Hello and welcome to the blog’s live coverage of Oakland Roots hosting FC Tulsa at CSUEB’s Pioneer Stadium, the team’s official home through 2024. Roots enter the night in a dire situation for a win; they are currently in seventh place, one point ahead of eighth-place El Paso, and three points on top of ninth-place Monterey Bay. Hosting the Eastern Conference’s ninth-place squad in Tulsa, the time is now for Oakland to end the three-match losing streak and solidify its playoff livelihood.
Having Neveal Hackshaw and Bryan Tamacas back in the lineup is a welcome-sight for Roots supporters. As Bloom pointed out in today’s preview, Oakland averages 0.9 more goals per game when he’s in the lineup.
Tulsa walks in at 8-9-12 and goal differential of -13. They come in after tying Phoenix 0-0 and beat San Antonio 2-1 on September 3. Bloom highlighted their run of form in today’s match preview, naming Phillip Goodrum and Marcus Epps as his two players to watch.
Tulsa had five wins in a row in late June and most of July, although all against relatively bad teams. Immediately before that run they had three straight losses, and since that run they are 1-2-5. Two weeks ago they beat San Antonio 2-1. God damn, how’d they pull that off?
Man of the Match – Bloom
I’m naming Bloom our RootsBlog Man of the Match for creating Roots trading cards. Unlike the match, the cards were a hit. Perhaps the best part of the day was exchanging cards with supporters group members and watching people haggle for new cards.
Find the “Rootsblog” jersey in the stands.
Postgame Presser
Initial Takeaways
- Welp, this is bleak. Roots are currently tied for points with 8th place Monterey going into next week’s matchup with MBFC and are just one point up on ninth-place El Paso. Oakland has some serious soul-searching to accomplish, while Monterey is coming off a comeback win over Las Vegas.
- The attacking woes continue. They finished with 8 shot attempts with 2 on target, recording just 2 shot attempts in the second half. Roots have scored twice in four games and can’t seem to find any answers. The most recent goal was a penalty against Las Vegas, so there’s been no goals from open play in three matches. Something has to give at some point, do we see changes?
Starting Lineups
- Oakland Roots Starting 11
I get my lineup prediction 100 percent correct. The question going into this match was who would line up in the midfield. With Tarek Morad still out, Neveal Hackshaw returns to the center back role while Napo and Koze line up in the midfield. Other than that, no surprises with Johnny up top next to Lindo and Cedeño, while Bryan Tamacas is back at RWB and Memo on the opposite side.
- FC Tulsa Starting 11
Timeline
GAME TIME! Can Roots get back on track for the playoff push?
Cedeño shot from distance on target but not a challenge – 6′
Easy header goal for Tulsa – 11′
Goodrum completely unmarked in the box for the header
Koze shot on target – 12′
Roots corner – 22′
leads to nothing, came after a Memo set piece blocked out.
Empty play toward Johnny – 25′
good buildup
Paul big double save, stops a 1-o-1 situation, then rushes out for another stop – 29′
Johnny shot wide on the volley – 34′
Long ball to him bounces in the area
Ball trickles around Tulsa’s area. Lindo pushed one wide, Johnny and Cedeño shots blocked – 37′
Lindo red carded, second yellow – 45′
its bleak.
First half notes:
Roots down a man and down a score, it’s getting toxic toward the refs. Tulsa lead on a wide open header by Goodrum, which absolutely can’t happen. All 3 of Roots CBs looking at each other.
Oakland with 6 shots, 2 on target, no big scoring chances. Tulsa with 2 big chances, 3 shots, 2 on target.
Roots free kick – 52′
cleared out
Roots free kick from distance – 55′
nada
Roots free kick good area- 62′
Ball in toward Emrah, called offside
Tray and Pelaez on for Napo and Johnny – 65′
Barbir shot high – 66′
Roots corner – 68′
leads to nothing.
Skirmish between Eppsband Tamacas – 78′
Tamacas hit in the face. Epps red carded
Tulsa corner – 88′
Try to kill clock.
Roots corner – 89′
Ball bounced around, no one there.
Her ball deflected toward goal – stoppage
Her shot wide – stoppage