Hello and welcome to the blog’s live coverage of Oakland Roots hosting Atlanta United II from Laney College. It’s another must-win match for Oakland against the lowly Atlanta II side which are among the worst teams in the USL Championship and has shipped 36 goals all season.
Despite Peter and I voicing some pessimism in RootsPod this week, Oakland enters with a 4-9-5 overall record and are still in striking distance of a playoff spot with 21 points. They enter Saturday 11th in the Western Conference following LA Galaxy II’s result earlier today, and the day started with team’s ranked third through seventh holding 25 points. A victory won’t put Oakland into the top-seven, but it’s still undoubtedly required to continue being in the discussion.
Tonight’s match also provides an opportunity for The Function to voice its displeasure with Friday’s Supreme Court ruling to overturn Roe vs. Wade. The Radicals are planning a tifo in conjunction with AbortionFinder.org, while you should expect some boisterous chants to take place. It’s worth mentioning that Atlanta United II and its parent club are among the club’s which remained silent about yesterday’s ruling–which isn’t a big surprise coming from far-right wing U.S. representative Marjorie Taylor Greene’s state.
Back to the match, Bloom highlights both team’s run of form heading into tonight’s match and throws some shade toward “The Twos.”
ATL2 have never been competitive in USL, and 2021 was their first time with more than half as many wins as losses. I was going to call them “the Twos,” as a half-hearted joke like Galaxy’s “Los Dos,” but it turns out their home announcers in the highlights call them “the Twos.”
https://oaklandrootsblog.com/2022/06/21/oakland-roots-vs-atlanta-united-ii-match-preview-june-25-2022/
Bloom’s Players to Watch include Jackson Conway, Robbie Mertz, and 19-year old Brazilian, Raimar.
Postgame Interviews
Juan Guerra
Memo Diaz
RootsBlog Man of the Match
Memo Diaz
It was a fantastic performance for Memo Diaz, filling in for Edgardo Rito on the right side. He stood on Juan Guerra’s words that Diaz is among the best service players in the league. He had one assist, seven chances created, and was FotMob’s highest rated player at 8.7.
Mikael Johnsen
How awesome was Mikael Johnsen? The Norweigan was brilliant on the left wing, where Juan Guerra thinks he fits in the best. He scored the goal to make it 1-nil in the 50th minute, drew the PK in the 75th, and was electric making runs into the area. He created two chances and four shots.
Key Events
- ROOTS GOAL – 89′
Johnny wins the ball off of a defender, 1-o-1 with keeper and puts it away. His first of the year
- ROOTS GOAL – 75′
Johnsen draws the PK and Ottar buries it. Karlsson’s 11th of the year, great run by Johnsen.
- ATL goal – 60′
No offside call
- ROOTS GOAL – 50′
- Oakland Roots Starting 11
Johnsen starts up top on the left side with Darek Formella in Juan Carlos Azocar’ usual spot–out due to injury. In the midfield is Joseph Nane and Matias Fissore, which provides some defensive stability. In the back is Morad, Fuenmayor, and Emrah.
- Atlanta United II
Conway and Mertz in from Bloom’s players to watch, no Raimar.
Timeline
Gametime! Roots look to creep up the table with an advantageous matchup against the lowly Atlanta II side, can they get the job done?
Roots chance – 3′
Dennis wide open shot, sails high. Head in your hands moment from him.
Roots set piece – 6′
Tarek header high.
Dennis another chance – 9′
Feed by Emrah, Dennis doesnt make good contact
Johnsen shot cleared off of the line – 11′
Roots corner – 14′
Nane header goes high
Dennis header high – 15′
Ball in by Memo
Ottar header wide – 29′
Nice pass from Memo
Memo shot hits outside post – 31′
nice pass from Johnsen
ATL corner – 33′
Dennis shot saved, close distance – 45′
could have a hat trick
Ottar shot blocked for corner – 45′
Leads to nothing.
First half notes:
Dennis could have a hat trick, but a shot high, bad contact, and save in close distance.
Roots have 16 shots, 2 on target, 4 big chances missed and 54 percent possession. ATL with 3 shots, 1 on target.
ROOTS GOAL – 50′
Memo a perfect cross to Johnsen for the header goal on the doorstep. His first Roots goal, Memo’s first assist of the year.
Memo looks to feed Johnsen, shot high – 53′
Karlsson shot on target – 56′
nice feed by Memo
ATL goal – 60′
not sure how he wasnt offside. 1-o-1, was past Morad
Ottar shot saved, diving stop
Johnsen draws a corner. Contact on his shot, no call – 67′
corner leads to nothing.
ROOTS GOAL- 75′
Johnsen draws the PK and Ottar buries it. Karlsson’s 11th of the year, great run by Johnsen.
Chuy on for Dennis
Johnny on for Ottar – 83′
ROOTS GOAL – 89′
Johnny wins the ball off of a defender, 1-o-1 with keeper and puts it away. His first of the year
Memo shot on target