Hello and welcome, once again, to the blog’s live coverage of Oakland Roots hosting Orange County at CSUEB’s Pioneer Stadium, marking the second game of a historic double-header for the organization. It’s a great opportunity for Oakland to stay on track against the 11th place Western Conference team, Orange County.
It’s hard to say what to pull from Roots’ 4-1 victory over Birmingham Legion after the Alabama team crumbled while down a man in the second half. OCSC, meanwhile, has gone through a bit of turmoil since winning the USL Championship title in 2021–which you may remember Ronaldo Damus beating Oakland in penalty kicks on their way to the semifinals. Orange County finished dead-last in 2022, continued struggling this season, fired former coach Richard Chaplow on May 1, and Kevin Partida was suspended for using a homophobic slur against San Diego last week.
Bloom highlights OCSC’s poor run of form in today’s match preview. He names the 2022 Golden Boot winner Milan Iloski as his player to watch.
Orange County have five points in nine matches, and have conceded fifteen goals–second worst in USL (the worst is Hartford, so uh, whatever). They have only been shut out in one game, which is something to hang their hat on. Orange County beat Indy Eleven 1-0 in Irvine on April 15, and do not have a win since then.
Man of the Match – Edgardo Rito
We named Edgardo Rito our RootsBlog Man of the Match with his goal to kill the game. He created three scoring chances and dribbled past two defenders.
Initial Takeaways
- What a day! +3 for Soul and +3 for Roots, four goals scored between the two and no goals allowed. All in all, I’m happy but think I can do without double headers–I’m beat.
- It was good to beat up on a weaker opponent. You want to beat the teams you’re supposed to win against and avoid lapses like against Hartford and Loudoun . Two good wins in a row.
- A more productive first half, but the defense continued to play strong in the second. It was a great counter attack to kill the game with OC pressing forward. With that, Johnny was outstanding to hold off the defender and find Rito for the final goal.
- Darek Formella with his fourth goal and he leads the team in league scores. He seems to be Delgado’s preferred option at striker now in his third consecutive start.
Postgame presser
Key Events
- ROOTS GOAL – 78′
Johnny holds off a defender and feeds Rito in a 1-o-1 situation. Slots it home, its 3-0
- ROOTS GOAL – 43′
They do it from a corner, first one of the season. Played short to Lindo, who sends a perfect cross to Morad at the near post for the leaping header. Beautifully worked goal.
- ROOTS GOAL – 30′
Formella with some great cleanup work. Ball falls to him in the box, sends a right footed rocket.
- Oakland Roots Starting 11
The big question walking into tonight’s game would be the starting 11 after Darek Formella starred at striker and Edgardo Rito at right wing in the previous two matches. Low and behold, we see a similar lineup to the previous two matches. Diaz is one change.
- Orange County Starting 11
Timeline
Game time! Can Oakland Roots get back to a winning record?
Tamacas shot sails – 10′
Beautiful work to tip the ball over a defender. Dele Ali esque.
OCSC corner- 18′
leads to nothing.
OC free kick good area – 28′
cleared out.
ROOTS GOAL – 30′
Formella with some great cleanup work. Ball falls to him in the box, sends a right footed rocket.
Lindo header on target – 39′
Nice pass from Rito
Lindo nearly a beautiful shot on target, called offside – 40′
Roots corner – 43′
Rito draws it.
Plays short to Lindo, perfect pass to Morad for the header goal. Its 2-nil!
First half notes:
Productive night already, Roots leading 2-nil with 5 shots, 3 on target, and 2 big chances. OC with 2 shots, none on target.
Good play to Memo, but called off – 53′
OC corner – 59′
Roots corner – 60′
Rito draws.
Roots corner- 62′
Tamacas a great ball to Lindo. Deflected out.
Roots corner – 64′
Tamacas draws.
Good ball from Memo to Barbir, can’t make contact
OC free kick sails – 67′
Johnny and Wright preparing to come on.
Paul big save, pushes a header aside – 72′
Wright on for Memo. Johnny on for Lindo.
ROOTS GOAL – 78′
Johnny holds off a defender and feeds Rito in a 1-o-1 situation. Slots it home, its 3-0
Emrah and Trayvone on for Gomez and Formella
Paul save – 90′
Two more saves for Paul and he hits 200 saves in the USL!