Hello and welcome to the blog’s live coverage of Oakland Roots taking on Monterey Bay Union at Cardinale Stadium in Seaside. Roots enter the night on a six-match winless streak and are looking for its first win since June 2 against Colorado Springs.
It’s one of those six-point games with both teams vying to playoff stability with Roots entering in ninth place with 24 points and Monterey in sixth with 27. With that, an Oakland win catapults them up to sixth. The question is whether Monterey can keep up its sterling conversion rate of a league-leading 0.41 on goals per shots on target.
In his preview, Bloom notes how MBFC are coming in with struggles of its own after taking just one point in its last three appearances. He names Alex Dixon, Christian Volesky, and Sam Gleadle as his players to watch.
MBFC were on pretty good form in June, winning 4 straight, but have struggled since, taking only one point in their last three games… With their return home last weekend, MBFC’s defense righted the ship against a streaky El Paso side (0 out of 9 points to start the season, 29 out of 33 points from March 25 to June 14, 2 out of 12 points since), and fought to a tough 0-0 draw…. I say that MBFC’s defense righted the ship–they kept a clean sheet. However they made some huge errors that El Paso just failed to capitalize on.
RootsBlog Man of the Match – Johnny Rodriguez & Jeciel Cedeno
Johnny Rodriguez gets an obvious nomination for his pair of goals, but Jeciel Cedeno also deserves praise for drawing the penalty kick and an assist on Roots’ second goal. He also had the hockey assist on Roots third goal. Solid performance that required kore than just one good contribution.
Initial Takeaways
- Helluva performance by the attack. After a six-match offensive struggle, Oakland looked free-flowing and clinical. They finished with 12 shots and 5 on target. Oakland did well in transition with just 46 percent possession, converting two big scoring opportunities. Oakland ends the night in 6th place, catapulting itself over Monterey in the process.
- Full team performance. It felt like we had to name two recipients for MOTM because of how much if a team performance this was. The entire back line looked good with Emrah at RCB, Nane at CB, and Barbir at LCB. Memo was outstanding in transition, passing, and putting away the 3rd goal. Tamacas showed the impact he makes in all phases from just being on the field. Lindo looked great in his RW/CAM role. Gomez had the perfect assist to Memo, it was a full team performance.
- The traveling Function was in force. There was at least 200 Roots supporters, loudly chanting throughout the night. From the broadcast: “Rivalries are made when fans travel, there’s about 200 Oakland fans here tonight & they’re not quiet about it.”
Starting Lineups
- Oakland Roots Starting 11
Lindo Mfeka starts on the left with Cedeno’s second straight start at right wing. Gomez starts beside Napo, providing some stability with Nane at center back. Emrah starts in place of Tarek at right sided centet back.
- Monterey Bay Union Starting 11
Timeline
GAMETIME! I call upon the football and soccer gods, once again, please help Roots get a result tonight.
Roots goal wiped – 3′
Play eventually falls to Lindo at the left post. Taps it in but called offside. 3rd offside call in 2 games.
Napo shot tipped over for a corner – 7′
Cedeno draws a PK – 13′
Ball in toward Jeciel in the box, keeper clips his feet.
ROOTS GOAL. JOHNNY SLOTS IT HOME.
Johnny shot in target – 18′
Ball falls to him, takes a shot on a turn.
Monterey free kick – 23′
Good area on right side of area.
Monterey corner – 26′
Target near post, cleared.
Monterey goal. Alex Dixon. Nice play down the wing, play to the top of area and Dixon puts it away – 30′
JOHNNY RODRIGUEZ OH MY GOD. – 33′
Takes a nice feed by Cedeno, plays it by Roberts and Johnny sends in a rocket.
Yellow Cedeno – 38′
MBFC counter – 42′
Good counter. Voleseky puts a shot on target that wasnt a challenge for Paul. Straight to em.
MB corner – 43′
Four minutes of stoppage
Johnny took a shot – 45+1′
Took a while to get up.
Roots free kick good area – stoppage
Blocked out.
First half notes:
Roots holding a 2-1 lead, looking good moving forward but its a free-flowing, entertaining game. The stats show its pretty even with Oakland at 4 shots, 2 on target with
Oakland free kick great area – 47′
Lindo puts it over.
MB skies a shot, good chance and they blew it – 63′
Johnny shot wide – 69′
MB corner – 71′
Cleared.
MB corner – 72′
nothing.
ROOTS GOAL – 78′
MEMO DIAZ PUTS IT AWAY. AN ABSOLUTELY PERFECT PASS BY GOMEZ.
MB free kick good area – 83′
About 10 yards above area on right side.
cleared out.
Paul diving save – 85′
MB corner – 86′
Blocked out for another.
Corner x2
cleared. Starts counter.