Hello and welcome back to the blog’s live coverage of Oakland Roots visiting Charleston Battery in South Carolina. Tonight marks Roots’ final game before a two week break, making it a critical time to gain points. Oakland enters the night still in third place of the Western Conference at 9-7-6, playing its 23rd match of the season, meaning Roots will have three more games played than fourth-place San Diego.
A win will separate Oakland by four points above Loyal, which will face Orange County (Aug. 5), Loudoun (Aug. 9), and Memphis (Aug. 12) before Roots’ next game against Colorado Springs on August 19.
But Oakland enters the night on a five-game unbeaten run, albeit a disappointing tie most recently against Detroit. Charleston, meanwhile, also enters on a five-game unbeaten run but are coming off of 2-1 and 3-1 wins over Birmingham and Pittsburgh. Bloom talked about their run of form in today’s match preview:
There is no arguing with Battery’s results so far this season. They are 11-6-5 and sit second on the Eastern Conference table (although could go to first or as low as third based on games in hand). However, the weakness is obvious–Charleston’s goal differential is +2 after 22 games, which is especially questionable since they don’t even have a particularly stingy defense (bottom third). However, as Aaron said on this week’s pod, that GD is heavily influenced by a 7-0 shellacking by San Antonio in Charleston and a 4-0 whipping by Indy Eleven also at home. There are no particularly bad stretches of Charleston’s season, because even those two bad results came sandwiched in a run of three wins and a draw
https://oaklandrootsblog.com/2023/08/04/charleston-battery-vs-oakland-roots-match-preview-august-4-2023/
RootsBlog Man of the Match – Danny Barbir & Memo Diaz
We nominate Danny Barbir and Memo Diaz our RootsBlog Man of the Match recipients for their goal and assist combination to put Roots ahead. Barbir hasn’t missed a single minute this season for Oakland this season, while Memo is one of the most underrated passers in thr league. The two haven’t gotten a lot of MOTM nominations and arguably deserve more.
Initial Takeaways
- A solid defensive night for Oakland. It definitely wasn’t pretty with Charleston recording 16 shots but with just 4 on target, 3 of their attempts were blocked. Roots weren’t on the front foot for much of the night with just 6 shots and 3 on target, missing 2 big scoring chances.
- A lot of injuries for Roots. Johnny Rodriguez and Joseph Nane limped off with the help of trainers. Lindo never played with Ryan Her getting the nod instead. Bryan Tamacas was being managed due to a minor injury. The two week break couldn’t come at a better time for Oakland.
- Danny Gomez continues to impress. He stepped in to the starting lineup instead of Napo Matsoso, who left the previous match versus Detroit due to an inury. He nearly had a beautiful assist to Johnny in the first half, which was similar to his previous assist to Memo.
- Roots end the night tied for points with San Antonio in 2nd place with 37 points, but behind on goal differential. Oakland is now 4 points clear of 4th place San Diego–which will have 3 matches before Oakland’s next game.
Starting Lineups
- Oakland Roots
No Bryan Tamacas is the big takeaway. We’re told its a minor injury and he could play if it was a playoff match. Although its critical for Roots to get points, it makes sense to preserve your best players for conference matchups. Also, Napo Matsoso is on the subs with Nane and Gomez starting. No Lindo either, he’s on the subs list.
- Charleston Battery
Key Events
GAMEDAY! Roots have to do it without Tamacas.
Roots free kick – 5′
Play short to Memo, pass to Cedeno. Ball across the face targets Emrah, can’t make contact.
Charleston shot high – 10′
Nane notably in the back line with Hackshaw rotating to midfield.
Charleston shot on target Markanich – 12′
Johnny bike over net – 14′
Nice pass from Gomez.
Charleston near chance – 17′
Dodson ball across the face to Williams. Can’t get a foot on it.
Charleston corner – 18′
Out the back. Goal kick.
Charleston corner – 21′
Header goes wide. Too open.
Williams shot blocked for Charleston- 24′
Reid blocked – 27′
Williams shot on target – 30′
Diving save by Paul, manages it well.
Oakland giveaway, Charleston shot wide – 35′
Hackshaw shot on target from distance, going to top left bin – 41′
Draws corner.
ROOTS GOAL – 41′
Memo perfect ball to Barbir for the header goal.
Reid shot on target – 45+2′
In close distance, does well to work himself free.
First half notes: Roots didnt look good through 40 mins, then explode in the last 5 mins. Memo an absolutely perfect pass was the catalyst. Underrated player.
Roots with 3 shots, 2 on target, only 42 percent possession. Charleston 7 shots but just 2 on target.
Emrah clear off of the line – 48′
Nane blocked shots out for a corner, big stop – 51′
Charleston corner – 52′
Does nothing with it.
Johnny tries to dink keeper – 57′
Stopped by the keeper.
Cedeno shot blocked wide – 61′
Roots corner – 61′
nada
Her on for Reid – 62′
Charleston missed chance – 64′
Prentice pass toward Her, can’t make contact- 67′
Charleston corner – 68′
cleared.
Nane off for Tarek. Injury – 70′
Roots free kick – 77′
Cedeno good to draw it.
Ball in cleared out.
Charleston corner – 78′
Paul stops a header!
Charleston corner – 81′
Paul punches away
Charleston free kick – 84′
Ball in, header goes wide.
Napo on for Cedeno.
Pelaez on for Johnny – 90′
Johnny limping off with help of trainers. Doesn’t look good.
Charleston corner – 90+8′
Header wide. Still like 5 minutes left of stoppage