Oakland Roots’ lackluster ways reemerged in Sunday’s 2-1 USL Jägermeister Cup loss away at Spokane Velocity. Oakland is now winless in two cup matches so far this season against lower-league Division 3 competition after falling to Tacoma Defiance in the U.S. Open Cup.
Making things more painful, Spokane outplayed Oakland for all 90 minutes.
Velocity got on the board first in the 25th minute when Luis Gil was left completely unmarked in the box. After Jurgen Damm was beaten on the left side, Kai Greene was pulled all the way out of the penalty area, leading to Derek Waldeck finding Gil uncontested.
And then right before halftime in the 43rd minute, Anuar Pelaez got revenge on his former team from 2023 on another easy opportunity. This time, Greene was beaten in a duel, leading to the ball kicking out wide to Andre Lewis, rolling a pass into the box to find Pelaez just a couple of yards in front of the net.
Oakland pulled one back in the 52nd minute when Baboucarr Njie sent a long throw-in into the box. It fell to Gagi Margevelashvili, who was knocked down, sweeping it into the goal off his back.
Here are our talking points from the match.
Talking Points
- Oakland’s attack disappeared
The question rolling into the day was whether Oakland could replicate its attacking prowess from its 2-0 win over Orange County. Well, it never happened.
Aside from Baboucarr Njie shot on target in the second half and Gagi Margevelashvili’s flick-on header tipped onto the crossbar in the first half, Oakland didn’t generate any chances. Jose Luis Sinisterra’s rainbow flip in the 22nd minute was the extent of Roots’ flair.
Although Oakland finished with 10 shot attempts, just three of them were on target. FotMob credited them for one big chance, likely on Gagi’s header, but it looked more like desperation than a clear-cut opportunity.
Roots’ key playmakers, Peter Wilson and Wolfgang Prentice, were hardly involved.
Oakland’s leading scorer, Wolfgang, was pulled in the 72nd minute after finishing with just 21 touches. He had three passes into the final third and took one touch in the box. As for Wilson, he had 29 touches with just one of them in the box, completing just two passes into the final third. Neither player recorded a single shot attempt.
Bobosi Byaruhanga and Sinisterra seemed to carry the load tonight. Sinisterra had five touches inside the box, completed two passes into the final third, and went 3/3 on dribbles. As for Bobosi, he was credited with the assist on Gagi’s goal and created a team-high three scoring chances.
- Mistakes, mistakes, mistakes
Defensive lapses and mistakes reared its head, once again.
On Spokane’s initial goal, Damm was beaten too easily by Pierre Reedy, leading to Greene being pulled way out of the box to defend Waldeck. Both Hackshaw and Margevelashvili were caught with their eyes completely glued to Waldeck, allowing Gil to separate himself from the defense for a free header.
The next goal wasn’t any better. After Greene was beaten on a tackle around midfield by Reedy, he played the ball wide to Lewis in transition. Taking a dribble into the box, Lewis rolled a pass right in front of Gagi, catching him flat-footed.
In a match where Roots had an opportunity to stack performances and continue building momentum going into Saturday’s rivalry clash against Sacramento, tonight was a clear step backward.
- Lineup choices
Oakland walked into the match without Camden Riley, Julian Bravo, or EJ Johnson. It seemed to play a factor, notably on the defensive side. Both goals allowed were a product of shoddy defense by Gagi and Hackshaw, so it would’ve been interesting to see how Bravo could’ve changed things.
As for Riley, he’s been missing time with an injury. Was he ruled out because of that, or was this squad rotation?
Wolfgang and Sinisterra were pulled in the 72nd minute for Panos Armenakas and Ali Elmasnaouy when Roots were chasing a goal. Although Wolfgang wasn’t effective during his time on the field, Sinisterra was undoubtedly one of the best players on the field for Oakland. Taking out Sinisterra was an eyebrow raiser for me, and it would’ve been intriguing to see what Roots could’ve done with Sinisterra, Wolfgang, Panos, and Wilson on the field.
Taking off Damm for Ilya Alekseev, a teenager, was also a bit concerning. Going off at halftime, was that a sign of Glinton being critical of the first goal allowed?
Danny Gomez was another halftime substitute, exiting for Tyler Gibson. Gomez was mightily conservative on his passes, often opting to pass backwards instead of looking upfield. If Glinton was so quick to pull Gomez, why not just start your preferred central midfielder?
Starting Lineups
- Oakland Roots
Roots’ starting lineup has some rotation, but many starters from the previous match. Three changes from last Saturday, including Gagi Margevelashvili to the back line, Danny Gomez to the midfield, and Raphael Spiegel to the goalkeeper spot. No EJ Johnson, meaning Peter Wilson is alone at striker. Also, no Julian Bravo on the subs list, so we’ll likely need all 90 minutes out of the center backs. Camden Riley apparently is not good enough for the subs list today as he continues his return from an injury.
Overall, a very strong lineup. Let’s see what it can produce.
- Spokane Velocity
Timeline
GAME TIME! DID SOMEONE SAY JAGER BOMB?????
Spokane free kick – 1′
In a pretty good area, near the left sideline about 15 yards outside of the box’s elbow.
Velocity called for a foul on the ball in and whistle is blown before Spokane sent a ball into the net.
Sinisterra centers a pass for Bobosi, but he takes a sloppy touch and loses possession – 3′
Corner – 4′
Ball in was cleared out.
Njie shot blocked – 5′
Ball falls to Wilson, who tries to lay it back to Njie, but Spokane takes control in transition.
Bobosi steals possession high, passes to Sinisterra. His shot blocked out for a corner – 8′
Sinisterra takes a couple dribbles into the box before taking a shot. I like the pressure from Bobosi and patience from Sini.
Corner – 9′
Njie sends the pass, header sails out for a goal kick.
OC free kick in the offensive half – 19′
Plays short and cycles back.
Sinisterra turning his swag on. Rainbows the ball forward over a defender and tries to center it, but his pass goes out for a goal kick – 22′
Njie long throw into the box headed back to the sideline – 24′
Njie another long throw targets Gagi, flick-on header pushed on target. Spokan GK pushes it onto the crossbar – 24′
Corner – 25′
Njie completely airmails it over the box.
Spokane header goal – 26′
Luis Gil left completely unmarked in the box. Not tight enough defense from Roots, and they get burned. Damm beat on the pass, then Kai Greene pulled all the way out of the box and Waldeck sends in a spot-on cross.
Corner – 28′
Sinisterra ball in cleared out. Roots hold onto possession.
Hackshaw longshot blocked – 29′
Sinisterra longshot blocked – 32′
Roots nearly give Pelaez a gift – 34′
Hackshaw defensive header loops backwards and nearly lays up perfectly for Pelaez. Spiegel slow off his line, almost leads to a goal.
Njie takes a long shot, but it goes wide right – 40′
From about 30 yards, which is about where Roots have been taking attempts from. Need to break down Spokane’s defense more effectively.
Spokane scores again – 43′
Pelaez wide open with Roots’ defense strung out. Failed tackle by Kai, pass kicks out wide and Gagi gets caught flat-footed. Pelaez unmakred right in front of the net. Too easy.
First half notes:
This is getting bad. Roots trail 2-nil and haven’t looked like a challenge, while Spokane is looking dangerous in all facets. Pelaez stings his former club.
Oakland is getting dominated by the League One side. Roots have 6 shots with 1 on target, 3 of them blocked, but haven’t really created anything overtly challenging other than a Gagi shot tipped onto the crossbar. Spokan with all 3 shots on target
Gibson on for Gomez, Ilya on for Damm – 46′
Njie shot on target through traffic – 47′
Best moment of Roots’ match so far. Ilya heads a ball centrally and it drops to Sinisterra. Toes a ball off of a defender and it slides back to Njie atop the box. His shot forces a diving save.
Roots haven’t really gotten Wolfgang or Wilson involved thus far – 50′
ROOTS GOAL – 52′
Another long throw by Njie, it falls to Bobosi, while Gagi sweeps it into the net off of his back. It’s 2-1 Spokane.
Spiegel punches away a dangerous long throw – 64′
Wolfgang just 17 touches so far – 65′
Njie off for Rasmussen – 67′
Spokane shot narrowly wide – 67′
Luis Gil lines one up from about 25 yards. Dangerous look.
Wilson knocked over in the box, no call – 68′
Long pass from Rasmussen in, Wilson feet gets twisted with the defender, who had a hang reached out on Wilon’s jersey. Roots don’t get the call.
Panos and Ali coming on for Wolfgang and Sinisterra – 72′
Armenakas sends a ball toward net, grabbed by the keeper – 74′
Don’t think that was a shot, came from outside the box on the left side.
Free kick in attacking half – 81′
Drawn by Ali about 20 yads past midfield.
Rasmussen long ball in, Hackshaw heads it centrally off of the end line, grabbed by the GK.
Ball awkwardly hits off Spiegel’s hands and out for a corner – 90+1′
Spokane corner – 90+2′
Tries to hold in the corner.
Hackshaw throw in – 90+4′
Starts a counter the other way with Spiegel out of the net.