Hello and welcome back to the blog’s live coverage of Oakland Roots hosting Charleston Battery at Pioneer Stadium. Roots enter the night following its 2-1 win over Indy Eleven to open the season while the whole organization and fanbase is riding on a monumental high after receiving unanimous approval to play at the Coliseum in 2025.
The blog, as usual, was first on the news.
Last year’s Eastern Conference finalists, Charleston, is coming off of a 0-0 tie against USL Championship newcomers, North Carolina FC. In his preview, Bloom highlights how Battery’s attack struggled to create clear opportunities with just one shot on target. He named striker Nick Markanich and midfielder Aaron Molloy as his two players to watch.
Charleston’s first match of the season suggests the defense might still be good, and the offense might be even worse. They kicked off their season with a 0-0 away draw to newly promoted North Carolina FC in what many people might be calling the Tidewater Derby. Charleston had 67% possession and did very little with it. The team accumulated 9 shots, 1 on target. Aaron Molloy dictated the pace of the game with 99 passes, 91% accurate.
Postgame Press Conferences
RootsBlog Man of the Match – Ilya Alekseev
We’re going with Ilya Alekseev for our RootsBlog Man of the Match given the 18-year-old Amador Valley graduate scored the tying goal in his professional debut. He won four of five tackles, made 5 clearance with 3 by header and won 6 duels.
Initial Takeaways
- A valiant effort with a makeshift team due to a non-covid illness passing through the organization. It definitely felt like a point gained with Charleston dominating the game. Battery had 67 percent of the ball, 21 shots with 7 on target. Ilya getting his first pro goal in his pro debut is a testament to all that worked against Oakland tonight.
- Memo really deserved a MOTM nomination for that perfect cross to Ilya; it was a dart on the bullseye. He earned FotMob’s highest rating with an 8.3.
- Let’s hope people get healthy in time for Phoenix, which just lost to Monterey. Tonight was really a day lost to get the starting lineup’s mojo going.
- Is Jeciel Cedeño the preferred option over Chéry? Miche came off of the bench for Napo in the 12th minute, but Cedeño continues to get time ahead of him. Delgado seems to like the holdup ability of Cedeño.
Starting Lineup
- Oakland Roots Starting 11
Big lineup changes tonight due to an apparent non-covid illness that has passed through the entire organization. With that, Irakoze Donasiyano is out of the midfield and Napo Matsoso gets the start. On the back line, Gagi and Riley are out, resulting in Niall Logue slotting in centrally, Justin Rasmussen getting his first start on the left side, and Bryan Tamacas moves to RCB with Project 51O callup Ilya Alekseev getting his first professional start in place. Baboucar Njie also sits, meaning Memo Diaz starts at LWB. In the attack, Johnny starts opposutr of Cedeño, but Lindo Chery and Reid are on the bench.
Even the subs list are a batch of 51O promotions. Obviously an unfortunate setback.
- Charleston
Timeline
GAMETIME!!!!!! Can Oakland Roots continue in the win column against the 2023 Eastern Conference finalists?
Charleston free kick – 6′
Tamacas yellow
Cleared. Charleston retains
Napo getting checked out – 10′
Looks like Chery coming on.
Paul dives on loose ball trickling toward net – 14′
Charleston foul on Johnny, draws a yellow – 16′
on Palma
Oakland free kick about 16 yards above area- 16′
Cedeño shot through traffic goes wide. Not a big challenge
Charleston corner – 19′
Charleston foul. Paul there.
Charleston break on high press, shot goes very high and wide – 25′
Roots free kick – 28′
on right sideline.
Ilya cross wide – 28′
Charleston corner – 32′
Cleared.
Charleston another corner – 33′
Cleared
Charleston shot v.high – 33′
Charleston corner – 34′
Cleared.
Charleston goal – 35′
Weird goal. Cross into Markanich, header goes past Paul’s feet and pinches into net. Roots trail.
Hackshaw down – 45′
standing on sidelines. Back on quickly
Roots free kick good area – 45+2
Johnny slips and it sails
First half notes:
Welp, that wasnt very good. Charleston scores on a nice header and have owned this game. Battery with 60% possession, 8 shots, 2 on target to Oakland’s 2 shots, none on target. Charleston with 6 corner, Roots 0
Etsgar on for Tamacas – 46′
Cedeno wide – 46′
ROOTS GOAL – 50′
Cross from Memo to Ilya at thr back post. Lay off from Chery. Its tied!
Charleston Markanich wide – 63′
Yellow on Torres – 63′
Charleston corner – 65′
Leads to a huge leaping save by Paul
another Charleston corner – 66′
cleared
Yellow on Chery – 66′
Charleston shot right at Paul – 74′
Charleston shot on target easily handled – 76′
Yellow on Markanich – 77′
Chery high and wide – 78′
Charleston header wide – 79′
Camier and Reid on for Ilya and Chery – 81′
Charleston corner- 85′
foul on CHS
Roots free kick – 89
good area on right wing. Cedeño cross targets load, defensive header drops to Hackshaw. Head on target, great chance.
Roots free kick to end
memo cross out the back.