How we feeling, RootsFam?!
Oakland got back in the win column on Saturday night with a 1-0 victory over San Antonio FC after Peter Wilson nailed a penalty kick in the third minute of second-half stoppage time. The result improves Roots’ record to 6-8-8, moving them up to 10th place in the Western Conference and three points below Las Vegas for the final playoff spot.
San Antonio nearly scored the game’s first goal in the seventh minute on a quick counterattack, but goalkeeper Kendall McIntosh was there to make a critical double-save against Diogo Pao Parano to keep the match scoreless. We named McIntosh our RootsBlog Player of the Match for his effort.
Roots had a chance to break the deadlock in the 18th minute on the end of some nice interplay between Julian Bravo, Mark Fisher, Florian Valot, and Bertin Jacquesson. It started with Bravo feeding a pass to Fisher, who dribbled toward the box before feeding Valot into the area. Valot fired a pass to fellow the Frenchman in front of the net for a tap-in goal, but Jacquesson was called offside.
Late in the 86th minute, San Antonio midfielder Lucio Berrón picked up his second yellow to put the home side down to 10 men. Just one minute later, Wilson was sloppily shoved in the back by SAFC keeper Joseph Batrouni as the ball was going out of bounds to give up a penalty kick.
Wilson stepped to the spot, firing in his shot to the left of the diving keeper, giving him his 11th goal of the season and first since June 20 against Phoenix Rising. The victory snaps an eight game winless streak in all competitions for Oakland.
Here are our talking points from Saturday night, along with our RootsBlog Player of the Match.
Defense stays in form
Don’t look now, but Oakland Roots defensive structure is coming together.
Roots have now conceded just three goals in the last five matches with Saturday’s cleansheet. In addition, they have two shutouts in the last four games, and haven’t allowed more than one goal in a match since its 3-1 loss to Sacramento on July 25.
Ryan Martin made the surprising move to start Neveal Hackshaw ahead of Michael Edwards. Although its unclear if Edwards was dealing with an injury, Hackshaw was solid for all 90 minutes. He finished with a FotMob rating of 7.7, logging 12 defensive contributions with three tackles, blocked two shot, six clearances, and one interception.
He also completed five passes into the final third, and won all five of his duels, including four ground duels.
David Garcia got his second straight start and played all 90 minutes, once again, and received FotMob’s highest rating with an 8.0. He also had 12 defensive contributions with three tackles, five clearances, and four interceptions. Offensively, he had four passes into the final third and completed six of nine long balls.
Garcia was also mightily successful in duels, winning all five ground duels and five of six aerials.
Mark Fisher’s night at Central Midfielder
Mark Fisher got his first start since March 21, but it wasn’t at the right back position he last appeared. Fisher rotated into the Central Midfield spot opposite Tommy McCabe, and had a productive appearance.
Although Jacquesson’s goal was wiped in the 18th minute, Fisher was a key cog in creating the play. It started with Bravo feeding Fisher, taking a few dribbles before sending a pass between two defenders to put Valot into the box.
In 72 minutes, Fisher completed 44 of 48 passes, including three into the final third. He also had seven recoveries of possession and won both of his ground duels.
With Roots’ midfield struggling in previous games to move the ball into the attack, perhaps Fisher can become a catalyst over the final stretch.
Table Watching
Well, here we are, RootsFam. Hope has re-entered the conversation. Oakland is now three points back of the playoff line with eight matches left in the season, all of which are against teams in postseason contention. They are just eight points out of first-place and six points away from hosting a home playoff game.
Roots, however, have played one match more than five teams (COS, LV, SAFC, ELP, OC) above them in the West. They have two more games than 7th Lexington, 6th Sacramento, and 4th Tulsa, while first-place New Mexico has four matches in hand on Oakland.
Without getting too far ahead, Roots’ next three matches are second-place Orange County (Aug. 29), seventh-place Lexington (Sep. 12), and sixth-place Eastern side Indy Eleven (Sep. 20). With a week stretch between OC and Lexington, it will be an important time to watch the table.
Las Vegas has a difficult stretch ahead with seven of nine games against teams in playoff position. Their next three are: Charleston (Aug. 29), New Mexico (Sep. 5), and Orange County (Sep. 12).
Lexington faces New Mexico on August 26, but gets a possible respite with Colorado Springs on August 30 and last-place Sporting Jacksonville on September 5.
Sixth-place Sacramento faces Monterey on August 29, which is a match that will decide the fate of the NorCal Hella Cup. If Republic wins, the cup is theirs, and they increase their gap on Roots. After that, they face Orange County (Sep. 5), and second-place Eastern side Detroit (Sep. 12).
Fifth-place San Antonio also has a tough couple of matches ahead against New Mexico (Aug. 29) and Tulsa (Sep. 5), while they face Colorado Springs on Sep. 11.
RootsBlog Player of the Match: Kendall McIntosh
We name Kendall McIntosh our RootsBlog Player of the Match for his huge double-save to keep San Antonio scoreless in the early minutes of the first half.
It happened in the seventh minute of action when Diogo Pacheco fired a shot in the box that caused McIntosh to make a diving save to his left to stop the ball at his feet. The ball rebounded back into play, leading to Cristiano Parano gaining possession near the penalty spot. Parano took a dribble before trying to chip the ball past McIntosh, but Roots’ GK made a kick save while diving to his left.
McIntosh wasn’t overly challenged from then on, perhaps a testament to a good defensive night.
Starting Lineups
- Oakland Roots
Oakland Roots make two changes from last weekend, including Mark Fisher moving into the midfield in place of Bobosi Byaruhanga and opposite Tommy McCabe. Neveal Hackshaw also gets the start at CB in place of Michael Edwards. Martin keeps the attacking trio of Bertin Jacquesson, Bruno Lapa, and Wolfgang Prentice, while the fullback combination of Jesus de Vicente on the right and Julian Bravo on the left also gets a second look. David Garcia makes his second straight start opposite Michael Edwards.
- San Antonio FC
Timeline
Bravi with a shot attempt from distance that was blocked – 6′
McIntosh double save on SA’s counterattack – 7′
Hard shot on target rebounds into play; McIntosh recovers to stop a second shot.
Roots with some tiki-taka in the box; would’ve liked them to just pull the trigger – 9′
Jacquesson scores but the goal is wiped. Valor plays it to Jacquesson, but he was offside – 18′
SAFC goalie out of position with Jacquesson in possession around the right side of the box. He tries to square a pass, but it’s jumped on by the keeper – 20′
Corner – 24′
SA shot wide, deflected for a corner – 29′
SA corner – 30′
shot on the volley deflects for another.
SA corner – 30′
SA corner – 36′
Bravo sends a shot wide from distance – 41′
He’s sent a lot of good attempts in the last few games.
Free Kick – 45+2′
Ball falls in front of the net, but no one there to clean it up.
Bravo sends a shot wide from 24 yards – 45+4′
First Half notes:
It’s tied 0-0 with both sides generating some good chances. Bravo with a few shots that have narrowly missed the mark, while Jacquesson had a goal wiped out after some nice interplay in the box. San Antonio also nearly scored, but a double-save by McIntosh keeps them off the board. Roots with 4 shots, none on target, 7 touches in the box. SAFC with 5 shots, 2 on target, 9 touches in the box and 1 big chance missed.
Corner – 53′
Valot sails a shot – 54′
SA goal wiped – 55′
Offside on a pair of headers.
McCabe gets the ball in a good area stop the box but too much indecision – 57′
Takes one too many touches, could’ve shot it on his first touch.
Wilson coming on – 64′
For Lapa
Corner – 69′
Corner – 71′
Fisher, De Vicente, and Jacquesson off – 72′
Bobosi, Gibson, and Lepley on
Wilson with a shot on target – 73′
Bravo to Wilson in the box, makes a nice turn before sending a slow shot to the keeper
Gibson misses just wide – 78′
Bravo sends in a very hard pass (may have been a shot), that goes straight to the feet of Gibson. The ball pops up and he sends a shot a yard wide of the left post.
Corner – 82′
Ball goes straight through the area. Leads to another
Corner – 83′
Ball to the top of the box, ball in cleared away.
Wolfy nice feed to Bravo atop the box, but takes too many touches – 84′
Just take it on your first touch.
San Antonio red card – 86′
Second yellow to Berron
PETER WILSON FOULED IN THE BOX – 88′
Bad tackle by the keeper. He was on a yellow.
No second yellow?
Penalty kick – 90+3′
Peter Wilson steps to the spot.
ROOTS GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!
SA free kick – 90+6′
About 4 yards outside the box on the left side. Nervous moment, cleared away.
SA long free Kick – 90+7′
Cleared away.
Free Kick – 90+8′
Wolfy drew it on Akeem Ward. Nice steal of possession.
SA long k=shot on target – 90+10′
ROOTS WIN!!!!!!!