Hello and welcome to the blog’s live coverage of Oakland Roots visiting El Paso Locomotive at Southwest University Park. As we’ve documented, Roots are off to another rocky start to the season at 1-1-3 and are in dire need of a victory. El Paso, meanwhile, are struggling even worse and are winless at 0-1-4.
In his match preview, Bloom highlights El Paso’s struggles through five games and how Roots might be able to take advantage of their keeper’s positioning. He names Justin Dhillon and Joaquin Rivas as his two players to watch.
There’s rough starts and then there’s rough starts. El Paso have one point through five games, a draw at home against Monterey Bay. They have 1-0 losses to Hartford (home), Louisville (home), and Lights (away). In their most recent match they lost against one of their main rivals, New Mexico United… This will not be the first time that the Roots go into a game with the lesson–test this opposing keeper from distance, he’s vulnerable. Will they take advantage this time?
RootsBlog Man of the Match – Johnny Rodriguez
Johnny Rodriguez is our Man of the Match for his two-goal performance, scoring his 20th and 21st goals in an Oakland Roots uniform to put a stamp on becoming the organization’s All-Time leading goal scorer.
His goal in the 47th was a thing of beauty. He did well to win an aerial duel on a long pass from Gagi Margvelashvili. With El Paso allowing him space, he uncorked a shot from 30 yards to the bottom of the left post. Three minutes later, Johnny jumped on a ball bouncing in El Paso’s penalty area to draw a penalty kick, putting away the shot.
He was magnificent and Roots will need more of him going forward.
Initial Takeaways
- Aside from Johnny Rodriguez’s brilliance, Memo Diaz would’ve been our RootsBlog Man of the Match, achieving his 11th assist to become the team’s All-Time leader. He was nearly Roots’ only playmaker in the first half with on-the-button crosses. Diaz’s cross to Logue for the opening goal was perfect and he nearly assisted Ilya Alekseev for a goal right before halftime. Diaz finished with 60 touches, created two scoring chances, completed 23 passes and eight passes into the final third. He’ll continue playing with Baboucarr Njie still having two games remaining on his suspension, but Memo’s showing why he deserves to be a routine starter on the left.
Second half was Roots’ best 45 minutes of soccer
- The second half was the best 45 minutes of soccer all season, Roots relentlessly pressured El Paso in the latter stage of the game. Oakland got out to another slow-start in the first half without a shot attempt through the first 29 minutes, then things started to change. There was interplay in all levels of the field that hasn’t been seen yet. Oakland finished with seven shots, five on target, while only possessing 36 percent of the ball in the second half.
Ilya Alekseev continues to impress
- Ilya Alekseev continues to show that the game isn’t too big for him despite being just 18-years-old. He had Roots’ first shot attempt in the 29th minute to draw a corner and showed a good understanding in Oakland’s buildup. He completed 11 of 15 passes, missed one big chance, had two shots, and finished with 36 total touches. His ability to play right wing back allows Bryan Tamacas to sit deeper as a center back, but still make darting runs around defenders and send long passes into the attack.
U.S. Open Cup time
- Now with a 3-2 victory, Roots can’t rest on their laurels now with El Farolito surging and ready to make more headlines in the U.S. Open Cup. Oakland called up several teenagers from Project 51O, so that might point to their plans in regards to how they prioritize this match. Still, Roots fans can expect Neveal Hackshaw to play given his red card suspension is exclusive to USL Championship matches.
Starting Lineup
- Oakland Roots Starting 11
Some intriguing changes for Oakland Roots. Starting with the back line, Camden Riley remains out and Justin Rasmussen is on the subs list, leaving a back three of Niall Logue at LCB, Gagi central, and Bryan Tamacas moves to RCB from the RWB role. With that, Ilya Alekseev gets the start at right wingback while Memo Diaz starts at LWB. Danny Gomez and Koze act as the pivoting midfielders, while Lindo Mfeka moves in at the CAM role. In the center forward roles are Johnny Rodriguez and Jeciel Cedeño. Interesting moves, let’s see how the system operates.
- El Paso Starting 11
Timeline
GAME TIME!!!! Can Oakland Roots get back on track against a team in a worse spot than them? Roots need these three points.
Pregame injury to Lindo? Trayvone Reid starts instead of Lindo
Roots free kick – 3′
Cycles around, leads to a header wide by Johnny Rodriguez right out in front. Gotta put that away. Was called offside anyways.
El Paso shot wide – 11′
Calvillo way wide.
El Paso corner, El Paso goal – 13′
Ball falls in the area without clearance. Amando Moreno’s shot takes a deflection off of Memo Diaz and goes into net. Literally shot it into a group of defenders, Oakland should take some notes on that.
Roots corner – 27′
Jeci wanted a PK on ball in, draws corner.
Foul during cross in the box.
Ilya Alekseev shot tipped over the bar – 29′
First shot attempt of the game.
Roots corner – 30′
Cleared out.
Roots free kick on right side – 31′
NIALL LOGUE SCORES, MEMO A PERFECT PASS. Free kick on right side about 10 yards out of penalty area, sends a pass to Logue making the near-post run.
Diaz becomes the team’s All-Time assist record holder.
El Paso corner – 39′
Easy claim.
El Paso draws PK, goal – 42′
Koze fouls Justin Dhillon, sloppy foul.
Dhillon fires it in.
Roots free kick – 45+1′
From distance, Memo ball in cleared out to Gomez.
Ilya shot wide – 46+2′
Stellar long ball in by Memo Diaz on the doorstep, pushed narrowly wide.
First Half notes:
Oakland Roots trail 2-1 despite having some good looks. Moreno’s goal was a testament of just letting your shots loose after taking a deflection through traffic, while Dillon’s PK was a product of some sloppy work in the box. Dillon accentuated the contact, but I thought it was an obvious penalty.
The stats are similar. El Paso with 4 shots and 2 on target with 1 big change. Roots with three shots, two on target, and one big chance missed–which was Alekseev’s shot that trailed narrowly wide in stoppage time.
Roots need to keep attacking with Memo Diaz leading the charge. He’s been great; creating two scoring chances and gained the assist on Logue’s goal. His 11th assist in an Oakland uniform makes him No. 1 all-time for the club, passing Edgardo Rito.
JOHNNY RODRIGUEZ OMG – 47′
HE UNLOADS IT FROM AT LEAST 30 YARDS. OH MY GOD. He wins an aerial duel from a long pass by Gagi, takes a few dribbles to around 12 yards above the 18-yard box and just unleashes an absolute rocket to the bottom left corner.
ROOTS PENALTY – 50′
Johnny draws the penalty. Takes a touch in front of the GK, who just clatters into him.
Rodriguez bangs it home, he bags his brace.
Koze shot goes wide, ambitious from atop the area on the left side – 53′
Biggggggggg momentum swing for Oakland – 53′
Roots have scored 3 goals all season, have scored 3 tonight. Johnny needs one goal for Roots first hat trick since Jack McInerny.
Some of the best interplay I’ve seen from this squad so far this season.
Reid goes down with non-contact injury – 59′
Holding left ankle. Etsgar Cruz comes on.
Roots free kick – 64′
About 10 yards above. Diaz cross goes out the back.
El Paso corner – 70′
Good defense by Tamacas to clear away a dangerous cross.
Header loops out for a goal kick.
Rasmussen on for Ilya – 71′
Great night for the teenager.
Heavy pressure from Roots in the second.
Roots corner – 78′
leads to nothing.
El Paso shot on target – 80′
Rivas shot on target, El Paso’s only chance of the second half thus far.
El Paso corner – 81′
Paul claim.
Chéry on for Johnny – 88′
Eight minutes of stoppage….
El Paso corner – 90+5′
Good defensive header tracking back. El Paso keeps the ball in. Roots goal kick.
Full time, big win.