Bryan Tamacas clearing the ball out (Photo from Oakland Roots Instagram)

By Troy Ewers

For the Oakland Roots, the problem the last few games was finishing their chances. Not getting an open play goal in the last 4 games, but that changed today in Birmingham, Alabama. The first half possession wise started out in Birmingham’s favor and it looked like this game was going to be one sided, but one red card changed it all.

Birmingham’s Kavita got his first yellow card in the 35th minute and that would give Oakland a window of opportunity and they went through that window and blew up the house from there. Two scoring opportunities were blocked by Birmingham’s goalkeeper Vanoeke, but when Kavita would get his second yellow card, resulting in a red card and a penalty shot for Oakland, the momentum that was seemingly in Birmingham’s favor was gone.

Formella would capitalize on the penalty shot making it 1-0 and that was it for the first half, so Birmingham headed into the dressing room with this penalty goal on their mind. Coming back from halftime, Birmingham would get a quick goal to change the energy, but another yellow card for Birmingham would dig them a hole they couldn’t get out of.

Formella would shoot his second penalty shot, but after a block, Mfeka would clean it up and score off a rebound shot making it 2-1 and the avalanche for Birmingham would continue from there. Reid would get his first goal of the season off a rebound shot which would put Oakland up 3-1.

The final goal was scored by Johnny Rodriguez, who funny enough subbed in for Formella and four minutes later we’d get the final whistle, 4-1 Oakland. This game was a spotlight for the offense of Oakland, but it was the first game for Oakland where the defensive backline outplayed their opponent and didn’t just rely on goalie Paul Blanchette.

A game like this is important, because so far this season the Roots didn’t concede a lot of goals, but that’s because Blanchette had to put in a lot of work to make up for the backline’s mistakes. Not today. The backline was ready for whatever Birmingham brought to the table and the moment they were able to clear that ball out they did.

Next game for Oakland is at the place they will call home for the rest of the season, CSU East Bay in Hayward and it will be against Orange County and there are a lot of takeaways from this match that will help them in next week’s contest.