Hello and welcome to the blog’s live coverage of Oakland Roots hosting El Farolito for the third round of the 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. It marks the second straight year for the two teams to face each other after Roots took their 2023 meeting 3-1.
Roots are coming off a big 3-2 win over El Paso on the road and perhaps have some momentum finally building on their side. El Farolito enters as the U.S. Open Cup’s sweethearts after its pair of upsets and walks into Pioneer Stadium riding high.
In his match preview, Bloom highlights how El Farolito got the job done in its 2-1 Open Cup win over Central Valley Fuego.
Farolito just pepper the box with head-height crosses and got a bunch of decent chances out of it early. Fuego got a penalty in the 17th and scored with a drilled shot middle-high. The equalizer two minutes into stoppage came from almost nothing–a long clearance headed on by the left-sided forward caught the center defender sleeping and the Farolito central striker ran onto the ball and just poked a shot in past the on-rushing keeper. If you don’t watch anything else on these highlights, watch starting at 14:32 (87:02 on the game clock), where Farolito can’t quite scramble a ball into the net off of a corner, include a bicycle kick that just doesn’t quite come off, and then it’s cleared, but Farolito maintain possession, and again, manage to catch a defender sleeping to sneak in behind for an easy shot and goal. I mean, “easy.” I’m not saying I could do it.
Postgame Pressers
RootsBlog Man of the Match – Ali Elmasnaouy
We’re giving Ali Elmasnaouy our RootsBlog Man of the Match for scoring the game-winning goal in overtime in his professional debut. The Berkeley High graduate sent in the goal with the outside of his boot. What a moment for him.
Initial Takeaways
- What a night for the kids. With a group of five teenagers in the starting lineup and even more entering the field as the match wore on, Roots defeated a veteran group with people who have played minutes for their national teams–like Dembor Benson for Honduras. None of Oakland’s teens ever looked outmatched, including Ali, Ilya Alekseev, Etsgar Cruz, Eli Wachs, Kieran Bracken Serra, Thomas Camier, Javi Bedolla-Verra, and Tim Syrel. Helluva performance in a knockout game.
- With all the praise of the youngsters, one of them deserves incredibly high praise for his performance so far this season: Ilya Alekseev. Ilya had the assist on Memo’s goal to tie things up prior to halftime. He continues to prove that the game is not too fast for him, making an impact in all off his starts thus far. He scored against Charleston, was a big part of the win over El Paso, and gets another goal contribution versus El Farolito. The future is bright.
- Memo Diaz continues to impress, scoring the tying goal in 61 minutes of work. He continues to show his playmaking ability, stellar positioning, and veteran leadership.
- Closing with this, El Farolito fans doing the “p-word” chant in the second half was downright laughable and shameful. For a club with origins in San Francisco, one would think they would stand against homophobic chants and classless ideologies. I don’t care about any excuses; everyone in the soccer world for the last decade understands the “p-word” chant has homophobic connotations. Maybe, just maybe, media should actually do their homework and think twice about lifting up an organization with a supporter culture of being drunk, middle-aged homophobes. Be better, Burrito team.
Starting Lineup
- Oakland Roots Starting 11
Roots are bringing out the kids with five teenagers in the lineup, including GK Tim Syrel, RCB Thomas Camier, RWB Ilya Alekseev, CM Javi Bedolla-Vera, and CAM Etsgar Cruz. Interesting decisions, do quick changes happen if Oakland falls behind? In the attack is Trayvone Reid and Miche-Naider Chéry leading the center forward spots. Neveal Hackshaw starts at CB with Justin Rasmussen at LCB, while Memo Diaz at LWB gives strength on the left side. Danny Gomez opposite of Bedolla-Vera.
We’ll see how this goes against an older and experienced El Farolito.
- El Farolito Starting 11
Timeline
GAME TIME!!! Can Oakland Roots make it past El Farolito, or will the Cinderella story continue in Hayward?
Roots free kick – 4′
Good area, a few yards above area on right side. Rasmussen shot on target over the wall forced a diving save, big chance and a great free kick.
El Farolito fast on counterattack – 5′
Roots free kick – 7′
From long distance, Memo ball in falls but claimed.
El Farolito scores – 12′
Benson scores for the Burrito Boys. Good work in transition, the ball hangs up for Benson and he heads it in. Poor marking from Roots defense and they make them pay.
El Farolito shot on target – 15′
Too easy. Bad clearance from Ilya, no one pressures Farolito.
Near giveaway – 15′
Cruz shot on target from distance, not a challenge – 20′
Reid centering ball out front, missed his teammates – 28′
Chery shot wide – 36′
Shot from atop area on left side.
Chery off the post – 39′
Great work on a right-footed shot, good play from Reid to feed him the ball on right side.
Ilya shot on target – 44′
Forces Corner
Roots corner – 45′
Claimed.
ROOTS GOAL – 45+1′
Ilya sends in a cross, clears over Chery and lands to Memo on the back post for the header goal. Great play from Oakland. It’s tied.
Chery shot wide, corner – 45+3′
El Farolito counter leads to a corner 45+4′
out for a goal kick
Cruz shot on target 45+6′
Great work from the teenager, right footed shot curls to the right post. Forces diving save.
El Farolito red card – 51′
Roots corner – 53′
Etsgar shot wide – 54′
Koze and Eli Wachs on for Memo and Danny 61′
El Farolito corner – 63′
El Farolito free kick – 64′
Wachs cross tipped out for corner – 67′
That’s not Johnsen
Roots corner – 68′
Rasmussen blocked, wants hand ball — 69′
Rasmussen shot high – 71′
Johnny on for Chery – 71′
Roots free kick good area – 84′
On left side about 12 yards out of area.
Camier off for Ali, Bracken-Serra on, Bedolla-Vera off- 85′
One shot since the red card for Roots
Ball over top targets Ali, out for goal kick – stoppage
Full time, going to overtime
Not much activity for Roots since drawing the red card. Oakland has worked through the subs.
Roots holding 62 percent possession, 15 shots with 5 on target, 4 corners drawn. El Farolito with 9 shots, 3 on target.
Roots shot high – 92′
Koze shot wide and slow – 93′
Tray slow shot on target in front- 94′
Good feed by Johnny in front. Gotta make better contact
ROOTS GOAL – 99′
ITS THE ACADEMY CALLUP, ALI ELMASNAOUY. WITH HIS OUTSIDE FOOT FLICKS IT IN RIGHT IN FRONT.
He’s a Berkeley High grad.
Syrel diving save – 104′
Biiiiig stop.
Near giveaway at the end, ball gets by Syrel, but goes wide of the net – 105′
Second Period starting
Reid red card – 106′
El Farolito shot high – 108′
El Farolito header very wide – 112′
El Farolito header wide, closer than the last one – 113′
El Farolito fans doing the P Word chant
Syrel diving save spilled, but cleared out – 116′
Roots free kick – 117′
Johnny shot wide- 118′
Great feed by Ali, gotta finish that
Roots corner – 119′
Big claim Syrel – 120+1′
El Farolito free kick – stoppage
last gasp, GK up. Long ball in cleared out.