Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Oakland Roots playing away at San Antonio FC. The Roots walk in at 4-8-5 overall in ninth place and are passing the midway mark of the season with their 18th appearance while San Antonio is challenging for first in the Western Conference at 10-0-3 with 30 points. That being said, it’s going to be tough, and taking at least a point at Toyota Field will be a welcomed sight.
18 matches into the season, the Roots have played more matches than any USL Championship side, and are still looking to put together a full 90-minute performance. It’s obviously been a process of finding fluidity for coach Juan Guerra and co., and the system will take an undoubted hit without Edgardo Rito available. Oakland hasn’t been terrible over the last eight matches with a 3-4-1 record over that span, but they’ll require a positive result tonight to keep itself in the playoff hunt.
In Bloom’s preview, he highlights San Antonio’s current run of form over their recent five-game road trip. This marks their first appearance at Toyota Field since April 30 against Monterey Bay, which they won 6-nil.
You would want to see a sign of hope that San Antonio limply fell to Sacramento, and then only narrowly beat one of the least reliable teams in the league, but I suspect that has more to do with the five-game road trip than with any decline of SAFC.
https://oaklandrootsblog.com/2022/06/18/san-antonio-f-c-vs-oakland-roots-match-preview-june-18-2022/
Bloom’s players to watch on San Antonio include Mitchell “Uncle T-Bag” Taintor, Victor “PC” Pagliari Giro, Justin Dhillon, and Sam “Extremely Large Man” Adeniran.
RootsBlog Man of the Match
Paul Blanchette
Paul Blanchette was instrumental in holding the tie for Oakland, going left and right for monumental saves in both halves. He finished the night with six saves while battling cramps in the 92 degree heat, helping Roots hold on while down a man late in the game.
Blanchette earned a 7.6 FotMob rating.
Key Events
- SAFC ties – 45+2′
- ROOTS GOAL – 29′
Roots corner plays short to Dennis, plays back to Azocar–his cross targets Joseph Nane for the header goal
- Oakland Roots Starting 11
Joseph Nane gets the start in the midfield opposite of Jose Hernandez. Memo Diaz starts, as expected, same with Paul Blanchette. The back line includes Emrah Klimenta, Tarek Morad, and Alejandro Fuenmayor–Barbir on the bench.
- San Antonio FC Starting 11
All four of Bloom’s players to watch are in the SAFC lineup.
Timeline
Gametime! Roots look to pull off the upset in San Antonio.
SAFC corner – 4′
Headed out for a goal kick
SAFC shot on target – 7′
San Antonio shot from the right side, Blanchette gets a glove on it.
Roots struggling to get out of their half – 11′
Roots corner – 13′
Dennis’ ball toward the near post cleared out.
Joseph Nane yellow – 14′
Formella shot on target – 19′
Shot on target by Formella after a great feed by Memo Diaz. He doesn’t get good contact on his attempt.
SAFC shot wide – 21′
SAFC shot high – 26′
PC with a shot on the volley, sails high.
Roots corner – 29′
Ball into Ottar from Azocar draws a corner.
Plays short to Azocar, ball to Nane for a powerful header GOAL!!!!
Azocar shot sails – 31′
Formella puts it on a platter for him, but Azocar’s touch is heavy and sails high. Gotta put that on target.
Paul save – 32′
Big save by Blanchette. Wide-open header for SAFC
Paul the wall another save – 36′
SAFC set piece – 38′
Ball in sails out.
SAFC set piece – 41′
Ball goes out for a corner off of Emrah.
Corner leads to nothing.
SAFC ties – 45+2′
Loera with a run into the box, his cross headed centrally by PC. Adeniran hammers it home. We’re tied 1-1 at halftime.
First Half Notes:
Oakland tied 1-1 after Nane’s header goal, followed by Adeniran’s equalizer. Roots have three shots, two on target, two big chances with one missed. San Antonio is having a good half as well, but Paul keeping Roots’ in the game with a pair of big saves. SAFC with nine shots, five on target, two big chances with one missed.
SAFC corner – 51′
Leads to nothing, but Roots can’t get ball out of zone.
SAFC shot high – 52′
Taintor shot high.
All SAFC through the first 10 minutes of the second half.
Lindo coming on for Azocar, injury – 58′
Roots set piece – 59′
Long ball into the area by Dennis tagets Fuenmayor, can’t make solid contact on the header.
Blanchette cramping – 62′
Get him a Pedialyte. He’s able to continue.
Roots sub – 70′
Johnsen for Dennis, Mati for Nane.
Roots corner – 72′
Lindo draws a corner for Roots.
Johnsen ball in doesn’t clear the first man.
SAFC corner – 73′
Cleared out.
Formella looks for Ottar, pass overcooked – 76′
Roots can’t control at all in the second half
Karlsson weak shot on target – 80′
Takes a deflection.
Roots set piece – 86′
Mfeka ball in cleared out for a Roots throw in
Johnsen play in the area, good chance for Roots.
PAUL THE WALL, HUGE SAVE – 89′
Barbir on for Memo – 90′
Preserving the tie.
Lindo aggravates his ankle, Roots will be down a man for the remainder of the match
SAFC set piece – 90+6′
In a good area for SAFC, about 11 yards above the area.
Roots hold on for the tie, whew.