First half notes
Roots lead 1-nil thanks to a PK by Ottar, drawn by Dennis.
Oakland holding 54% possession with 7 shots, 3 on target, 2 blocked, 1 big chance missed and 1 off the woodwork. LA with 4 shots, 1 on target. Solid first half for Roots.
Dennis shot on target – 46′
Dennis with a shot from outside the box goes straight to keeper.
Roots play in – 52′
Rito 1 on 1 but opts to pass after a cutback. Dennis sends a pass straight to LA defender.
Roors corner – 53′
Ball in headed back to Ottar, his header sails over the bar.
Tarek down, being checked by physio – 61′
Looks like he can continue.
yellow on Jose – 63′
Rito shot high – 64′
Rito feeds Karlsson but his shot sails – 68′
LA nreakaway, red card on Benny. On comes the 18 year old – 70′
Syrel a save – 76′
low shot goes straight to him.
Roots sub – 79′
Mati on for Mikael.
LA near chance- 81′
Ball skips around the goal line, LA thinks it went in.
LA corner – 88′
Cleared out
Syrel save – stoppage