Oakland Roots fell 3-2 to Monterey Bay, now suffering consecutive losses to start the 2025 season. Despite claiming an early lead when Camden Riley slammed in a header after Jose Luis Sinisterra sent a cross on the button in the 44th, Monterey answered with three second-half goals in quick succession.
Monterey scored its three goals within 13 minutes in the second half. Malango tied the match with a golazo, whipped in a shot from the left side. Then MB was awarded a penalty kick, converting in the 65th. Four minutes later, Monterey put away a header to make it 3-1 after an errant pass by Adbi Mohamed left Roots strung out.
Sinisterra helped bring Oakland back with a goal at 71′ after Peter Wilson nudged a ball toward him. Roots got a gift with seven minutes of regulation left, but they couldn’t create anything with it.
Now at 0-0-2, Roots have conceded seven goals through the first two games. They enter a monumental home opener at the Coliseum, which might mark the club’s most important day in its history.
Can Oakland pull itself out of the hole? Do they need more time to get incorporated? Or is the league content team and John Morrissey correct when predicting Roots to be Western Conference cellar dwellars. Here are our talking points coming out of Saturday’s loss.
Talking Points
- The leaky faucet continues
As Monterey sent in its third goal, it was a testament to Oakland’s leaking faucet still not being tightened. Despite MB’s first goal being a questionable handball, the back line couldn’t get a handle for yet another match.
Roots have now conceded 14 goals over its last four matches going back to last year’s regular season finale.
It’s a bit of a shock after Roots made a swarm of investment over the offseason, but the defensive woes have continued. What needs to change for the faucet to stop flooding?
- Not enough quality with a man up
Roots were given a chance when drawing a red card in the 83rd, but couldn’t generate any scoring opportunities from it. It’s hard to determine what the exact strategy was when MB went down to 10 men.
Oakland seemed to just cycle the ball around the back line before sending a long ball to get cleaned up. The only chance Roots seemed the gain was when a MB’s keeper was caught out of the net after a batted ball fell to Jurgen Damm–but he couldn’t pull the trigger with defenders converging on him.
There just didn’t seem to be a plan. And when things weren’t working, adjustments never happened.
- Can Oakland Roots pull a Colorado Springs?
Oof, well this is a painful start, right? After a sizeable adjustment to the roster, opening 0-0-2 surely wasn’t in the club’s cards.
It’s worth noting defending champions Colorado Springs also started 2024 in a downward spiral. In fact, they started last season 0-1-5 before getting their first win against, you guessed it, Oakland Roots.
That being said, Roots need to do a lot to catch the fire Switchbacks created. Colorado Springs, for example, recorded 21 shots in last year’s season-opening loss and cranked out 11 the next two games. Roots haven’t shown the same glimpses of firepower COS showed at the start of 2024, listing seven and six shot attempts in its first two matches.
Oakland cannot have giveaways that lead to goals and certainly cannot keep digging holes by conceding multiple scores. It’s still way too early to decide what type of team Roots can be, but now entering their new home at the Coliseum, it’s time to give fans something they can feel excited about.
- Sinisterra & Peter Wilson looked good
Ending with a good note. Jose Luis Sinisterra perhaps had his best performance in a Roots jersey. His pass to Riley for the header was inch-perfect, while his second-half goal was with good positioning and finishing. I would’ve liked to see him finish the game, he was one of the most creative players out there.
With Sinisterra’s goal, Wilson had a great layoff to him after receiving a pass by Armenakas. Wilson only finished with 5 touches, which is a testament to his playing style–he can do a lot with a little.
We’ll see if Wilson instantly gets the start against San Antonio, but his quick inclusion in the second half could be a sign that he’s ready to go.
The same goes for Damm. After getting 15 minutes of regulation plus stoppage time, it will be interesting to see if he gets a start next weekend before a roaring crowd.
Starting Lineups
- Oakland Roots
I come two away from hitting 100% on my lineup predictions. EJ Johnson, Hackshaw and Prentice get their first starts of the season. My guess is Riley is at RB with Mohamed on the bench. Overall, looks like a good squad. Damm and Wilson also on the bench in their Oakland debuts.
- Monterey Bay FC
Timeline
GAME TIME!!! Can Oakland Roots get its first win of the season?
Roots free kick – early
cleared out
Roots corner
foul
MB free kick – 9′
Along right side. Taken low, cleared out but MB retains.
MB play in box, deflected out for corner – 11′
Foul on MB
MB fans keep booing Riley, I must know why
And just like that, Riley goes down along the right sideline- 23′
he looks good to continue
Roots free kick – 24′
play short and back.
MB corner- 26′
header super wide at far post
MB dangerous ball across the face, leads to nothing – 29′
MB another dangerous pass, but too far out front – 35′
EJ shot on target from about 6 yards above area, diving stop – 40′
Roots free kick good area – 44′
Sinisterra lines up over it. BALL IN TO RILEY FOR THE HEADER GOAL. ROOTS LEAD
MB has goal wiped. Ball trickles out front and eventually gets pushed in with McIntosh sprawled on the ground. No goal – 45′
Sinisterra shot narrowly wide – 45+2′
First Half notes:
Roots are leading! They make the most of an advantageous free kick with a perfect pass from Sinisterra to Camden Riley. Oakland with just 39% possession but have 4 shots with 2 on target, MB with 4 shots, 1 on target
Roots free kick – 48′
good area again. Panos over it. Ball in cleared.
Sinisterra rifled a shot wide from about 25 yards – 50′
MB corner – 51′
goes out for a throw in
MB goal, golazo – 56′
Great shot from the left side, Malango I believe.
Peter Wilson on – 63′
MB gets a PK – 64′
MB penalty – 65′
Paul takes it, goes right down the middle. Roots trail.
MB shot wide – 68′
MB scores again – 69′
Starts with a bad pass by Adbi, leaves Roots strung out for an easy header. Roots have now allowed 7 goals in the first 2 games.
ROOTS GOAL!!!!!! – 71′
ITS A GAME! Ball laid off to Sinisterra, who wraps his foot around it. It’s 3-2 Monterey
Damm and Ilya on for Sinisterra and Prentice – 75′
MB corner – 80′
leads to a throw in
MB red card – 83′
Gordon, their captain, kicked ball into the back of Panos’ head
Njie on for Rasmussen – 85′
Roots free kick – 86′
From 40 yards out, Panos ball in. Punches out
that’s all she wrote. Painful loss