Oakland Roots grinded out its first point of the season, tying 0-0 with Las Vegas Lights on Saturday at the Coliseum. It brings Oakland’s record to 0-1-3 through its four matches.
Roots finishes the night with seven shot attempts with one on target to Las Vegas’ 12 shots and three on target. Oakland was done in by an offside call when EJ Johnson tapped in a shot by Wolfgang Prentice that ricocheted off a defender. Kai Greene also looped in a shot while falling backward in the second half.
Here are our talking points coming out of Saturday’s match.
Talking Points
- Happy to keep a clean sheet
There was a sense of relief from Oakland Roots to take a point, but most importantly, to keep a clean sheet. Roots walked into the match with the league’s worst defense after conceding nine goals through the first three matches, keeping Lights off of the board.
“To finish with a zero is a positive. I thought the guys put a helluva effort, they showed a commitment to work on both sides of the ball. I’m happy with the improvement, the shutout, and the guys’ effort,” coach Gavin Glinton said.
“But I’m happy with our ability to defend and keep the clean sheet. I think our defense has been getting better every week.”
With the clean sheet, Oakland did well to keep Johnny Rodriguez under wraps. He had Las Vegas’ least touches for any outfield player with 31. Had recorded some dangerous passes in the first half to spring attacks, but he had just one shot on target that was easily handled.
“We know what he can do. I think our guys did a very good job of limiting Las Vegas’ quality chances, their ability to play in behind, and hit teams on the counter. They have a talented front three and wingbacks. In the second half, I thought we were good in defending and suffering through moments in the low block,” Glinton said.
Captain Tyler Gibson mentioned that keeping the shutout was atop the team’s goals going into the match.
“We got a clean sheet; that’s a good start,” Gibson said. “In the other games, we scored but didn’t do enough defensively. That’s what we talked about all week: first and foremost, getting the clean sheet.
“We didn’t give up any weak goals. The goals we’ve been given up have been way too weak in little moments. We have to win our individual battles and not let teams get things easily.”
Gibson was a member of the San Francisco Delta’s NPSL title-winning team in 2017. He points out that staying strong defensively was a major part of the Delta’s cup run.
“That was a special season, and we were really tough to play against,” Gibson said. “We got a ton of clean sheets; that’s how you win championships. It’s keeping clean sheets and keeping the ball out of the net. When playoffs come, if you keep teams off the scoresheet, anything can happen. If we can limit the cheap goals, we’ll have a very good season.”
- Progress made on the attack
Oakland Roots couldn’t get to double-digit shot attempts in all four matches. It wasn’t until the 66th minute that Roots recorded a shot on target when Panos Armenakas whipped in a shot. Still, Oakland had some of its smoother moments of transition in the second half and did well to pin Vegas back.
Roots had some of the more dangerous looks throughout the night. Kai Greene had an awkward shot loop off of the crossbar in the 69th minute, while EJ Johnson’s wiped goal came in the 81st. Both came at the end of set pieces by jumping on second balls, similar to how Justin Rasmussen scored against San Antonio at the end of a corner.
“We’ve gotten into some moments where we just miss passes and had some real clear opportunities. I think there have been some moments where we get into serving positions and we need to be more aggressive getting numbers into the box. There are also times where we can get forward and support more in the high block,” Glinton said.
“I’m happy with what we did in zones 1-2-3, but we’re still missing quality in zone 4.”
Oakland led possession for the first time all season in the first half, going into the half with 63 percent of the ball. That number evened out as the match progressed.
“At the start, we were good with the ball but a little too cautious. I thought we executed the game plan to pin them back and get into their end well. But as we got into the high block, we didn’t create enough chances on the day,” Glinton said.
Glinton wanted to see more possession out of tonight’s group, noting it was important to give their defense some time to breathe.
“We’ve talked about being able to dominate more games and have more possession. I think we saw an improvement on that from last week, where we’re not defending as much. As we continue to focus on all four phases, these are some things where we’ve seen some real improvements.”
- The jelling process
There’s no telling just how quickly a team can put things together at the start of a long league schedule. With a wealth of new starters, it’s been a process of building chemistry through the first four weeks.
“As we go through this process with the new group, I think we’ve seen strides in the right direction every week. I think the guys are confident and bought in,” Glinton said.
Among those new players is Gibson, already a captain to start the season.
“I think we’re continuously growing. It’s starting to come together with the new group and improve in little key moments. The clean sheet was a huge start for us,” Gibson said.
Gibson is in the 11th year of his professional career, spanning eight different teams. He’s seen his share of teams ironing out the wrinkles.
“It’s coming together,” Gibson said. “The first two games, we were all over the place. We weren’t good on the ball, we weren’t good defensively, and we allowed way too many cheap goals. Last week, we were a bit better defensively but still weren’t great on the ball. This week, we worked more on the ball and had the confidence to play.”
Gibson sees common trends through the first batch of games, where Roots play its best when responding to adversity. He wants to see Oakland start stronger and more consistently.
“You saw in the last games, the shackles came off when we were down two goals. Tonight, we were a little bit braver, and we must continually build on that. Tonight, we can take pride on how we played on the ball. We still need to work on it, but it’s getting better.”
- The officiating
The above image is the buildup toward Roots’ wiped goal in the 81st minute. Wolfgang Prentice plays in his shot, which led to a defensive header backward by Las Vegas’ deepest defender. EJ Johnson, circled in red, had a good 3-4 feet of room when the ball was initially played, while its still a mighty close call after contact with the defender. But the goal was called off, leaving a sour taste for Glinton.
Peter Wilson also took a hard shot in the box at 32 minutes, but no call was made in the tight situation. Just last week, Johnson also took a knock in the area, but Oakland was never awarded the penalty.
It’s moments like these when you wonder how differently things might have been if USL had VAR.
“Very frustrated to not come out with a blatant penalty two weeks in a row. That goal call was a shocking offside; it’s a shocking miss. EJ was multiple yards onside. If we get any of those over the past two weekends, we’re tied 2-2 and up 1-0 instead of where we’re at,” Glinton said.
If the USL continues to tout itself as a building Division 1 league, adopting video review is something that must be on the cards to continue going toe-to-toe against MLS.
Press Conference
Starting Lineups
- Oakland Roots
Baboucarr Njie starts in place of Justin Rasmussen. Peculiar decision after Rasmussen’s performance, may help give some defensive stability. Abdi Mohamed in for Cam Riley at RB, Sinisterra back at RW in place of Ilya Alekseev, and no other changes. Julian Bravo plays his first game on the subs list.
- Las Vegas Lights
Timeline
GAME TIME! Can Roots get its first points of the season against Johnny Rodriguez and Las Vegas?
LV dangerous pass out front- 9′
Roots corner – 12′
After some dangerous action in the box between Wilson, Njie, and Sinisterra. Panos on the dribble leading to a corner.
Play short, ball works to Prentice. Cross claimed by the keeper.
Roots free kick good area – 15′
Njie cross to Hackshaw, headed centrally but cleared out.
Roots free kick 5 yards past midfield – 17′
Wilson took a shot. Ball in toward Hackshaw cleared.
LV free kick – 17′
From long distance on left side. Cleared it. LV retains
Sinisterra shot wide – 21′
Roots corner – 22′
Cross in to Njie punched out. Njie called for foul on GK.
LV free kick – 31′
Johnny header skimmed, McIntosh grabs it easily.
Wilson knocked over in the box, no call – 32′
Dives a foot into a tight situation. Caught the ball and took contact. Close call.
LV free kick in good area on right side – 37′
Njie yellow carded on the play.
Foul outside of box less than 10 yards out.
Low ball rolls through area but McIntosh grabs it.
Good buildup between Wilson and Sinisterra. Njie cross out for a goal kick at near post – 43′
LV near goal on the break, nice play through by Johnny – 45′
Shot goes wide, was a really good buildup.
LV corner – 45+6
Play short, ball in cleared.
Roots corner – 45+10
maybe last play of half.
Ball goes all the way through, leads to nothing.
First half notes:
0-0 at the half makes sense, not really any huge scoring chances for either side. LV with one empty play in behind, Roots with some good buildup but hasn’t led to a shot on target.
Oakland with 63 percent of the ball, but just one shot attempt. LV with 4 shots, 3 on target.
Roots corner – 47′
Gomez takes, Johnny clears
Empty buildup with Wilson – 49′
LV corner – 50′
leads to nothing
Wilson drows foul at midfield- 53′
EJ on for Sinisterra, Rasmussen on for Njie – 57′
LV free kick – 57′
in good area on the right side. About five yards outside the box.
header out, fouled.
LV free kick – 62′
About 12-13 yards above the area. Ball low into the wall.
Panos shot on target – 66′
Good job by Roots to cycle the ball around and keep Vegas pinned back. Panos curls in a shot but it goes straight at the keeper
Wolf draws free kick in good area – 69′
Draws if on left side, 10 yards outside box. Ball deflects to Kai, who loops in a ball that hits the crossbar.
Roots free kick good area- 70′
on right side this time. Ball in by Panos goes all the way to the keeper.
Jurgen on for Panos – 72′
LV skyes a shot from odd angle – 75′
Jurgen goes down in box, no call – 78′
Damm yellowed for diving.
Roots corner – 80′
leads to another
Roots corner- 81′
Leads to a goal wiped due to offside. Wolfy with a shot, trickles toward goal after a defensive header. EJ tapped it in, called off.
Bravo and Elmasnaouy on
LV corner – 88′
out for a LV throw
Roots free kick near midfield-90′
leads to nothing