Hello and welcome to the blog’s live coverage of Oakland Roots hosting San Antonio FC. The Baby Spurs walk into Oakland with first place and, as mentioned on RootsPod, don’t necessarily need a win given they are five points clear of second place. Roots, however, could certainly use points while four points back of Las Vegas Lights in the seventh-place playoff line.
Lights are losing against Tampa Bay Rowdies earlier today. Sixth-place El Paso Locomotive is now seven points clear of Roots after defeating New Mexico United 2-1 yesterday.
Oakland’s leading goal scorer Ottar Magnus Karlsson was back at practice, but evidently is still out of the lineup; the trainers must not feel he’s fit enough to play after returning from a multiple week absense. He would’ve been a welcome sight back given San Antonio has allowed just 22 goals so far this season. The two sides played to a 1-1 draw back in June after Joseph Nane scored an early goal in the 29th minute only for SAFC to answer in first-half stoppage time.
In the match preview, Bloom highlights San Antonio’s current run of form:
This is possibly the best time to be catching the Western Conference pace-setters. SAFC are 2-2-2 in their last six, a run that started with a 1-1 home draw to Galaxy II, a 3-0 loss in San Diego, and a 2-1 home win over Loudoun. Not the most inspiring stuff. They followed that up with a 2-0 win over Las Vegas, which is a decent result this season, even if it was in San Antonio… SAFC then hosted RGV Toros and eked out a 2-2 draw… This past weekend, San Antonio fell 1-0 on the road to Indy Eleven, a team that only has 28 points despite sharing a division with Loudoun, Charleston, Atlanta 2, and Red Bulls 2.
Bloom lists San Antonio’s players to watch as: Mitch Taintor (funny name), Mohamed Abu, Santiago Patiño, and defenders Fabien Garcia and Carter Manley–who may be out.
Postgame Interview
Key Events
- San Antonio goal – 85′
Wins ball high off of Morad, Adeniran scores again.
- San Antonio goal – 5′
Adeniran all alone on a ball over the top. Easy goal for him.
- Oakland Roots starting 11
Ottar is not back, evidently. Formella gets his third straight start in the #9 and Lindo Mfeka gets the start in place of Charlie Dennis. Nane is in for Jose Hernandez, who is out due to card accumulation.
- San Antonio starting 11
Timeline
Gametime! A victory would creep Oakland closer to Las Vegas and the playoff line, can they get the job done. Track all the key moments below.
SAFC goal – 5′
Adeniran left all alone, easy goal.
Adeniran shot on target – 8′
Roots corner – 14′
Played short to Johnsen, cleared out.
SAFC cross bar, deflected out for corner – 16′
caught by Paul
30 minutes, 1 shot for Roots.
SAFC set piece – 33′
Play in caught by Paul
SAFC corner – 42′
Goes out.
Rito nice run, shot from tough angle closed out by Farr- 45
Leads to a corner. Mati tries a flick on but its cleared out.
First Half notes:
Not much fluidity from Roots until the closing minute. 4 shots, 1 on target, 1 big chance missed with 62 percent possession time. SAFC has 8 shots, 3 on target.
Ottar in for Lindo
Rito shot wide – 50′
Nane shot blocked, but trickled through – 52′
Nane off for Dennis due to injury – 63′
shot by Dennis, diving save by Farr – 65′
Roots corner cleared out – 65′
2 huge stops by Paul – 67′
first was a closeout on a breakaway.
SAFC set piece in good area – 70′
shot narrowly wide.
Chuy on for Johnsen- 71′
SAFC shot wide -73′
SAFC corner – 80′
cleared out
Paul big save – 80′
SAFC kills game – 85′
Wins ball high off of Morad, Adeniran scores again.