Oakland Roots dropped another match, falling to Phoenix Rising 1-0, sending Oakland to seventh place below Rising. Roots now keep a watchful eye on Orange County’s match on Wednesday.
Making matters worse, ninth-place San Antonio’s late-winner over Colorado Springs puts them three points back of Roots.
Rising scored the game winner in the 55th minute when Tomas Angel Gutierrez headed home a wide open shot right in front of the net after Emil Cuello dribbled by Memo Diaz sprawled out on the ground.
Oakland had its chances, but just couldn’t put anything away. Cam Riley had a golden opportunity right in front of the net when he sailed a shot after receiving Baboucarr Njie pass from free kick. Memo Diaz also had a look in front of net in the second half, but the ball scuffed off of his thigh. Miche-Naider Chéry hit the post with a header in the waning minutes.
Roots look ahead to another critical match at Las Vegas next Saturday.
Postgame Press Conference
Talking Points
- Missed chances, once again
Oakland had its chances in another loss, but just couldn’t find the finishing touch. Roots finished the night with 12 shots but just two on target. Similar to the previous tie with Memphis 901, Oakland just couldn’t put away its best looks.
Riley had Roots’ best look in the 16th minute in what was looking like a productive start for the home side. Njie whipped a ball in from a free kick that skipped through the area to Riley, but his shot sailed over the crossbar. Danny Gomez also missed Johnny for an open header in front of the net in the 45th.
In the second half, Memo had a wide open look in the 47th on another nice pass from Njie, but Diaz tried to push in the ball with his thigh and it went out for a goal kick. Miche-Naider Chery then had a header clang off of the left post in the 89th minute.
“We’ve been in matches and at this point, margins are so narrow. We’ve been on the wrong side of luck a lot; hitting the post, a couple of clean chances here and we don’t put them away. We are aware of where we are in the table. We’ve given ourselves chances to get points and win games–we haven’t been very lucky. There’s movement and discipline to help create chances. You what happens when that switch flips, it’s just not happening enough,” Glinton said.
- Why is this happening two years in a row?
It’s almost like San Antonio securing its game-winner at 90+9 over Colorado Springs was confirmation that Oakland Roots are, in fact, cursed.
It’s shocking how similar this year is to 2023’s drop out of the playoffs. Just like last year, all Roots need is to get back in the win column, but it isn’t happening.
“As you get down to the nitty gritty, there’s more narrow margins. I think our discipline to maintain moments when we’re on top of teams and to finish plays off is still lacking. I thought we’ve done a good job defensively but we continue to give up one goal that puts us behind,” Glinton said. “It’s being aggressive and dangerous. We need more of when we’re chasing it and going after teams.”
Oakland has now gone six games without a win, an eerily similar trend to ending the previous year winless in nine matches.
Ironically enough, Roots’ most recent win on August 31 was against New Mexico United. In 2023, Oakland’s final win of the season was a 2-1 victory over, you guessed it, New Mexico on August 23 of that year.
Glinton was a member of last year’s collapse as an assistant coach to Noah Delgado. When asked if he seems similarities to 2023, Glinton said he’s remaining confident in the group.
“No. It just sucks because that’s the first thing everybody’s going to point to. We’ve gone through a stretch where we were not getting wins and not finding ways to get the points we need, but I know the locker room is confident in what they can do. I’m still confident in what we can do, it’s making sure we don’t let ourselves off the hook and we keep accountable,” Glinton said.
- Lineup choices
Glinton went back to the 3-4-3 with Dom Dwyer getting the start up top, leaving the match after 60 minutes for Justin Rasmussen. It kicked Johnny Rodriguez to the right winger role on paper but more of a rotating center forward in practice.
With Oakland struggling to create on the offensive end, Glinton wanted to see if the veteran striker could change things.
“We’re trying to keep things fresh. We’re not scoring goals, so we need to be able to change things up, put people on and see if we can create chances,” Glinton said.
Glinton explained the move to Rasmussen, saying he’s a player who likes to get forward.
“Justin likes to get forward. Against Memphis last week, he had a couple of good opportunities at the back post. I thought we needed to make some changes and get some energy. He did well, it just wasn’t enough for us to get one over the line,” Glinton said.
Trayvone Reid also got the start at left winger, notably over recently signed Juan Luis Sinisterra. Instead of Rasmussen at left wingback was Njie, who had a productive night with three chances created.
Glinton said both having a good performance in the previous game at Memphis earned them a start.
“I thought they played really well last week in Memphis and how they turned the game. Again, we’re trying to rotate and change things up to give some different looks and hope it creates chances going forward,” Glinton said.
“We know its close. Today was close, last week in Memphis was close, I’m tired of saying it. It’s not far off, we have to tighten up in those moments.”
- Next two are the most important two
The famous coach speak saying in sports is the most important game is the one in front of you. Roots go into Las Vegas now staring down a real possibility of dropping out of the playoff race for a second straight year.
“We have to win games, we know that. The guys are gutted, but they all know we still control our destiny. We have everything to play for,” Glinton said.
“Vegas or Birmingham, we need to treat every game like its the biggest game of our lives.”
“Attention to detail, discipline, and accountability. We’ve got to make sure that we are tightening up everything. It’s playoff football right now. These next two games will be a playoff game, and hopefully the next game as well,” Glinton said.
- Rafa Baca
Although the downturn has coincided with Rafa Baca’s arrival, it’s hard to label him as a reason for the downturn. His 7.09 Fotmob rating for this season places him second on the team to Diaz.
Baca had 40 total touches, accounting for three passes into the final third, had two recoveries, and one accurate long ball.
“On the field, he leads by example with his decision-making, his energy, fight and ability to read the game. Also, he’s been really good off the field. He talks to the guys and takes them under his wing. He’s been fantastic just in how professional and consistent he is day-in, day-out,” Glinton said.
Starting Lineups
- Oakland Roots Starting 11
I get all but one for my starting 11 prediction. Dom Dwyer starts up top with Johnny Rodriguez in the right wing role opposite of Trayvone Reid in the 3-4-3. Expect Johnny to rotator around the field. Rafa Baca and Danny Gomez man the midfield with Camden Riley back at the LCB spot with Niall Logue out with an injury. At wingback, Baboucarr Njie gets the nod over Justin Rasmussen. Sinisterra also opens on the bench, interesting move. He’ll provide a spark as a sub.
- Phoenix Rising Starting 11
Timeline
GAME TIME!!!!!
Roots free kick – 7′
does nothing with a Babou ball in.
PHX corner – 9′
PHX header high and wide – 9′
PHX goal wiped, offside- 11′
Oakland beats the don’t allow a goal in 10 minutes challenge
Roots free kick – 16′
Cam draws it on the left sideline.
Big chance put right over the bar by Riley. Nice ball in by Njie skips through the area. Should’ve been a goal.
PHX shot on target by Dennis – 25′
goes straight to Paul
Big tip over the bar by Paul – 28′
stops a header from right out front, huge save
PHX corner- 28′
PHX corner – 31′
leads to a foul by Rising
PHX counter goes nowhere – 34′
Yellow on Memo – 38′
Slide onto Charlie’s ankle.
PHX corner – 42′
goes out the back
Gomez misses Johnny for a header out front – 45′
Johnny pass on volley to Dom out front jumped on by Rakovsky – 45+2′
First half notes:
Oakland generated some early chances, like Cam in the 16th minute, but haven’t overly challenged Rakovsky. Roots with 2 shots, 1 on target, 1 big chance missed to Rising’s 3 shots, 2 on target and 60% possession.
Memo scuffs a wide open chance wide off of his thigh – 47′
Great pass by Baboucarr
Memo down, being checked out – 53′
PHX goal- 55′
great touch work by Cuello down the end line, lays it up for the header goal by Angel. Rising now ahead on the table.
Rasmussen for Dwyer – 60′
Roots corner – 61′
Ball goes out of the back
Reid sends a shot to orbit – 62′
Roots shots blocked in area, leads to a free kick eventually – 64′
Roots free kick – 64′
Reid sends a shot 5 feet high
Scuffle between Johnny and Boye – 67′
yellow on both players
Triple sub. Chery, Sinisterra, and Koze – 72′
Roots corner – 83′
Ball falls in the area but leads to a counter
PHX corner – 85′
Memo shot on target – 88′
Chery header off the post – 89′
great pass in by Memo
Njie shot high from distance- 90′
Roots free kick – 90+4′
pass doesn’t beat first man
Enjoy reading your blogs – thanks for all the time and effort you put into them.
Frustrating end to the season – again. The last few home games have been painful to watch. Seems like the Roots don’t know their best formation or players. Slow starts to almost every game, and msot with very few shots on target. Keeping my fingers crossed for the next two.