Winner, winner! What a huge win that was for Oakland Roots, claiming three points in a HUGE 1-nil win over Louisville City FC. Oakland ends the night second place of the Western Conference at 9-2-8, albeit Sacramento holding two games in hand and one point back. The result, finally, brings Oakland above a .500 winning percentage.
After a scoreless first half, Johnny Rodriguez put Oakland ahead with a tap in from Lindo Mfeka. It started with Lindo recieving a pass from Miche-Naider Chéry, taking a touch by a defender before squaring a perfect pass to Johnny across the face of goal.
It also required huge defense, including Camden Riley clearing a shot off the line in the 36th minute. Paul also made an enormous save to preserve the win in 88th minute.
Roots will now head on the road having won five of their last six contests to face the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on Saturday, July 13th before returning home to host NorCal rivals Sacramento Republic FC on Sunday, July 21st.
Postgame Presser
RootsBlog Player of the Match – Camden Riley
We name Camden Riley our RootsBlog Player of the Match for his monumental play ad a versatile center back and midfielder. His clear off of the line in the 36th was pivotal in preserving the win.
He was heavily involved with 76 touches and completed 53 passes, and two passes into the final third. Defensively, he was critical with three tackles, five clearances, 10 defensive actions, and won six duels.
Initial Takeaways
- Huge, huuuuuuge win
That marked one of the biggest wins in club history, beating the No. 1 team and holding the highest scoring team in the USL Championship without a goal. Louisville was held to just nine shots, four on target, and missed one big chance.
There’s a different energy about this team. Once again, Neveal Hackshaw was dancing behind our cameras during Gavin Glinton’s interview, then there were roars of “Dale Dale Oakland Roots” coming from the locker room. This club is on the ascent and beating Louisville was quite the statement.
It moves Oakland up to second place, once again, at least for the time being with Sacramento having two games in hand. Roots look ahead to former Eastern Conference contenders, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, which are looking much more vulnerable than formidable in 11th of the Eastern Conference at 3-6-9 (damn you fine). With a win over the Pittsburgh, Roots will build up the drama towards the July 21 national CBS broadcast against Sacramento Republic.
- Glinton is perfect at home
In four matches at home, Gavin Glinton is perfect at 4-0-0. It comes after a stretch that marred Noah Delgado’s time at the club, here Oakland had just two wins in 17 matches.
Glinton doesn’t care for the accolades, but they keep happening. It marks his third clean sheet and have wins over some of the most successful organization in the USL Championship, including Sacramento, Tampa Bay, Orange County, and now Louisville. It’s a list of wins that would make any coach in the league proud.
Glinton has accomplished several marks in his 11 matches in charge, now 7-1-3 since taking over the interim role. Roots have two straight clean sheets and three in total under Glinton after having none from August 4, 2023 through May 24 of this year. They attained the first away win at Sacramento in club history and are now curing the woes Oakland experienced at home last season when Pioneer Stadium felt anything but a fortress.
The changing of momentum under Glinton in unmistakable. When asked about the continued accolades, Gavin responded, “You always do this.” Well, coach, you keep getting those Ws, and I’ll keep finding records to snap.
“Being able to represent this club, the Bay Area, Oakland, and to have our fans come here with everything they do; it’s a special place,” Glinton said. “I’m very, very happy that we’re able to reciprocate that energy and some of that happiness. We want to protect this place as if its a fortress, I want our fans to go home smiling, partying, and feeling happy about the energy that they gave to the guys. One game at a time.”
- Lindo and Johnny hitting highs
Lindo Mfeka was nearly our Man of the Match recipient for his amazing feed to Johnny for the goal. Both players have been hitting highs since dealing with injuries earlier in the season.
It marked Johnny’s sixth goal of the season with three goals coming in each of the last three games. He earned an 8.2 rating, two shots on target, and won six duels.
For Lindo, he also earned an 8.2 rating with 32 completed passes at 86 percent with four into the final third, created four scoring chances, and won four duels. He also nearly scored in the 55th minute when Rodriguez turned a back-heel pass to him for a shot a few feet above the penalty area, but his shot ricocheted off of the left post.
Starting Lineups
- Oakland Roots Starting 11
It’s back to the 4-2-3-1 for Glinton, so to speak, with Johnny Rodriguez at right wing and Chery as the lead striker. We’ll see ehat that means and how much rotation Johnny makes. Baboucarr Njie starts at LW, while Napo Matsoso and Danny Gomez are the midfield pivot. Across the back is Justin Rasmussen at LB, Neveal Hackshaw returns to the CB spot, while Cam Riley also gets another nod at CB. Last game, he still made a lot of forward runs, I wouldn’t be surprised to see similat. At right back, Memo Diaz gets another start, seemingly showing to be Glinton’s preferred option at the position.
- Louisville City FC Starting 11
Timeline
GAME TIME!!! Can Oakland Roots pull off a result against the best team in the league?
Njie took a shot to the head in the first 15 seconds, fine to continue
LOU corner – 6′
cleared
Roots play in the box, trickles around until Napo has a shot blocked- 12′
Roots corner – 16′
LOU good chance blocked – 18′
Napo yellow – 23′
LOU shot to empty net deflected then cleared by Riley – 36′
Big chance for the away side.
LOU attacking the box repeatedly- 39′
Tamacas on for Rasmussen – 45′
injury sub
LOU dangerous ball out front, Paul nicks it aside for a corner – 45+1′
LOU corner – 45+2′
First half notes:
This goes into halftime tied 0-0, which isn’t the worst for Oakland Roots. Louisville continuously sensing crosses to in front of the net and have a couple of dangerous moments like Riley’s clear off the line, but have lacked finishing. Roots with 2 shots, 1 on target, and 52% possession. Louisville is generating looks with 5 shots, 1 on target, missed 1 big opportunity and generated 2 corners.
Chery blocked – 49′
LOU longshot blocked out for a corner – 51′
LOU corner cleared
Lindo hits the post – 55′
Yellow on Tosch – 60′
ROOTS GOAL – 62′
Lindo retrieves the ball from Miche a few feet in front of net, takes a touch by a defender and gets his pass away to Johnny for the goal. Oakland leads!
Reid on for Njie – 66′
Roots free kick – 69′
Johnny shot wide – 69′
Yellow on Miche – 70′
LOU free kick – 71′
Cedeño and Koze on – 74′
Johnny hits outside left post- 76′
Logue and Dwyer coming on – 83′
Johnny and Lindo off
LOU shot deflected wide- 86′
Paul huge save on a header at the left post – 88′
LOU corner – 90′
Roots free kick- 90+2′
one after another. Dom hypes up crowd.
LOU free kick, GK coming up – 90+7′
Paul claims second ball