Oakland Roots saw its season come to an end, losing 2-0 to Colorado Springs Switchbacks in the first round of the USL Championship Western Conference playoffs.
Colorado Springs broke the deadlock in the 41st minute after a couple of deflections slipped through Oakland’s back line, allowing Jairo Henriquez to capitalize with an easy finish, giving the home side a 1-0 lead.
In the 56th minute, Colorado Springs were awarded a penalty kick when Gagi Margvelashvili was ruled to have bowled over Ronaldo Damus, who slotted his PK into the side netting to gain a 2-0 advantage.
Oakland struggled to create offensively with second-half sub Ilya Alekseev having Roots’ most dangerous look of the game in the 85th minute.
Talking Points
- Roots continued trouble generating chances
Oakland Roots never generated clear chances throughout the night, where they maintained a poor expected goals (xG) rate of just .015 by the 65th minute of action. They had just one shot attempt in the first 45 minutes, while they finished with seven shots with just two on target–creating no big chances on the night.
In fact, Oakland’s first shot on goal came from center back Gagi Margvelashvili with just 10 minutes left in regulation in the 80th minute. Five minutes later, Ilya Alekseev had Roots’ best scoring opportunity after pulling off a shot a few feet in front of the keeper with a defender draped on his back.
But Oakland’s inability to create offensively isn’t a new occurrence. It’s been a demon that has followed the attack since the close of the 2023 season.
According to FotMob, Roots’ 1.1 goals per game average in 2024 ranked 18th of 24 teams while they were just three ranks better in 2023 in 15th with 1.3 goals per game. Roots also finish this season among the bottom teams in big chances created, ranking 17th with 59, which was a big step down from 2023’s ninth-place ranking with 79. They finished this year 21st in shots on target per match at 3.3, marking a fall from 4.4 in 2023, which placed them sixth overall.
Roots also took a step down in overall FotMob rating in 2024, finishing 23rd of 24 teams after placing in 11th last season. In total, Oakland ranked in the bottom five in eight different categories including rating, goals conceded per match, clean sheets, shots on target average, accurate long balls, touches inside the opponent’s box, corners, and possession won in the final third.
Oakland’s 2022 campaign was by far its best. They were 10th of 27 in FotMob rating, 10th in goals per match at 1.5, 12th in goals conceded at 1.4, fourth in average possession at 53.7 percent, 10th in big chances with 78, and fifth in touches inside the opponent’s box with 855.
- Where do we go from here?
One scroll on Roots’ Instagram on its Full Time post and you’ll find a swarm of upset fans. It’s becoming more clear that fans are beginning to demand a higher standard for soccer.
As we highlighted following last week’s loss to Birmingham, fans are getting fed up with the lack of quality on the pitch. Entering an important offseason before playing in the Coliseum, Roots’ front office has difficult decisions to make.
It seems like an endless merry-go-round for Roots. Stability has been a foreign subject since the club’s inception with six coaches in its five-year history. For that basis alone, interim HC Gavin Glinton may have a chance to establish his mark on the team in the full-time role.
One club source views Glinton as a real candidate for the job, while another source praised him for changing the locker room culture. A third source, speaking months ago, aired caution and that they are keeping options open. Now in November, its unclear if a decision has been made.
There’s also the subject of roster building with all but Paul Blanchette, Memo Diaz, and Johnny Rodriguez remaining from Roots’ best performing squad from 2022–which had a total of 26 players and fan-favorites like Edgardo Rito, Charlie Dennis, Jose Hernandez, among others. They took a swing on investing in veteran striker Dom Dwyer, but he only totaled 452 minutes. Fellow striker Miche-Naider Chéry showed potential, but only amassed two goals and an assist.
It’s worth noting that Oakland has never been among the top spenders in the league on roster or coaches. Will those budgets grow for 2025?
In recent weeks, president Lindsay Barenz mentioned its their goal to make Roots “the biggest brand of soccer in the world.” The team’s growth off the field is unmistakable, as accounted in the next talking point below.
But there’s a common trend in the world’s biggest sports brands–winning. It requires an elite soccer staff to build a championship roster with sound investments. For Roots, they have to figure out what is entailed to become the world’s biggest brand in the sport.
- Brighter days ahead
Bright days are ahead, don’t be mistaken.
With the Coliseum’s announcement, Roots now have an opportunity to see what heights it can achieve.
The organization has proven off of the field it can hit its goals. They have locked down an opportunity to play in Oakland’s cathedral of sports at the Coliseum while still having Malibu Lot on the docket, possess the highest selling merchandise in the USL Championship, and make noise as a top team in social media engagements.
It is a testament to Barenz’s ability to reinforce the brand, the marketing ability by owner Edreece Arghandiwal, and the leadership of the communications staff.
Now entering the Coliseum in 2025, the organization has eyes on setting new highs. Multiple executives have eyes on setting the USL Championship single-game record in attendance at near 31,500 with lofty-goals of topping the Coliseum’s record attendance for a soccer match at over 51,000.
Barenz recently said they want to put themselves in position for an MLS bid should the league push for expansion in the Bay Area.
At the Coliseum, Oakland puts itself in perfect position to vie for their attention. One club source thinks setting a USL Championship single-game record would give MLS no choice but to give them, at least, some thought.
But for Roots, it’s been a long matter of having the soccer catch up to the brand. With the fans wanting results, the club’s leadership now must find a way to pursue trophies at the same pace as its other goals.
- Supporter culture
Closing with this, Oakland Roots fans remain undefeated.
It was a fantastic year for the Deep Roots section at Pioneer Stadium. Los Roots SG became renowned around the league for its non-stop drumming, Homegrown Hooligans saw tremendous growth with its infectious energy, former Raiders’ fans of Forever Oakland found a new home, and the Oakland 68s continue to be a catalyst in The Town’s sports scene.
Personally, this season has been a huge record-setting year for RootsBlog. Thanks to your support, the website has grown over 60 percent with time to spare before the New Year and newsworthy stories to cover.
We hope the fans, players, and staff who read this have enjoyed the coverage this season; your support means the world to us.
Let’s keep going.
Starting Lineups
- Oakland Roots Starting 11
I get my starting lineup prediction 100 percent correct, aside from Rasmussen at LW and Njie at LWB. Its the same lineup as the last win against Las Vegas, how similar will the approach be? Baca and Riley make a solid defensive midfield. I’m interested to see Gomez and Sinisterra’s movement.
- Colorado Springs Switchbacks Starting 11
Timeline
PLAYOFF TIME! Can Oakland Roots move onto the second round for a third time?
COS corner – 4′
cycled out
Johnny nearly runs on down at GK – 8′
Memo cross to nowhere – 10′
good buildup by Sinisterra
COS corner – 12′
Paul killing time already? – 13′
Damus sends a shot very high – 18′
Roots corner – 22′
cleared, doesn’t beat first man
Memo another empty cross from a good position – 25′
COS shot/shank to goal, Riley got a piece of it – 26′
Rasmussen shot blocked out, should be a corner – 29′
corner not given
Magee longshot sails over net – 33′
COS corner – 35′
Hackshaw nearly sends in an own goal. Big stop by Blanchette
COS corner – 37′
leads to a goal kick
Colorado scores – 41′
interplay through the defense, Henriquez scores on a feed in front. He did most of it by himself. From Henriquez to Damus, back to Henriquez to Zandi, who fed it through to the goal scorer.
First half notes:
Roots trail and haven’t had any overly challenging moments on the offensive side. Oakland with 1 shot and just 36% possession, we’ll see if that changes in the second half. Switchbacks with 5 shots, 2 shots on target, converted 1 big chance.
Roots corner – 47′
nice ball by Memo, Herrera misses the punch and ball just flies through without clear contact
COS longshot goes wide – 49′
Yellow on Gagi after giveaway, also a yellow on Magee
Gomez shot blocked- 53′
COS shot? Very wide – 54′
COS awarded a penalty- 56′
Gagi called for running through Damus’ back. Damus scores.
Roots corner – 59′
Ball flies through area untouched again
Why isn’t Dwyer in yet – 62′
Koze and Reid in – 63′
for Baca and Rasmussen
0.15 xG – 66′
Finally Dwyer comes on – 68′
on for Riley
This is embarrassing how outclassed Roots have looked tonight
Dwyer shot out for a goal kick, he wants a foul – 75′
Gavin given a yellow – 75′
Ilya on for Sinisterra – 76′
Roots free kick – 80′
longball from Njie to Gagi, header loops to the keeper
Roots free kick – 81′
Along the left sideline. Long ball territory.
Doesn’t beat the first man
Johnny header very wide – 84′
Ilya shot on target close distance- 85′
best chance of the game for Roots
COS shot high- 90+1′
by Williams
Paul stops Tejada 1-o-1 – 90+2′
Bad tackle by Memo enables it
COS shot barely wide – 90+5′
Can’t even get out of the final third – 90+6′
COS free kick – 90+7′
Ball over to Johnny, doesn’t make good contact on shot. Big block by Mahoney