Hello and welcome to the blog’s live coverage of Oakland Roots hosting Las Vegas Lights at Pioneer Stadium. Roots look to get back in the win column, while Lights are seeking their second win in a row.
Althought Lights finished dead-last in 2023, it certainly isn’t a team to take lightly under the new ownership of Jose Bautista. Roots have struggled to maintain their advantage over Las Vegas and are 1-2-2 over their last five matches versus LV.
In his preview, Bloom highlights Las Vegas’ recent win against El Paso Locomotive and why the result may be a bit overblown. He names Coleman Gannon and Joe Gyau as his two players to watch.
In Week 3, the Lights triumphed 1-0 over El Paso Locomotive, who are usually good, but are off to a wretched 0-1-3 start this season. The loan entry on the score sheet might be the best goal I have ever seen in the category of “GK punished with own goal for sin of occupying space in the material plane.” A simple cross on a second ball from a free kick gets played into Lights’ debutante Fabien Garcia (who the Roots saw with San Antonio in ’22 and ’23). Garcia heads the ball the long way across the goal and the Locomotive keeper fully dives to try to save it, and is airborne and horizontal when the shot ricochets off the inside off the post and catches the keeper’s cleats on the ricochete, redirecting the ball neatly into the net. Nothing else of note happened. So Lights come in off of their first win of the season, but not exactly a commanding performance.
https://oaklandrootsblog.com/2024/03/30/oakland-roots-vs-las-vegas-lights-march-30-2024-match-preview/
Postgame Presser
Initial Takeaways
- Watching Oakland fall apart to a 3-0 loss against Las Vegas reminded me of an opening scene from The Hangover 2, where Stu is described as “chok” by his fiancé’s father because there’s nothing to him. Well, there was just nothing to Oakland tonight. They didn’t look dangerous in the latter 45 minutes, almost like throwing darts at a board with your eyes closed hoping something good lands. I’m still unsure of what the identity is and it’s hard to imagine Bryan Tamacas or Koze Donasiyano change any of today’s shortcomings.
- Fourth match, fourth different lineup. It’s hard to build consistency when there is no continuity with the roster. Delgado doesn’t have any help when players are going on international duty and people are getting injured.
- Rasmussen’s injury at the half really hurt the team. It moved Hackshaw back, and in turn, impacted the entire midfield. With Riley out, the center back rotation was already hurting.
Starting Lineup
- Oakland Roots Starting 11
“I guess we’re trying things.” – Moe.
Johnny Rodriguez is, in fact, out for tonight’s game due to his lingering groin injury and it leads to some massive changes. Cedeño and Reid lead the attack gives a lot of speed and technical ability up top. Koze and Tamacas are back but are on the subs for Njie and Memo. Matsoso starts in the 10 and Gomez is in the eight spot. Hackshaw starts again. Notably, Riley is out and Gagi starts at RCB. Logue central and Rasmussen on the left.
- Las Vegas Lights Starting 11
Timeline
IT’S GAMETIME!!! Can Roots get back in the win column?
Roots free kick good area – 3′
Right side of area. Good ball in by Memo, Logue header skids wide.
Memo ball across the face, Njie shot blocked – 9′
Vegas shot very high – 11′
LV free kick good area – 14′
less than 10 yards above area. Ball out back for goal kick.
LV free kick good area on right. Long ball in cleared – 27′
Yellow on Emrah for LV – 30′
Njie shot on target forces a diving save – 31′
Good work from him to work himself free.
Roots free kick- 33′
Good area on left. Memo ball in the Njie, headed on target
Roots good work pressing high – 34′
Reid low pass to Cedeño in front, attempt blocked.
LV corner – 35′
Out for another corner
LV corner – 36′
nothing
Hackshaw shot a mile high – 37′
Roots free kick good area on right – 41′
Memo ball in cleared.
Cedeño ball across face targetting Memo, too hot – 44′
LV shot out for corner – 45+3′
Out for another corner
LV corner – 45+3′
Paul claim.
First half notes:
Goes scoreless into the half with Roots having the most challenging looks. Roots have 51% possession, 4 shots with 2 on target to Las Vegas’ 2 shots, 1 on target.
Both of Oakland shots on target were by Njie. One a shot from atop the box, the other a header from close distance
Chery on for Rasmussen at half
LV goal – 46′
Gannon shot deflects off Logue and into net.
LV goal – 49′
Samake sends a rocket in. Bad defense, no one there to mark him.
Chery attempt wide – 53′
LV corner – 59′
Cruz on for Napo – 60′
LV play in front, missed – 61′
LV sends in a third, too easy – 66′
Lindo on for Reid – 71′
Roots free kick – 76′
on left side a yard outside area.
Corner – 82′
leads to nothing.
Lindo shit blocked – 88′
Chery shot blocked- 90′