Oakland Roots walk out of Rhode Island with a point after holding a first-half lead. However, a red card to Neveal Hackshaw in the 72nd minute helped contribute to an onslaught from Rhode Island when breaking through in the 87th with a total of 23 shot attempts.
Roots broke the deadlock in the 33rd minute when Baboucarr Njie sent a perfect cross to Hackshaw running free in the box for a header goal. Oakland only logged 4 shots in the first half, which may have been a precursor after finishing with 7 shots and just 1 on target.
From there, Rhode Island stayed on the front foot by sending continuous dangerous crosses in front of net. RIFC had 23 shots with 6 on target after going into the half with 6 shots. After Hackshaw’s red card, Rhode Island got its tying goal with three minutes of regulation on one of its dangerous passes to Dikwa charging unmarked.
Roots look ahead to hosting Memphis next Saturday in a critical Western Conference match.
Initial Takeaways
- Roots scrape out a point
Well, that wasnt terrible, but it sure wasn’t .good. Oakland went ahead in the 33rd minute, but it felt like they were hanging on for life. Rhode Island logged 23 shots but the six on target were enough to get on the board.
Hackshaw’s red card in the 72nd minute ultimately led to doing away with Oakland’s lead, while the decision to take Johnny off for a midfielder in the 77th didn’t seem to benefit the attack. From then, it was all Rhode Island.
Missing the two extra points means Memphis is currently going up to third place, putting Roots to fourth. All in all, it’s probably a positive to take a point on the road, but to lose from a winning position leaves a sour taste.
- All eyes on Memphis
Memphis taking three points on Tulsa with a 2-nil win puts them three points above Roots, placing them in third and bumping Oakland down to fourth. It all spells to a critical 6-point match on August 24 that will shape the Western Conference standings.
It also marks the first of two meetings between the two teams, meaning it will provide the first step in the standings tiebreaker.
The USL Championship tiebreaker rules’ first clause is the amount of points gained within the tie, so a victory will help propel either side. The second clause is the goal differential between the two matches, while the third clause is Points Per Game against conference opponents. Oakland will then travel to Memphis on October 5 to wrap up the season series.
- Attacking reinforcements
There were a few interesting things to note about tonight; Memo Diaz got the start at right wing despite being a natural fullback, Bryan Tamacas also pushed into an attacking role, and Johnny came off in the 77th without an attacking-minded player replacing him. Throw in Miche-Naider Chéry staying on the bench and Dom Dwyer being scratched from the last two games, and it might be clues into how Gavin Glinton feels about his attacking options.
Roots are searching for answers on where to score goals from source other than Johnny Rodriguez. Neveal Hackshaw’s first-half goal was his second of the season, tying him for second on the team in goals with Trayvone Reid, Lindo Mfeka, Chéry, and Ilya Alekseev.
How does Tamacas’ injury impact the lineup? Other than possibly pushing Alekseev up to Memo’s primary backup, it might mean Lindo goes back into the starting lineup against Memphis. Dwyer being held out for a second straight game also meant Roots were without an attacking option. Does the page seemingly turning on Dwyer, the team’s highest-paid player, preclude attacking-minded additions to the roster? It’ll be interesting to see if there’s a change in approach for the final stretch of the season.
Starting Lineup
- Oakland Roots Starting 11
A couple of inaccuracies from what Roots provided Google, per usual. They come out in a 3-4-3 once again with the marquee wrinkle from the previous game is Bryan Tamacas playing at RWB and Memp Doaz moving up to the RW spot vacated by Linfo Mfeka. The only other change from the Loudoun win is Paul Blanchette back in goal after returning from paternity leave. No Dwyer in the lineup, again.
- Rhode Island Starting 11
Timeline
GAME TIME!!!! Can Oakland get it done all the way across the country?
Johnny header narrowly wide – 4′
great pass from Njie
Roots free kick – 9′
From distance, but good area. Foul on the pass in.
RI shot on target from atop the area. Big diving save – 13′
RI corner – 17′
RI corner – 18′
leads to another, Rasmussen heads out when had space.
RI corner – 18′
cleared out. Retains possession
Gomez blocked after a good buildup. Ball free in box – 21′
RI free kick – 23′
Dangerous area for a long pass, about 10 yards above area.
Hackshaw header after a ball in.
RI corner – 24′
RI retains possession.
RI shot blocked, huge stop by Logue – 28″
RI corner – 29′
Ball out the back for a goal kick
RI shot trickles wide, another corner – 30′
RI corner – 30′
play short, Paul grabs the ball in
Roots free kick – 32′
Babou whips one in, defensive header away
Roots corner – 33′
Babou to Hackshaw on a free run in the box, ROOTS LEAD
Roots free kick – 40′
leads to a corner. Nodarse narrowly puts it over his own net.
Roots corner – 40′
leads to another corner
Roots corner – 41′
cleared out
Rasmussen shot wide from atop area – 41′
RI shot high, deflects for another corner – 45+1′
RI corner – 45+1′
RI corner – 45+2′
header wide
First half notes:
Oakland Roots lead 1-nil after Hackshaw headed in a corner pass from Babou. Roots with 44% possession, 4 shots and 1 on target with 3 corners. Rhode Island with 6 shots but just 1 on target with 8 corners.
Paul huge stop of a 1-o-1 opportunity on a dribble into the area by Turnbull – 47′
Tamacas dribble into the area, shot blocked – 49′
Tamacas writhing in pain after clattering into a defender. He’s limping off the field, looks in agony
RI corner – 52′
Play short, cycles around then a longshot barely goes high
Lindo is on for Tamacas – 53′
RI corner – 55′
leads to another
Scuffle in front of Roots net. Hackshaw went down, the Paul goes down in a skirmish
RI corner- 57′
long header very wide
big stop by Paul on an odd-angle shot – 60ish
RI long free kick – 64′
Paul deflects, ball cycles through the area before a shot goes high and very wide
RI shot very wide, may have been a cross – 70′
Reid and Koze on for Njie and Camden – 71′
Hackshaw red carded – 72′
Foul on edge of box, ruled to have stopped an opportunity.
RI free kick – 73′
Dangerous, on the edge of the area. Play short and shot takes a deflection before being cleared. Big stop.
Napo and Camier on for Gomez and Johnny – 77′
RI corner – 81′
Ball settles in the area, Paul dives on a slow shot on target
Roots corner – 83′
Lindo does well to win a 1-o-1 dribble before his pass deflects out.
play short, cycles all the way back
RI goal – 87′
Roots were clinging onto the lead, Dikwa gets on the end of a header. Seemed like a goal was coming
RI header on target- 90′
Paul there to make it look easy. RI producing on a lot of long crosses
RI corner – 90+1′
header straight at Paul
RI soft header wide – 90+6′