Welcome to the blog’s live coverage of Oakland Roots traveling to Monterey Bay FC’s Cardinale Stadium. The Roots come in after a stunning come-from-behind victory over Orange County SC and look to put together their first win streak of the season. A victory would avenge a home-opener 3-2 loss to Monterey back on March 26 and continue their ascent up the table.
Currently 3-7-4 with 16 points, Oakland enters Saturday’s match unbeaten in the last five matches in ninth place and could inch closer to RGV Toros in seventh, lost to LA Galaxy II and will play at Laney next week. Sac Republic in eighth, meanwhile, faces San Antonio tonight.
Although Monterey is in dead-last at 4-0-7, they are 3-0-1 in the last four games and closed May with monumental wins against the league’s No. 1 ranked teams, defeating Louisville City 2-0 and Colorado Springs 4-2. As Juan Guerra mentioned in our recent postgame interview, Monterey is doing a lot of good things and can’t be taken lightly.
Here’s an excerpt from Bloom’s match preview:
I don’t even know what to tell you about this team. They were 1-0-6 until May and are 3-0-1 since then including knocking off the first place teams in each conference by convincing margins. In their only away game since opening Cardinale Stadium on May 7, traveled to Louisville and handed City only their second loss… This past weekend, MBFC hosted Colorado Springs Switchbacks in Seaside, and beat them soundly…
Postgame Interview
RootsBlog Man of the Match
Edgardo Rito
Edgardo Rito is Man of the Match after scoring his goal in the 22nd minute and being a consistent presence down the right wing. His speed stretched the field, often giving himself acres of space. His goal came on a nice pass from Mikael Johnsen while marching unmarked in the box.
Key Events
- ROOTS GOAL – Fin.
Ottar assists Formella to kill the game. Karlsson records his first assist of the year.
- ROOTS GOAL – 22′
Johnsen finds Rito for the one touch shot.
- Oakland Roots Starting 11
Johnsen gets the start in the attack opposite of Charlie Dennis are the only changes. Big opportunity for the Norweigan to show what he can do going forward. Juan Carlos Azocar continues his appearance streak, yet to miss a game.
- Monterey Bay Starting 11
Timeline
Gametime! We are live with The Function in Cardinale Stadium.
empty buildup – 6′
Dennis couldn’t find Mikael.
MBFC corner – 9′
Cleared out. Starts counter.
Roots set piece – 10th
Ball falls to Mati. Shot high.
MBFC set – 15′
Ball in knocked out for a corner.
Corner – 16′
Cleared again.
MBFC corner- 16′
Product of keeping the ball in.
Near own goal for MBFC – 18′
Rito nice run, looks for a pass and nearly gets pushed into Monterey’s net.
ROOTS GOAL – 22′
Johnsen finds Rito marching toward goal for the one-touch shot.
MBFC shot high -27′
Roots set piece leads to nothing – 28′
Johnsen shot wide -35′
Rito with the feed, one touch shot goes wide.
MBFC corner -38′
Cleared out.
Johnsen bowled over in the box, no call – 40′
Johnsen shot on target – 44′
straight to keeper
First half notes:
Solid first half from Roots, could have more than one.
Scored once with four shots and one on target. Holding 60 percent possession. Monterey with two shots, none on target.
Roots are currently in 7th if tonight’s results hold.
Johnsen a shot on target, diving save – 46′
Big save Benny- 51′
Ball deflects and misdirected toward goal. Diving save by Diaz.
Dennis crashed into MB keeper – 58′
Roots buildup, Jose doesn’t pull the trigger – 63′
Roots sub – 73′
Lindo on for
Roots corner – 81′
Ball in cleared out.
Roots sub, Formella on for Johnsen
MbFC shot wide -84′
Nervous moments in the 84th. Shot on volley goes wide
Roots sub, Nane on for Mati.
Monterey corner – 89′
Cleared out.
Roots set. 90
Ball in by Azocar targets Ottar, ball nearly goes in.