Oakland Roots captured its first win in the USL Jägermeister Cup, beating the visiting Monterey Bay FC 2-1 at the Coliseum. The victory keeps Oakland alive in the competition with four points, now just two behind MBFC and Sacramento following Saturday’s results.
Roots will need a win against Orange County on July 26 to give it a breath of hope to advance. Las Vegas leads Group 1 with nine points, while Oakland also trails them by two goals scored and would need an outburst of goals in the finale to unseat them.
Oakland got its first goal in the 17th minute when Panos Armenakas played a pass to Morey Doner charging into the box down the right side. Doner took a shot that was headed wide left, but took a friendly bounce off of Monterey Bay’s Jacob Muir and into the net. Doner also had a shot deflect onto the left post in the 30th.
Roots got its second goal in the 58th and almost the exact same play. Armenakas, once again, played a through ball to Doner in the box, hitting a shot across the face of goal to the far post. This time, it tipped off the keeper’s fingertips and inside the left post to make it 2-0.
In the 86th minute, Monterey pulled one back when a failed clearance off the back line landed at the feet of Xavi Gnaulati just outside the box. Gnaulati played a pass Luke Ivanovic, who sent a beautiful curling shot past Raphael Spiegel’s outstretched dive.
Roots continue its homestand when welcoming Eastern Conference foe Detroit City on July 5.
Below is our RootsBlog Man of the Match winners and our talking points from Saturday.
RootsBlog Man of the Match – Morey Doner & Panos Armenakas
It’s been a while since we’ve done a split, so we’re naming Morey Doner and Panos Armenakas are RootsBlog Man of the Match recipients for connecting twice in both of Oakland’s goals.
Panos may have played his best performance in a Roots’ uniform; creating his own space and sending both passes to Doner for Oakland’s goals in the 17th and 58th minutes. Doner, meanwhile, continues to prove himself as a sparkplug since entering the fold.
It’s tough to see Doner not get credited for the opening goal after also forcing an own-goal against AV Alta. Now with his first official goal in an Oakland uniform, the ceiling appears to be high for Doner on Roots.
Talking Points
- Benny-ball produces second win in four games
The new coach bounce seems to be taking shape under Benny Feilhaber, now producing his second win in his fourth game in charge, making him 2-1-1 through all competitions. He felt it was important to get the result at home.
“I think its incredibly important for our fans to see us win. We have a massive untapped potential here, we could have a 12th man that no one in the USL Championship has,” Feilhaber said of Roots’ fans.
“The ability to win at home, be entertaining, and give fans what they want to see is important. Winning is great and we did it in a positive way. There were good attacking moments and we could’ve had 3, 4, or 5 goals. The one thing I told the guys is if we can find ways to win without the suffering at the end. But its baby steps in the right direction,” he added.
Roots’ 2-1 victory over Monterey Bay marked their highest-scoring game under Feilhaber while Oakland was just four minutes and stoppage time away from achieving their third clean sheet. With just two goals allowed over the last four games, the defensive upturn has been a noticeable change since Feilhaber took the reins. Roots’ 23 goals allowed in the USL Championship are currently second from the worst in the Western Conference.
Perhaps with time, Oakland can keep chipping away at their -9 goal differential.
“The players are the ones who deserve the most of the credit. These guys have been bought-in even before I walked through the door, they’re giving me everything and more than I’ve asked. There’s relationships that were constructed before I got here and I’m just watching in training to see what kind of players they can be,” Feilhaber said.
Oakland allowed nine shots and one big change to Monterey, but just three shots on target. They similarly allowed just two attempts on target in their recent 1-nil win over Birmingham Legion and three in their 0-0 draw with El Paso Locomotive in Bennys debut.
“We wanted to give them a little bit of direction organizationally and ideas from the defensive perspective. Defense, for me, is about two things; its about the coach providing a clear message to roles and responsibilities, and the ability for players to have the right attitude, make the extra run, clean up an extra play, or filling into a position,” Feilhaber said.
Morey Doner thinks playing with pride as another factor in Roots’ defensive shift.
“We all need to take pride in defending and keeping the ball out of the net,” Doner said. “I think these last couple of years, I know Oakland scores a lot but they also conceded. The most important thing is to score goals and keep the ball out the net. It’s a game of two boxes, as long as its 0-0, we’re giving ourselves a chance.
“We’ve been working hard in training and doing things a little differently. We’re implementing the philosophies and the style of play. Our formation is flexible, being able to drop into a back-five, it helps us a lot. It’s a long season, but there’s a lot of steps to get where you want to be.”
A coaching shift is never easy on a locker room. Much like in Roots’ past few occurrences of sudden change to the coaching staff, each time has required players to step up as leaders to deal with the mental toll.
Doner feels the switch provided players a clean slate and players are buying into the new coach.
“When a new coach comes in, it’s a fresh start for everyone,” Doner said. “From my experience, I’ve faced a lot of chop and change. I think all the players are buying into the philosophy Benny has. From Day 1, he’s been clear and concise with his demands. We’re doing more video and being more critical of certain areas to perform on the field better.”
- Morey Doner stings his former club
Morey Doner has certainly been an instant impact since his first appearance against AV Alta in Roots’ last USL Cup group stage match. He’s now forced two own-goals on opposing teams and scored his first official goal in an Oakland uniform. Saturday marked Doner’s fifth appearance.
“He just keeps giving us more and more,” Feilhaber said. “I think today showed what he’s capable of in a 90 minute performance. I’ll give him a lot of credit, he told me he’s bounced around the league, had different coaches, and different ideas he’s tried to fulfill. I understand what I asked from wingbacks in our system is different than most, so it takes time to get used to. He’s improved leaps and bounds in that perspective, even from last week. He was our MVP of the day, for sure.”
Doner, 31, comes to Oakland after being casted out of Detroit City’s lineup with just six league appearances, one start, and 239 minutes. He signed with DCFC after being a mainstay at Monterey Bay.
A member of Monterey’s inaugural team in 2022, Doner started all 34 games for the Union in three straight years before departing last offseason. In total, Doner started all 102 appearances for 9,117 minutes for the Seaside organization.
“For me, personally, playing your old team always gives you a lot of motivation,” Doner said.
Doner called it “emotional” to go up against his former club, where he had some of the “best moments” of his entire 12-year professional career.
“It’s emotional because I spent three years there and it was some of the happiest moments of my career,” Doner said. “At the end of the day, we have to do our job. It’s important I’m representing the Roots and I’ve been so happy here the last couple of weeks. I just want to soak everything up and applying my craft.”
- Panos Armenakas’ big performance
Panos Armenakas may have put together his best shift in a Roots’ uniform on Saturday night. Credited for one assist, he was robbed of a second assist on the initial own-goal, and moved the ball with fluidity to all areas of the pitch.
After being a marquee offseason signing, getting Panos rolling seems ultra important to Roots’ potential success. Feilhaber called him “exceptional” on Saturday night.
“Panos has incredible ability. I’ve told him that, he knows that, I think most people know that. You can see the moments of brilliance when he has the ball at his feet,” Feilhaber said.
Feilhaber wants to keep seeing Armenakas meld into the system he’s constructing.
“The most important thing is that every player needs to into the system we’re trying to put together. Panos has to find what I’m looking for him. Tonight, being able to stay central and stay connected to the other #10 Wolfy and Sinisterra. Being able to find those pockets and now having the ability to have overlapping runs like we saw with Morey,” Feilhaber said.
Benny brings experience as a midfielder throughout his career. He thinks his background as a #10 gives him some extra insight in relating to Armenakas.
“He was exactly where he needed to be,” Feilhaber said of the buildup between Panos and Doner toward the second goal. “I played that position. I can relate to a #10 that maybe doesn’t feel like the ball is reaching him enough. I understand that, but that’s not what I need from him. Today, he was unbelievable in being patient, finding the right areas of the field, and receiving the ball in those pockets. He can be an unbelievable player.”
- Ali Elmasnaouy achieving highs under Feilhaber
Ali Elmasnaouy has been a huge benefactor of Feilhaber’s arrival, now starting all four of the new coach’s matches in charge. Fresh off drawing the penalty kick that propelled Roots to its 1-nil win over Birmingham, Ali played steadily for 60 minutes, reciting a FotMob rating of 7.4
After being asked about players who has surprised him, Elmasnaouy was the first person Feilhaber named.
“An easy one who wasn’t playing as much before I got here is Ali. I think he’s gotten better almost every single game. I’ll add tonight wasn’t as good as Birmingham, but I can see his potential,” Feilhaber said.
“What he has is something that’s hard to coach. Like the desire to receive passes in difficult pockets and being able to feel your way out of moments. He’s young, he’s got the desire to get better and he’s definitely got the work ethic.”
- Baboucarr Njie team decision
Baboucarr Njie has not appeared since before heading for international duty with Gambia, last playing on May 24 against New Mexico. When asking for an update on Njie, Feilhaber was instructed that Njie’s absence is a “team decision.”
Feilhaber continued: “I don’t know if I can provide an update on him. That doesn’t have anything to do with me, so I’m not going to touch on it.”
Press Conference
Starting Lineups
- Oakland Roots
Roots opt for rotation with Peter Wilson, Jürgen Damm, Tyler Gibson, and Kai Greene out of the starting lineup. Panos Armenakas, Julian Bravo, Camden Riley, and Danny Gomez are back in. EJ Johnson and Wilson are on the subs list, so I’m curious to see whose in the striker combination. Spiegel starts in goal, no McIntosh with Tim Syrel on the bench.
Bobosi Byaruhanga returns to the subs list while Ali Elmasnaouy start, once again. Still no sight of Baboucarr Njie.
- Monterey Bay FC
Timeline
GAME TIME!!! Can Benny-ball produce another win?
MB corner – 7′
cleared out
MB best giveaway – 17′
Keeper hits it into Sinisterra, goes close to the goal
ROOTS GOAL – 17′
Morey Doner scores after being fed into the box by Panos Armenakas. He takes a shot that hits off MB’s keepers hands, off the ground, and into net. Oakland leads!
MB longshot wide – 24′
from outside the box
Big stop Spiegel – 27′
Comes off his line to stop a shot in the box
Corner – 28′
Fall to Hackshaw. Takes a shot on volley and it goes to the sky
Doner low pass deflected onto post – 30′
QR CODE
MB free kick – 39′
free kick – 45+1′
drawn by Gagi a couple of yards above the area on left side. Gomez pass into the area, shot goes straight to the GK.
Bobosi on for Wolf, Ilya on for Riley – 46
Corner – 48′
MB scuffs shot very wide in transition- 49′
MB long free kick – 53′
Panos shot saved – 56′
Curling shot from a couple feet outside box
Ali draws free kick 10 yards past midfield – 58′
ROOTS GOAL – 58′
Almost an identical to the first goal. Panos feeds Doner making a run into the box down the right side. He sends a shot to the far post, hits off the GKs hand bounces into net. It’s 2-nil!
Corner – 62′
Panos weaves into box for shot on target, nearly a beautiful play – 64′
MB corner – 66′
Gibson on for Sinisterra- 75′
MB corner – 78′
Bobosi sends a shot to the moon – 80′
EJ on for Panos- 81′
Ilya draws a free kick 10 yards past midfield- 83′
Diving save Spiegel – 85′
stops a header for a corner
MB corner- 85″
MB scores a banger – 86′
Ivanovic with a curling shot from outside box. It’s 2-1 with 4 mins left
MB play in behind, called offside- 90′
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