Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Oakland Roots visiting LA Galaxy II. It’s another critical match for Oakland, which enters with a 5-9-5 overall record in eighth place and are just one point shy of sixth. Roots, meanwhile, are equal points with Los Angeles but have played one more match so far this season.
Oakland continues as the most active team in the USL with its 20th match played tonight. As we touched on in RootsPod, a lot still has to go right in regards to the activity from other teams. Las Vegas in seventh will have two games in hand by the end of the weekend; New Mexico with five, Sacramento with four, and San Diego with three. Given all of that, it looks like seventh through fifth could be Oakland’s target range for a playoff berth, but a productive month of July would pay large dividends.
A victory is critical for the club. Aside from pushing into the top-six, it’ll help separate from Los Angeles, RGV Toros, and Phoenix Rising below them. Tonight marks the start of a critical five-games stretch through July with Sacramento on July 9, El Paso on July 16, Las Vegas on July 23, and Phoenix on July 27 prior to a two-week break in the action until playing at Detrout on August 13.
Oakland last defeated LA 1-0 back on May 21 at Laney, who are coming off of a 3-1 win against Miami FC with two goals in the first 10 minutes and their final goal by Preston Judd in the 70th. Bloom highlights Los Dos’ last match in his match preview and names Judd as the player to watch tonight:
Galaxy II got off to a hot start, scoring twice in the first ten minutes. Miami gave the home fans hope when they scored in the 16th, and it looks like they kinda should have equalized in the 43rd, but the the AR said the ball did not cross the line. Preston Judd got a third basically all by himself in the 70th to put the game away. So what have we learned? Galaxy II’s defense is prone to hilarious ineptitude, but their attack scores goals. Preston Judd has 8 goals on the season, 3 fewer than Karlsson. He has not been called up to Galaxy I yet, and maybe he never will, at 22, but with 17 goals last year you’d think he has a good shot.
https://oaklandrootsblog.com/2022/07/01/la-galaxy-ii-vs-oakland-roots-match-preview-july-1-2022/
Key Events
- LA goal – 89′
Then Preston Judd bites Steph Curry’s celebration. If only they had fans.
- Azocar goal – 88′
Rocket off of the volley
- LA goal – 56′
Game getting away from Roots down a man.
- LA goal – 52′
Ball into the area, header goal by Cabral.
- Charlie Dennis red card – first half stoppage
- Oakland Roots Starting 11
Johnsen gets another start on the left opposite of Dennis. Azocar sits for Memo at left back. Rito returns at right back.
- LA Galaxy II Starting 11
Timeline
Gametime! A win creeps Oakland up to sixth place, for now. Can Roots get the job done?
Pair of looks for Roots – 1′
Johnsen feeds Charlie, but he can’t get a good handle on the pass. Moments later, Rito looks for Karlsson in front of the net, but can’t put it in. May have been called offside.
Roots corner – 7′
Cleared out. Roots maintain possession.
Johnsen looks for Karlsson, pass too high – 8′
Roots corner – 10′
Header by Karlsson goes wide.
Paul save – 18′
Nice break down the field for LA, shot on target saved by Blanchette.
Rito a shot on target – 20′
Nice feed by Karlsson to Rito charging into the area. His shot saved.
Johnsen a shot on target – 21′
Does great to beat the defender 1-on-1, another save by LA.
Roots corner – 22′
Johnsen draws corner with his shot on target. Jose plays short, Roots can’t finish their play.
Karlsson shot on target – 26′
Forces another diving save. Play starts with a steal by Memo around midfield. Forces a corner.
Roots corner – 26′
Tarek header hits the crossbar.
Paul save – 33′
Shot on target, goes straight to him. Good stop.
Johnsen out for Chuy – 35′
tough loss
Roots corner – 39′
Jose shot on target – 40′
Another save by the keeper.
LA set piece – 45+4′
Wins ball high off of Nane, leads to a foul… I guess.
Shot easily handled by Paul.
Charlie Dennis red carded – first half stoppage.
Second yellow. Soft call but you have to have more awareness.
First half notes:
Roots end the first half down a man, Dennis carded twice in a matter of minutes. Seems a bit harsh. Roots end half with 8 shots, 5 on target, 1 big chance missed. LA with 3 shots all on target.
Paul easy handled save – 46′
LA goal – 52′
Ball into the area, Cabral header goal.
LA misses open chance – 55′
LA goal – 56′
Roots are disjointed in the back. LA little 1-2 passes, and its getting away from them.
Paul big save – 64′
Huge save Paul – 67′
Mati and Azocar coming on for Nane and Fuenmayor
Paul another save – 72′
Paul another save – 81′
Worst second half all season?
LA hits crossbar – 82′
Azocar goal – 88′
Azocar hits a shot off the volley from a corner, Roots trail 2-1.
LA goal – 89′
This sucks.