Hello and welcome to the blog’s live coverage of the Oakland Roots’ 2024 USL Championship season-opener against Indy Eleven from Cal State East Bay’s Pioneer Stadium. Oakland steps onto the field looking to wash away a disappointing end to last year’s campaign and make some noise in Hayward before their potential move to the Coliseum in 2025.
Players and staff walk into the season with a certain chip on their shoulder after finishing last year on an nine-game winless run to crash from third down to 10th. Indy, meanwhile, placed sixth in the Eastern Conference and made a considerable improvement to its attack with Augie Williams.
For a rundown of Roots’ changes and position groups, check out our 2024 season preview.
In his match preview, Bloom highlights some of Indy’s moves over the offseason. He fittingly names forward players Sebastian Guenzatti and Williams his two players to watch.
In the offseason, Indy let Solomon Asante walk, and shored up their respectable defense (tied for third fewest goals against in the league) with two former MLS-cusp caliber players: Aedan (lol) Stanley and our friend Danny Barbir. Indy also figured if Augi Williams played for them he couldn’t hurt them again (he scored and assisted in the playoff drubbing).
https://oaklandrootsblog.com/2024/03/09/oakland-roots-vs-indy-eleven-match-preview-march-9-2024/
Postgame Pressers
Man of the Match: Irakoze Donasiyano
We’re going with Irakoze Donasiyano for our RootsBlog Man of the Match. His assist marked his first goal contribution since being signed. It was a great sign for Koze after missing an extended period last year after undergoing surgery.
He finished with a FotMob rating of 8.4 to lead the squad.
Initial Takeaways
- That’s a win! It snaps a 9 game winless streak stretching from last season. They didn’t look perfect, but it was encouraging.
- Rough first half but a good second half response. Roots had just 2 shots with 1 on target in the first half, while finishing with 10 shots, 4 on target.
- Danny Gomez came on for Chery to start the second half. Coach Delgado explained it was a tactical switch, so what does that mean going forward?
Starting Lineup
- Oakland Roots Starting 11
Johnny starts with Chery making his Roots’ debut. Cedeño starts in the Central Attacking Midfield role, while Niall Logue starts in the left center back spot instead of Rasmussen. Koze starts opposite of Hackshaw in the midfield.
Notably, no Memo available due to a red card to end last season.
Timeline
IT’S GAME TIME!!!! Can Oakland Roots hit the reset button and end last year’s winless streak tonight?
Opening night tifo
ROOTS GOAL – 3′
CEDEÑO SENDS A LOOSE BALL IN THE BOX. ROOTS LEAD 1-0 EARLY
Paul easy stop – 10′
Indy corner – 14′
Draws another
Indy corner x2 – 15′
punched out, shot on volley goes very wide.
Indy free kick good area – 20′
Above area, Blake shot on target saved by Paul. Great diving stop.
Indy free kick – 30′
not a problem
Miche shot high – 32′
Roots corner – 34′
Indy free kick – 35′
Ball falls in the box, shot attempt goes high.
Indy corner – 38′
cross overshot
Paul big save – 39′
Indy goal – 43′
Easy interplay after a free kick. Defense looking lackadaisical
Roots corner – stoppage
Logue header sails.
First half notes:
Not much to write home about since Cedeño’s early goal, which marked Roots only shot attempt in the first 45 minutes. Indy has controlled things with nearly 60% of possession, 13 shots with 4 on target.
Gomez in for Chery at the half.
Indy corner – 49′
Kept in. Imdy throw.
Paul big dive – 49′
Shot from outside area, leaping save.
ROOTS GOAL – 51′
Tamacas puts away a great feed by Koze.
Indy corner – 57′
nada
Roots corner – 64′
Napo coming on – 69′
Johnny shot on target, good feed from Napo – 74′
Koze ball on frame. Not sure if it was a shot – 76′
Indy shot wide – 80′
Indy corner – 81′
Leads to another.
Indy corner – 82′
Nothing. Ball out.
Roots free kick good area on left side – 83′
Ball falls to Gagi. Whiffs.
Johnny skies one – 86′
B
Attendance 5,146
Rasmussen on for Njie – 90′
Napo shot on target – stoppage
Napo shot wide – stoppage
Indy corner cleared