Oakland Roots come away with a huge 2-0 victory over Orange County SC on the road with goals by Camden Riley in the 15th minute and Johnny Rodriguez in the 78th. The result brings Oakland’s record back to .500 at 8-2-8 and 26 points, which put Roots up to a franchise record second place for a brief moment before Sacramento won its game with a late goal.
It marks Roots’ sixth win in eight matches, making Gavin Glinton 6-1-3 as interim head coach. Glinton now owns three clean sheets since taking over.
Oakland’s first goal came by way of a corner. Memo Diaz sent a perfect cross into Miche-Naider Chéry at the right post, heading a ball back across the face to Camden Riley for a tap-in at the right post.
Roots’ second goal was a product of some stellar individual work by Lindo Mfeka, receiving a pass around the top of the penalty area before taking a few dribbles into the box. With Orange County’s defense completely focused on Mfeka, he centered a pass to Johnny wide-open in front of the net for the goal.
Oakland could’ve had more goals in the second half. Memo had a clear look at the net in the 52nd, but his shot went straight at OC’s keeper. Baboucarr Njie had a free look at the net in the 63rd, but couldn’t take a shot after a heavy touch.
Here is our Man of the Match and a few initial takeaways.
RootsBlog Man of the Match – Hackshaw, Lindo, Johnny
We almost named the full team in this one given how solid of a team-performance tonight was. We’re going with Neveal Hackshaw for being a stifling presence in Oakland’s back line, Lindo Mfeka for crafting Johnny’s goal, and Rodriguez for finishing the second goal and providing consistent problems for OC’s back line.
Hackshaw was instrumental thwarting Orange County’s attack. He had nine defensive actions, five recoveries, two interceptions, and four clearances. He also completed seven long passes, 12 passes into the final third, and finished with 64 total touches.
Lindo has been in amazing form and continued some of the strongest play we’ve seen from him in an Oakland uniform. His assist to Johnny was a thing of beauty, soaking up all of the attention by OC’s defenders to free up Rodriguez for the goal. He created three scoring chances, completed 28 of 30 passes, five passes into the final third, and won four duels.
For Johnny, he received FotMob’s highest rating with an 8.3. He created two scoring chances, had three of four shots go on target, took 29 total touches and six touches inside the penalty area, and won eight duels on the night.
We could even throw Riley onto this list.
Initial Takeaways
- Roots move into third, at least for now
Who would’ve though back in April after firing Noah Delgado that Oakland Roots would be in third place? Let alone second place for a couple of hours, it feels like bright days are ahead for Roots.
Oakland’s 18 matches are two more than Sacramento (28 points), one more than Memphis (25 points), and they also have two more matches played than Colorado Springs (24 points). Regardless, any soccer fan will tell you that games-in-hand are never a sure thing. Even if opposing matches don’t fall in Roots’ way, this club has come such a long ways in such a short amount of time.
Glinton knows the question is how far he can take this thing. But if there’s one thing that’s clear, Oakland is on the ascent.
- A complete team performance
This looked like one of the most complete team performances over the last two years, it’s another credit to the job Glinton has done. Every starting player for Oakland finished with a FotMob rating of at least 7.1–which was Njie and Chéry.
Oakland had 11 shots with six on target and generated four big scoring chances, despite only converting on two. Orange County had 10 shots, but could only get two on target that weren’t really a challenge for Paul Blanchette.
They did it in a revamped 4-4-2 diamond with five different players from the previous game against Monterey. Glinton has commented on how he wants his teams to be unpredictable and Saturday night in Orange County was a testament to that.
- Looking ahead
Oakland looks ahead to a big home match against Eastern Conference contenders Louisville at Pioneer Stadium on July 6, while they travel to another Eastern Conference side at Pittsburgh the following week. Louisville will be tough coming off a big 4-1 win over Birmingham, but also lost to Rhode Island 5-2 on June 22. But Roots are in a supreme run of form, it’s as good a time as ever to play the tougher teams in the league.
Pittsburgh, meanwhile, is struggling down in 11th of the Eastern Conference. It’s a match Oakland should be expecting three points.
But its worth pointing out that Oakland was also surging around this time last year. Roots now have four matches, including the national broadcast against Sacramento on July 21, before its two-week break following July 27 at Miami to August 10 hosting Loudoun. Oakland fans will remember going into last year’s two-week break in third-place.
It will be interesting to see how far Oakland can climb before the break, but it’ll be much more vital for Glinton to continue Roots’ progress when they return for the final 12 games of the season.
Starting Lineup
- Oakland Roots Starting 11
Formation change! It’s a 4-4-2 diamond with a two-pronged center forward spot of Johnny Rodriguez and Miche-Naider Chéry. Lindo Mfeka starts in the CAM spot, but it moves Jeciel Cedeño and Trayvone Reid to the bench. With Napo getting the nod at CDM, Njie and Gomez fill into the midfield. Rasmussen starts at LB, Hackshaw and Riley move to the CB spot, and Memo Diaz at RB.
- Orange County Starting 11
Timeline
GAME TIME!!!!! Can Oakland Roots get back in the win column?
Roots corner – 1′
Cleared out.
OC shot very high by Kyle Scott – 9′
Loose defense by Oakland there. I thought an initial touch by Jamison in the buildup was offside, no call.
Ball in by Memo toward Johnny in a dangerous area in front of net, can’t make clear contact – 10′
Napo shot blocked – 11′
OC dangerous pass, Paul there for the grab – 12′
Roots corner – 15′
GOAL!!!!!! Ball in by Memo finds Chery for the header assist to Camden Riley for the goal!!!! THAT’S HOW YOU DRAW IT UP.
Oakland is currently up to second place.
Orange County shot on target – 25′
Cameron Dunbar right footed shot from outside the box saved by Paul.
Johnny shot on target – 33′
Very good chance in front of the net, forced diving save.
Johnny shot on target – 34′
Good chance after receiving a long ball. Shot goes straight at the keeper.
Roots corner – 35′
Ball in to Chery, he missed a wide-open header. Could be 2-nil.
OC corner – 41′
cleared out
OC free kick in good area – 45′
About 10 yards above the penalty area. Shot by Sorto goes straight at Paul for the easy save.
OC corner – 45+1
A pair of OC shots blocked – 45+4′
Could’ve been dangerous.
OC corner – 45+4′
Should be the last play of the half.
Cleared out of box.
First half notes:
Oakland had a goal from a perfectly drawn up corner and could’ve had a second goal on another cross to Chery from a corner. OC may be watching Chéry a bit more closely in the second half, but he’s having his way vertically.
Roots with five shots, three on target, converted one big opportunity, and have drawn three corners on 48 percent possession. OC with four shots, two on target, three corners.
OC corner – 47′
Memo Diaz beautiful chance, shot on target goes straight at the keeper – 52′
Great block by Memo to feed Lindo, who passed to Miche, flicking a pass onto Diaz at the top of the area.
OC shot wide on counter attack by Zubak – 53′
OC shot high, Sorto with a volley to himself, about a yard over the net – 55′
Ball forward to Johnny, may have passed up a shot – 56′
OC corner – 57′
OC looking more dangerous going forward.
Foul on OC.
Cedeno coming on for Chery – 60′
Amang coming on for OC, Sorto off – 62′
Njie misses a huge chance, has to do better – 63′
Great feed by Johnny, but a sloppy first touch by Njie puts the ball out for a goal kick. Would like to see him take that on his first touch.
Johnny shot skips wide from an odd angle – 67′
Beautiful long pass from Memo. Johnny all alone, no one making a run at the back post.
Cedeno shot on target from left side of area – 68′
Good individual work.
Reid and Bracken Serra coming on – 70′
For Matsoso and Njie.
Roots free kick – 74′
Absolutely great work by Mfeka to win possession off of OC. Scott had to foul him.
Good area about 10 yards above area. Dangerous pass by Memo, but no one can make contact.
OC dangerous cross goes across the face of goal – 77′
Roots corner – 78′
ROOTS GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! – 79′
IT’s 2-NIL. Lindo retrieves a pass at the top of the area and he does some great individual work, taking a few dribbles before sending a pass to Johnny a few feet in front of net. GREAT goal.
Tamacas and Dwyer sub on for Johnny and Memo – 83′
Both of Roots’ highest-paid players enter late.
Roots corner – 90+4′
How is that not a red and a pk? Ref letting them play.