Hello and welcome to the blog’s live coverage of Oakland Roots visiting San Antonio FC. It marks interim head coach Gavin Glinton debut as the lead man following Noah Delgado’s dismissal, while San Antonio enters in fifth-place of the Western Conference with a 3-3-2 record.
Tonight marks the start of a busy stretch for Roots, returning to the Bay Area for Tuesday’s U.S. Open Cup clash at San Jose followed by a trip to New Mexico the following Saturday. Given the schedule congestion, Oakland’s starting lineup was bound to have some dramatic alterations.
In his preview, Bloom highlights San Antonio’s less than ideal start to the season. He names Machop Chol, Jorge Hernandez, and Mitchell Taintor as his three players to watch.
San Antonio are not off to as good a start as usual, which gives the Roots the perfect opportunity to steal some points on the road.1 San Antonio started the season with four straight games in which they scored two goals, earning two wins and two draws. Draws with Loudoun and Rowdies are mixed, wins over Switchbacks and Monterey are nothing to write home about. They then lost away to Las Vegas lights and drew 0-0 at home to Orange County.
RootsBlog Man of the Match – Trayvone Reid
We name Trayvone Reid our RootsBlog Man of the Match for playing arguably his performance in an Oakland uniform. His assist to Chéry was a thing of beauty, freeing himself up in a 1-on-1 situation before uncorking a trivela to the striker for the header goal.
He earned FotMob’s highest rating on Roots with a 7.8, recording an assist with one shot on target and crested three scoring chances. His footwork and technique was what Oakland brought him to do.
Initial Takeaways
- Well that sure felt like a win. Things could’ve gone horribly in the other direction with Ali Elmasnaouy, Kieran Bracken Serra, Thomas Camier and Tim Syrel making their first USL Championship starts, along with Etsgar Cruz and Ilya Alekseev in the lineup. Moreover, the kids didn’t look ovematched by San Antonio. To be in a position to win is a moral victory in itself.
- The team looked like they were playing for something. There were times the defense looked its most structurally all season, which was something Noah Delgado preached as a prerequisite to attacking success. Although it’s hard to pinpoint if Gavin Glinton is the catalyst in the defensive structure, perhaps the recent change at head coach supplied a fire to the team. Time will only tell.
- Here we go, Tuesday night in San Jose. Tonight was a precursor to the upcoming U.S. Open Cup clash with Roots young lineup, meaning they are obviously giving the Earthquakes priority. Expect to see Roots’ primary options, including Dom Dwyer being available. San Jose defeated LAFC 3-1 tonight and had key players like Christian Espinoza and Jeremy Ebobisie nearly play full games. Does that mean SJ will enlist some younger options like former Los Dos striker Preston Judd? Tuesday will be a fun one and an expected near sellout.
Starting Lineup
- Oakland Roots Starting 11
As anticipated, Roots bring a lineup with a mixed batch of Project 51O callups. Chéry and Reid mainline the attack with Njie at LM and Matsoso at RM. Etsgar starts in the CAM while Elmasnaouy and Bracken Setra make the midfield rotation. The back line features Riley at LCB, teenager Thomas Camier centrally and Ilya Alekseev at RCB. Tom Syrel in goal.
In total, Camier, Syrel, Bracken Serra and Elmasnaouy make their first USL Championship starts.
- San Antonio FC Starting 11
Timeline
GAME TIME!! Can Oakland Roots get it done on the road with a mix-and-match lineup?
SA goal offside – 10′
Roots corner – 11′
Way out
SA corner – 15′
out for goal kick
SA free kick on left side near end line – 22′
San Antonio shot on target- 28′
Goes straight at Syrel
Roots long free kick- 31′
cleared
San Antonio shot on target – 33′
Another attempt by Lacey goes straight at Syrel.
Chery down after a failed buildup – 35′
Etsgar yellow card – 43′
SA free kick – 44′
cleared out. San Antonio retains possession
Trayvone left footed shot tipped over – 45+3′
Leads to a corner
Roots corner – 45+4′
cleared out, retain possession
First half notes:
Well, I’d say that could’ve gone worse all considering. Roots don’t look bad and the kids don’t look ovematched.
Roots with 39 percent possession, 1 shot on target to San Antonio’s 2 shots, both on target.
SA corner – 48′
Grabbed by Syrel
Roots free kick – 51′
Tray does well to draw it, around 20 yards above area.
Ball goes out the back.
SA near chance- 53′
Agudelo sends a ball across the face instead of pulling a shot.
Tray shot blocked – 57′
Hackshaw and Gagi in for Napo and Riley – 60′
SA corner – 63′
Pushed aside. San Antonio retains possession
ROOTS GOAL – 65′
Trayvone a BEAUTIFUL trivela to Chéry for the header goal. Roots lead!
SA corner – 69′
leads to another corner
SA corner – 69′
punched out by Syrel.
Johnny and Rasmussen on for Etsgar and Chery – 70′
SA goal – 73′
Ball in to Agudelo on the button, puts it in on first touch.
SA free kick in good area – 76′
About 3 yards above the box. Shot on target tipped over the bar by Syrel.
SA corner – 78′
leads to another one
SA corner – 78′
cleared out, they retain
San Antonio goal – 79′
Lambert beats Syrel to the ball, redirects a long ball into the open net.
Roots corner – 81′
HANDBALL, Camier with a shot into Lambert
Roots penalty kick – 83′
Johnny rifles it in, great PK. It’d tied 2-2
Roots free kick – 90+3′
leads to a corner
Roots corner – 90+3′
San Antonio Agudelo shot high – 90+6′