Hello and welcome to the blog’s live coverage of Oakland Roots’ away matchup at FC Tulsa. Roots are looking for its first winning streak in USL Championship play since mid-July of last year, while Tulsa just lost 4-0 to Sporting KC in their recent U.S. Open Cup match and also got blanked 5-nil by Tampa Bay on May 18.
Tonight’s game is a battle of two teams trying to fight their way into the top-eight with Roots in 10th at 3-2-6 and Tulsa one spot back in 11th at 2-4-3. It also marks Oakland’s first away match to the Oklahoma team.
In today’s preview, Bloom highlights how Tulsa s a pretty strong team on paper, but the results just haven’t matched up thus far.
On paper, it seems like Tulsa should be reasonably good. By that I mean, they have two players who I’ve heard of and I think are pretty good: Phillip Goodrum and Justin Portillo. However, their record is 2-4-3, with a very similar GF and GA to the Roots, although in two fewer games.
RootsBlog Man of the Match – Paul Blanchette
We name Paul Blanchette our RootsBlog Man of the Match for keeping the clean sheet. It was a solid day from the outfield player, but Paul was important in stopping critical shots in the final stretch.
He also earned FotMob’s MOTM with a 7.8 rating.
Initial Takeaways
- Sweet, sweet victory
Ahhh, how nice is it to win? It marks Oakland Roots’ first winning streak since they win three straight against Monterey, El Paso and Las Vegas from July 15-26, while it’s also the first clean sheet since beating Charleston 1-nil back on August 4.
- An identity is forming
For the first time all season I can say Oakland Roots look like they’ve formed an identity, which is a huge credit to interim HC Gavin Glinton making the cultural changes he’s harped on.
We can now say Roots are a team that wants to hound the other team to gain possession. They want to force difficult passes, force turnovers in dangerous areas, and bring continuous pressure.
A big gripe under Noah Delgado was the team lacked a clear identity. Under Glinton, things look like they are changing for the better.
- Trayvone & Chery
For a second consecutive game, Trayvone Reid and Miche-Naider Chéry came away very impressive. The goal was a product of the two, where Tray made a gorgeous run down the left side and walked the catwalk along the sideline before sending a pass centrally toward Chéry.
The ball ricochette off Njie and laid up perfectly for Miche, following through with an athletic boot on the volley into net. Chéry showed his size, holdup ability, and athleticism. Hopefully he can do it again next game.
Starting Lineup
- Oakland Roots Starting 11
It shapes up as a 4-2-3-1 with Chéry leading the attack and Cedeño in the CAM spot. Baboucarr Njie moves to right wing, while Trayvone Reid suits up on the left side–switching sides with Njie from the previous game. The two pivoting midfielders are Camden Riley and Napo Matsoso getting a surprise start. Memo Diaz gets the nod over Bryan Tamacas, while Hackshaw and Gagi make up the CB combination. Rasmussen has been playing great, he gets another start at left back. It’ll be interesting to see how deep he sits. Also, no Dwyer in the 18 man lineup despite Johnny being ruled out.
- FC Tulsa Starting 11
Timeline
GAME TIME!!!! Can Oakland Roots make it two wins in a row? It’s a good opportunity with Tulsa on short rest.
Gagi a huge stop in a 1-o-1 situation – 9′
Tulsa corner- 9′
cleared out
Tulsa corner – 16′
Ball nearly spilled but eventually a foul by Tulsa
ROOTS GOAL!!!!!!!! – 20′
CHERY, GOLAZOOOOOO. Reid with a great centering pass from the left side. Ball drops to Chéry, smashes it on the volley.
Hackshaw on the ground in pain – 25′
he gets back up.
Tulsa free kick – 25′
cleared. Long shot blocked out.
Roots free kick – 27′
Good area, around 10 yards above box.
Rasmussen shot wide.
Tulsa corner – 30′
cleared out, Tulsa retains and a shot from distance trails high and wide
Chery shot wide – 32′
Reid shot curls wide – 33′
Good work in transition
Cedeño takes a shot at midfield – 34′
Big save by Paul – 37′
Poor defense in transition
Yellow on Napo- 38′
Tulsa a play in the box, but eventually grabbed by Paul- 42′
Tulsa corner – 44′
foul on Tulsa
Hackshaw blocked a shot – 45+2′
Yellow on Ponce
First half notes:
Very strong first half from Roots. Running down Tulsa, creating turnovers around midfield and generating chances. Roots with 45% possession, while both teams have 5 shots and 1 on target. Very impressed by Reid and Chery.
Tulsa free kick – 47′
Cleared. Roots goal kick
Chéry down – 49′
getting up slowly
Roots free kick – 52′
From distance. Ball in retained
Roots goal wiped – 52′
Would’ve been Gagi, called offside
Reid shot on target – 56′
GREAT work by Roots. Longball from Riley out to Reid in space, makes a cutback to find a shooting lane. Shot goes right at the GK
Memo ball out front, goes across the face of goal – 57′
Koze on for Napo – 59′
Pair of shots by Tulsa blocked – 60′
Lindo on for Trayvone – 63′
I liked how Reid was playing. Thought he may have been Roots best player tonight
Paul diving save- 65′
huuuuuuuuge stop
Tulsa free kick – 67′
In a good area on the right side just a few feet outside the area near the elbow.
Ball in claimed by Paul
Camden yellow card – 69′
Tulsa shot wide – 70′
Etsgar and Tamacas on – 75′
Off is Chery and Njie
Memo scuffs a shot after a great buildup and pass by Tamacas – 79′
Tulsa corner- 81′
Low cross, cleared. Tulsa retains
Tulsa corner – 82′
Header on target, Paul grabs it
Tulsa play in the box, shot eventually skied – 88′
Cedeño shot tipped over the bar – 89′
Roots corner – 89′
leads to Tulsa counter
Tulsa free kick good area – 90′
about 7 feet above area.
Shot way high
Nine minutes of stoppage time
Tulsa missed a wide open area. Diallo totally miffs a sitter – 90+2′
sloppy work from Roots. Koze bowled over in box, no call
Huge blocks in the box – 90+7′
Tulsa corner – 90+7′
header by Tulsa GK over net
Tulsa corner – 90+11′
last play
grabbed by Paul