Hello and welcome to the blog’s live coverage of Oakland Roots traveling to San Antonio FC for the season opener of 2023, coming to you live from Old Kan Beer & Co.. Tonight starts our third year covering the organization, we’re incredibly grateful to have your support along the way.
Oakland walks into Toyota Field as the heavy underdogs to last year’s title winners, but it is arguably the best time to catch the defending champions. It’s an opportunity for revenge against SAFC after being knocked out by the title winners in the playoff quarterfinals in a 3-nil loss.
It’s been a busy offseason for Roots, requiring them to replace several starters in Ottar Magnus Karlsson, Charlie Dennis Juan Carlos Azocar, Alejandro Fuenmayor, Jose Hernandez, and Matias Fissore–quite the list. Notable new players available today are Napo Matsoso, Irakoze Donasiyano, and Drew Murray.
For a full recap of the organization’s offseason moves, head to our 2023 Offseason Tracker.
As we mentioned on RootsPod, Oakland still doesn’t have its full roster available. International players like Bryan Tamacas, Neveal Hackshaw, and Kevin Wright are still awaiting their Visas, while the starting lineup shows Anuar Pelaez and Trayvone Reid on the bench after arriving to the United States in recent time. A source familiar to Pelaez expects the newly signed Roots’ striker to play around 20-30 minutes.
In Bloom’s preview, he summed up the situation with Roots lineup going into the season.
I think my concern about the team generally is just how much we don’t know about the attack. We know that this basic group of defenders can hang, and I think there’s reason to think we’ve upgraded in defense. Likewise, I think the midfield is likely to be much more stable than it was last season. The question is what the Roots will be able to create going forward.
https://oaklandrootsblog.com/2023/03/10/san-antonio-f-c-vs-oakland-roots-march-11-2023-match-preview/
RootsBlog Man of the Match – Edgardo Rito
If we’re giving this to any player, it’s probably San Antonio’s Lamar Batista for bagging a brace while on a 25-day contract. We’re naming Edgardo Rito as the opening day RootsBlog Man of the Match for making the biggest difference for Roots on the night. For stretches of the first and second half, it looked like the entire offense flowed through Rito down the right wing. He had a beautiful cross to Memo Diaz on the assist for Oakland’s goal. It’s no surprise to see our RootsBlog 2022 Player of the Year start back where he left off.
Initial Takeaways
- The attacked flowed through Rito, reason why we named him Man of the Match. He made continuous runs down the right side and was always a threat. Hopefully that is a sign of things to come, and once Trayvone Reid progresses into a fulltime role, there is a lot of opportunity to stretch the field.
- Speaking of Trayvone Reid, he looks like a playmaker. He only got limited minutes, but had the prettiest shot attempt for Oakland in second-half stoppage time. He’s a player who looks like he has a lot of potential and can make players miss when in possession. I’m eager to see what he can do in space this season.
- Good activity from Pelaez, although a limited sample size. He was unable to hold possession on a couple of occasions, but it was nice to see him quickly line up a shot from distance.
- Two goals from bad mistakes. The first goal was a turnover in Oakland’s own defensive half, allowing Hansen’s goal. The third goal was just a pure gaffe. Batista got a foot on the ball, apologizing to a teammate for missing him on a pass. Well, the ball went all the way into net with Blanchette off his line.
- One more bonus takeaway! Roots’ defense struggled on set-piece defending. In the 10th minute, PC connected with Justin Dhillon on a ball-in from a free kick. Oakland then conceded Batista’s first goal was on a beautiful bicycle-type flick kick by way of a corner. Although a Worldy-type goal can understandably be allowed, San Antonio’s level of execution was a bit concerning.
Key Events
- San Antonio goal – 74′
What looked like an attempted clearance by Batista catches Paul off his line and curves into net. Just. Wow.
- ROOTS GOAL – 55′
Rito ball goes all the way across the face to Memo Diaz. His shot hit off a defender at the line and in. It’s 2-1!
- San Antonio goal – 45+2′
Batista with an amazing fucking goal.
- San Antonio goal – 12′
Niko Hansen makes it look easy. Bad giveaway in their defensive end and catches Klimenta out of position on the right side. Hansen dribbles a few, cuts inside and reels off an easy shot.
- Oakland Roots Starting 11
As expected, Johnny Rodriguez gets the start in the 9-role. Darek Formella is on the left wing, while Lindo Mfeka is on the right. Anuar Pelaez is expected to get some time in the second half, maybe 20-30 minutes. More expected moves was Memo Diaz at left back and Edgardo Rito on the right. In the midfield is Napo Matsoso making his Oakland Roots debut with Joseph Nane opposite of him. The back line features Tarek Morad in the middle, Emrah Klimenta on the right side instead of Tamacas, while Danny Barbir mans the left side.
- San Antonio Starting 11
No Juan Carlos Azocar and Carter Manley for SAFC.
Timeline
Happy New Year, RootsFam! The next eight months starts today in San Antonio, thanks for joining us!
Early offside call – 1′
San Antonio shot on target wiped due to an offside call.
SAFC set piece – 10′
HUGE save by Paul Blanchette. Perfect ball in by PC connects for a header.
San Antonio goal – 12′
Niko Hansen makes it look easy. Bad giveaway in their defensive end and catches Klimenta out of position on the right side. Hansen dribbles a few, cuts inside and reels off an easy shot.
Paul save – 18′
Oakland free kick – 20′
Ball goes straight through.
Rito pass on the doorstep, cleared out – 31′
Rito run into the area, ball toward Johnny–who slides for an attempt and Jordan Farr gets a hand on it.
Emrah shot on target from odd angle draws a corner – 41′
Corner cleared out.
Lindo Mfeka shot sails – 42′
SAFC Batista yellow – 43′
SAFC corner – 45+1′
Batista with an amazing fucking goal.
First Half Notes:
Not. Gud.
Oakland Roots trail 2-nil at the half with San Antonio controlling the action. Roots really didn’t start finding some offense until the final five minutes of the first half, recording all of their four shots with three on target during that span. SAFC with seven shots and four on target.
Roots corner – 53′
Leads to nothing after playing short.
Lindo shot on target – 54′
Good buildup by Rito down right wing.
Roots corner – 55′
Cleared out and starts a counter attack.
ROOTS GOAL – 55′
Rito ball goes all the way across the face to Memo Diaz. His shot hit off a defender at the line and in. It’s 2-1!
Rito shot high – 67′
Koze and Pelaez on – 67′
Roots free kick – 69′
Good area on the right side. Draws a corner
Roots corner – 70′
Goes out untouched.
Batista scores from midfield – 74′
What looked like an attempted clearance by Batista catches Paul off his line and curves into net. Just. Wow.
Pelaez shot on target – 78′
First tough as a member of Oakland Roots and takes a shot on target.
SAFC shot on target – 79′
From a corner, diving save by Paul.
Roots corner – 84′
Draws another corner after ball in targets Pelaez. Reid sends ball back into area and hits off a defender and goes out the back.
Roots corner – 84
Player called offside.
Trayvone Reid forced a diving save by Farr – 90+1′
Great break past 2 defenders on the left side, reels off a shot on target that forced a diving save. Nearly an amazing first goal.