Hello and welcome to the blog’s live coverage of Oakland Roots taking on El Paso Locomotive from Laney College. It is, yet another, big game for Roots as they push for a top-seven spot against fifth-place El Paso, marking their second meeting of the season after playing to a 1-1 draw back in April. Oakland walks in at 5-10-6 with 25 points, and as mentioned on the blog yesterday, the quest for (at least) 45 points continues today.
Oakland is coming off of a 3-3 tie against Sacramento Republic after holding a 3-2 lead, while El Paso had an impressive 1-nil win over second-place Colorado Springs. Prior to their win, Locomotive wasn’t in the best run of form with a 0-0 tie against RGV Toros and a 2-2 draw against Atlanta United II. El Paso will be without striker Lucho Solignac and veteran centerback Yuma.
Roots have three games left in July before a two-week break at the start of August, including matches at home against Las Vegas on July 23 and Phoenix on July 27. I marked both Vegas and Phoenix as must-wins for Oakland to achieve 45 points, and taking points against a team above them in the table tonight will certainly point them in the right direction.
In Bloom’s match preview, he highlights some of Locomotive’s goal stats comparing to Oakland, while naming Aaron Gomez, Dylan Mares, and Nick Hinds as his players to watch.
El Paso are fifth in the league in goals/90 minutes, with 1.81. El Paso do not concede many, only 1.14/90. Five Thirty Eight has El Paso evaluated about how their record would suggest, with a comparable offense to Oakland’s, but a noticeably better defense. Five Thirty Eight weighs home field advantage highly enough that they have the Roots as modest favorites to win this weekend.
Postgame Interviews
Juan Guerra
Ottar Magnus Karlsson
RootsBlog Man of the Match
Edgardo Rito
Edgardo Rito was instrumental on the right side, frequently defeating his defender to create goals. He played a major part in three of the four goals, credited with one assist and one penalty won. He assisted Ottar’s first goal, won the penalty to get Oakland’s second goal by Karlsson, while Rito’s pass to Darek Formella helped lead to his second-effort goal. It was a complete night for the right wingback.
Ottar Magnus Karlsson
How can we not mention after his two goal performance? Ottar is firmly leading the Golden Boot race with 15, three ahead of Orange County’s Milan Iloski. Karlsson’s first goal was everything you wanted to see from your #9, a perfect first touch in front of the net to slot it away. He put away his second goal by way of a penalty; he’s now converted six of seven PKs this season.
Key Events
- ROOTS GOAL – 41′
ITS A BLOWOUT. Jose wins possession at the top of the area, sends in a rocket!
- ROOTS GOAL – 32′
Rito draws the PK, Ottar scores
- ROOTS GOAL – 22′
Rito squares one to Ottar for the first touch attempt
- Oakland Roots Starting 11
Four changes from Sac, Johnsen at right wing, Formella across from him, Mati replaces an injured Nane, while Azocar moves to his natural outside back role.
- El Paso Starting 11
Timeline
Gametime! Oakland Roots look for points against a strong El Paso squad, can they get the job done?
Early corner for Roots cleared out – 1′
Roots want handball in box – 2′
El Paso corner – 6′
leads to nothing.
Near chance Roots- 9′
Rito squares a pass to Azocar, his attempt in the first touch skies over the crossbar. Close distance.
El Paso corner- 12′
Held in. El Paso wants a foul.
El Paso another corner- 14′
cleared
Roots play in called offside- 16′
ROOTS GOAL – 22′
Ball to Rito, he squares it to Ottar for the first touch shot and goal.
El paso corner, attempt goes over – 24′
Emrah attempt skies – 28′
Rito draws a pen! – 31′
OTTAR BURIES IT
ROOTS GOAL – 34′
It’s 3-nil! Rito a ball to Formella, his header saved, then sends in the goal while laying on his back
ROOTS GOAL – 41′
ITS A BLOWOUT. Jose wins possession at the top of the area, sends in a rocket!
Emrah header wide – 45
from a corner
First half notes:
It’s a blowout baybayyyyyy
4-nil at the, Roots largest first half lead in club history. Might be sub time soon! Hoping to see Mariona and Mbumba.
7 shots, 5 on target, 5 big chances with 2 missed. El Paso 4 shots, 1 on target, 1 big chance missed
Ottar hot out of the gates, shot on target – 46′
Roots corner – 65′
Draws another. Leads to nothing.
Roots sub – Charlie on for Mati 68′
Roots corner – 71′
Ottar header sails.
sub – 77′
Mariona, Chuy, Johnny on