Category: Oakland Roots

Oakland Roots Fall 2-0 To Loudoun United

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Bryan Tamacas attempting a header against the Loudoun United at Leesburg, Virginia on Sun Apr 23, 2023 (Photo from Oakland Roots Instagram)

By Troy Ewers

For the Oakland Roots season it’s been clear that if they can’t get a goal in the first half, then the struggle of playing from behind will set in. This game in Leesburg, Virginia was the same script. Loudoun United’s attack was putting pressure on Blanchette all first half, a total of three high percentage scoring chances in the first 30 minutes, but what led to the first goal was back to back yellow cards for Oakland (Tamacas & Formella).

Formella’s yellow card led to a penalty shot by Loudoun’s Zach Ryan and Ryan capitalized. It’s his fifth goal of the season. The rest of the first half was Oakland playing defensive, even when they had possession and the first half ended with Loudoun United leading 1-0.

The second half For the Oakland Roots season it’s been clear that if they can’t get a goal in the first half, then the struggle of playing from behind will set in. This game in Leesburg, Virginia was the same script. Loudoun’s attack was putting pressure on Blanchette all first half, a total of three high percentage scoring chances in the first 30 minutes, but what led to the first goal was back to back yellow cards for Oakland (Tamacas & Formella).

Formella’s yellow card led to a penalty shot by Loudoun’s Zach Ryan and Ryan capitalized. It’s his 5th goal of the season. The rest of the first half was Oakland playing defensive, even when they had possession and the first half ended with Loudoun United leading 1-0.

The second half was Loudoun pressing Oakland constantly and Roots’ main point of defense was in their own attacking zone. The best chances for Oakland to score came from their signature move of deep passes past the back line, but the ball would never see the back of the net.

Oakland Roots would end up losing this game 2-0 and now the season is a little more do or die, but the main focus of Oakland Roots’ front office is the new stadium development in East Oakland. With the Oakland A’s possibly moving to Las Vegas, the Roots will be the mainstay of Oakland, so even though the Roots players will focus on trying to secure a top three spot on the table, the front office is focused on making Oakland Roots soccer stay in Oakland.

Loudoun pressing Oakland constantly and Roots’ main point of defense was in their own attacking zone. The best chances for Oakland to score came from their signature move of deep passes past the back line, but the ball would never see the back of the net.

Oakland Roots would end up losing this game 2-0 and now the season is a little more do or die, but the main focus of Oakland Roots’ front office is the new stadium development in East Oakland.

With the Oakland A’s possibly moving to Las Vegas, the Roots will be the mainstay of Oakland, so even though the Roots players will focus on trying to secure a top three spot on the table, the front office is focused on making Oakland Roots soccer stay in Oakland and most likely at the Oakland Coliseum proper.

Hartford edges out Oakland Roots 2-1

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The Oakland Roots pose for a pre game photo before kicking off against the Hartford Athletic at Cal State East Bay in Hayward on Sat Apr 15, 2023 (@oaklandrootssc photo)

Hartford Edges Out Oakland Roots 2-1

Written By Troy Ewers

HAYWARD–On a busy Bay Area Saturday, where there’s Giants baseball in the morning, A’s baseball at the Coliseum, Warriors vs. Kings in the NBA playoffs, and Earthquakes having a match in San Jose, you would think the Roots would play backseat to all that action.

Well you would be wrong if you thought that, because in another packed game at Pioneer Stadium in Hayward, the Oakland Roots would play Hartford Athletic. The crowd seemed extra revved up for this game and that’s because the Roots were coming off a win last week and fans were ready to see another one.

From the starting whistle, Oakland fans were hype like it was a playoff atmosphere. The first 20 minutes of this game tell a different story than the entire game. The Roots all season have a knack for holding a majority of possession in games and the first 20 minutes of this one was no different.

This strong offensive hold for Oakland resulted in three good scoring chances, but easy stops for Hartford goalkeeper Richard Sanchez. Hartford saw no real chances of scoring until a big yellow card would be given to Johnny Rodriguez of the Roots and that shifted the tone of the first half so far in Hartford’s favor that the yellow card could be seen by anyone watching the game, it was the most pivotal moment at the time, because four minutes later the momentum resulted in a Hartford goal by Prince Saydee (his fourth of the season) and this wouldn’t be the end for Hartford Athletic.

Five minutes after the last goal, a deep pass down the middle would be picked up by Hartford’s Jeciel Cedeno and he’d get an easy tap in goal passed Blanchette making it 2-0 in the first half. Oakland Roots fans are dedicated, because as the temperature dropped along with the sun, the crowd was still all the way in it in the second half and that was enough to keep the Roots fighting.

In the 73rd minute, Hartford’s Kyle Edwards would get a yellow card and that would give the Roots a penalty shot. Not shy of scoring this season, Dariusz Formella would take the penalty shot and convert it in the top left corner for the Roots’ only goal of the night.

Oakland would gain a couple more close attempts, but none would see the back of the net and the final whistle would blow. 2-1 Hartford Athletic. This game was a strong outing for Oakland, even though they couldn’t secure the W. Rito and Mfeka are fan favorites who get huge cheers when they touch the ball and the back line of Babir, Morad, and Tamacas have shown huge improvements from the first game.

Still a long season ahead for the Roots, but this was certainly a game that fans wanted to see in the favor of The Town. Next game for Oakland is April 23rd against Loudoun in Leesburg, Virginia and all eyes will be on Formella to keep his scoring streak going.

Mfeka And Formella’s Performance Too Much For Indy XI As The Oakland Roots Win 3-0

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Lindo Mfeka dribbling before his goal Photo From Oakland Roots Instagram

By Troy Ewers

Indianapolis is the home for today’s contest between the Oakland Roots and Indy XI and the Roots’ fire hasn’t cooled down from its last game, it only got hotter. This game was complete domination from whistle to whistle and the domination was led by two guys. Lindo Mfeka and Dariusz Formella. Indianapolis would end up shutting out the Roots 3-0 on Saturday.

The first goal was Formella sending a risky pass to Mfeka, but with risk comes reward sometimes and Mfeka challenged the goalie who left the box to contest the pass and Mfeka beat him out, receiving the ball past the goalkeeper, and finishing the play off with a wide open goal. 1-0 Roots.

The second goal was a result of sloppy play from Indy XI’s back line and a bad pass got intercepted by Mfeka. His shot would get blocked by the goalkeeper, but it was quickly cleaned up by Formella as he had a wide open shot of his own. 2-0 Roots.

The game was in the hands of Oakland the whole way through, but in the closing minutes, Joseph Nane made a risky pass of his own that was received beautifully by Edgardo Rito who would do a brilliant chip in shot over the goalkeeper and that was the nail in Indy XI’s coffin, the final whistle blew, and the Oakland Roots win.

This game was a clear statement to the USL that if you want to compete against this Roots team, you can’t be sloppy, because the attack in this game was apparent. It was a total 180 to the season opener and that’s great, because if you have that fast of growth in three games, hopes should be high for this season.

The next match for Oakland is April 15th in Hayward at CSU East Bay against Hartford and this momentum for the Roots is only going to ignite the die hard fans that show up to the Oakland games.


Roots’ 3 goals prove to be too much for El Farolito as Oakland wins U.S. Open Cup 3-0 in second round matchup

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Photo From Oakland Roots Instagram Bryan Tamacas setting up for the Roots

By Troy Ewers

This second round of the U.S. Open Cup match was in the CSU East Bay Campus Hayward, California as the Oakland Roots hosted El Farolito and the theme for this Tuesday night game was the first half goals and second half yellows coming up with a 3-0 shutout at Hayward State. In the first half it was obvious who the clear dominant presence on the pitch was and it was Oakland.

The Roots scored three goals in the first 24 minutes and each one involved either Johnny Rodriguez, Wolfgang Prentice, or both. Johnny Rodriguez scored the first goal off a header and he’s scored in every game where the Roots have put up a point this season.

Wolfgang Prentice would score the next two goals, one assisted by Ethan Kohler and the other one by Johnny Rodriguez giving him a big two point night. As the half would come to a close, a penalty by Oakland’s Joseph Nane caused a penalty shot that was capitalized on by El Farolito.

Ricardo Delgado Araujo converted the penalty shot with a shot to the bottom left corner and even though that was all the scoring for the game. The intensity never fell off. seven yellow cards and one red card would make this a little chippy.

El Farolito’s four yellow cards and one red card gave them a disadvantage, because the momentum stayed in Oakland’s favor for those last 45 minutes. Only negative moment this half for Oakland was Drew Murray’s injury, no current updates at the moment.

The game ended 3-1 with the Roots getting a big win and this Saturday, they’re back on the road to Indianapolis to face Indy XI in a USL regular season matchup. Each game has shown Oakland getting better and better, first game a loss, second game a draw, third game a goal victory, and now a two goal victory.

Each game showcasing Oakland’s ever growing chemistry and willingness to go to the trenches for 90 minutes and if they can keep this fire blazing then the season can only get more and more entertaining.

Roots Put On A 1-0 Show In Home Opener over New Mexico United

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First home picture of season in the signature black jerseys at UC Cal State Hayward on Sat Apr 1, 2023 (Photo from Oakland Roots Instagram)

By Troy Ewers

HAYWARD–After moving their home opening game a week later to Hayward, the Oakland Roots had their first match in the east bay this season against New Mexico United. This match was a big match for Oakland, because energy after their last game was up and a postponed game could slow down that momentum, but it seems like the home fans kept that momentum going into this game.

Johnny Rodriguez who’s been making noise the past two weeks, got his second goal of the season from the center of the box off an assist from Dariusz Formella giving the Roots the only score of the game in a 1-0 victory at Pioneer Field in CSU, East Bay.

The Roots started strong, but were unable to score in the first half of the match. Rodriguez’s goal wouldn’t come til the 63rd minute, but that’s because the pace of the game was slowed down from all the penalties New Mexico had. NMU had four yellows and one red card (Penalty on Justin Portillo) through 85 minutes.

Oakland didn’t let up all game and had played a way cleaner game than their previous two matches. Less penalties and a more fluid style of offense was the highlight of this game and we even saw the Roots have a chance to double up their score on multiple occasions in the closing minutes of the game.

Next game for Oakland is still in Hayward at CSU, East Bay on Tuesday, April 4th (7pm) against El Farolito in the second round of the U.S. Open Cup and it feels like the squad and the fans are riding this wave of positive momentum into the month of April, but we can’t forget it’s still a long season ahead.

Troy Ewers is a Oakland Roots beat writer at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland Roots Home Opener Postponed Due To Field Conditions

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Delivery trucks in 2021 deliver turf for the Oakland Roots field at Laney College in Oakland. The game was called off on Sat Mar 25, 2023 due to turf field conditions which was supposed to be the home opener for the Roots against Memphis 901 FC (file photo by Douglas Zimmerman and soccerbayarea.com)

Written By Troy Ewers

OAKLAND–Saturday’s home opener for the Oakland Roots against Memphis 901 FC has been postponed and will be rescheduled.

The reason for the postponement is due to field conditions. According to Oakland Roots’ Instagram page, Laney College installed new turf football field in the offseason and because of the continuous storms in the Bay Area, the field’s completion was delayed and was finally completed late this week and the infill in the football field has not had time to settle causing the turf soccer field to not lay flat.

The conditions of the field didn’t meet playable standards hence why the game was postponed. The game will be rescheduled, date not announced yet, but fans who bought a ticket for this game have been provided a credit for a future game. Season ticket holders can use their current ticket for the later announced rescheduled game.

After last week’s draw, there was a lot of excitement for this game especially since it was the home opener in Oakland and now the next week will be the home opener and I think this only raises the anticipation of the Roots coming back to Oakland. The next game will be in Laney College on April 1st against New Mexico United.

Troy Ewers is a Oakland Roots beat writer for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland Roots game wrap: Oakland Fights Off RGV For A Draw

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Johnny Rodriguez (scored only goal tonight for Roots) Photo from Oakland Roots Instagram

Oakland Fights Off RGV For A Draw

By Troy Ewers

Second game of the Oakland Roots season is against the RGV FC Toros (Rio Grande Valley) in Rio Grande Valley. Last game Oakland lost to the defending USL Champs, San Antonio FC in a match that saw a combination of sloppy defense from the Roots and a couple lucky breaks for San Antonio and the spotlight this week was on the defense of Oakland looking more disciplined. In the first 15 minutes of this game, it looked like the same sloppy play as the week before.

In minute 14, RGV’s Jonathan Ricketts scores from a corner kick where Oakland’s back line loses track of their men allowing an easy goal for the Toros. This was the issue last game, so seeing this be the reason for Oakland to go down one this early was a red flag for anyone who supports the Roots.

After the goal RGV kept attacking Oakland’s defensive rotation scheme, but after 20 minutes momentum picked up for Oakland, they forced RGV’s goalkeeper Deric to make two high pressure saves on breakaway shots. Even though Oakland stayed on the offensive for the remainder of the first half, it was a stalemate nonetheless and the first half ended 1-0, Rio Grande Valley Toros.

The second half can be summed up in one word: Slow. Between seven yellow cards between both teams (Oakland with five and RGV with two) and both teams having an injury, the pace of the rest of this game was slow. Occasionally, Oakland would get big moments, like when Deric had to save three straight shots from Oakland’s forwards in minute 56, but not until the 80th minute any real action would happen.

82’, Oakland goes on a strong attack, with Rito taking the ball up the side and after a gorgeous breakaway pass to Johnny Rodriguez, Rodriguez taps the ball through Deric’s legs and there’s the equalizer, 1-1. The game would go on and frustration on both sides took hold.

Five of the seven yellow cards would come in the final ten minutes of this match, all the cards coming from these two teams making sketchy defensive decisions. In the last play of stoppage time, Oakland’s Trayvone Reid has an open shot to get a walk off victory for the Roots, but the ball rings off the post and the ball is cleared, game over, 1-1.

A tragic ending, but if you’re in the Oakland Roots’ dressing room, you’re happy with the amount of resilience this team has. It’s too early for “must win” games, but the effort shown by the Oakland Roots is a huge takeaway and huge morale booster going into next week’s home opener against Memphis. Only negative Oakland has to improve on going forward is not starting off so sloppy on defense.

Back to back games, I see a team scrambling and then maybe 20 minutes in, they turn on a switch and play aggressive, but disciplined soccer. If Oakland plays like they did after 20 minutes of this game, at the opening whistle of the next game, I can actually see a victory happening before April. Current Roots record: 0-1-1.

Defending Champions San Antonio FC Dominate Oakland’s Season Opener 3-1

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The Oakland Roots opened up their regular season at Toyota Field in San Antonio on Sat Mar 11, 2023

The Defending Champions Dominate Oakland’s Season Opener

Written By Troy Ewers

The Oakland Roots’ season opener started against last year’s USL Championship trophy winners, San Antonio FC in Toyota Field in San Antonio, Texas and it was a game to hopefully learn from. Learn what not to do. The game ended 3-1 with San Antonio visibly outplaying Oakland.

Between sloppy penalties and San Antonio’s Lamar Batista scoring two highlight reel goals, the game from opening whistle to the final, the game was all San Antonio FC. The first 18 minutes Oakland didn’t develop offense and on top of that Joseph Nane and Elgardo Rito got yellow cards in the first 16 minutes, so it was clear Oakland couldn’t get their footing.

In minute 12, Niko Hansen of San Antonio FC scored the first goal of the game off an attack starting at midfield and the momentum at this point felt lopsided. Last year when San Antonio scored the first goal of the game, they didn’t lose and this stayed true.

In stoppage time on a corner kick, Lamar Batista bicycle kicked a goal which silenced the Roots’ chance of a Cinderella moment. In the second half of the game it was a slow and sloppy game from both sides, because it was hot and humid, reported to be 88 degrees at 8pm in San Antonio, and both teams at this point had little in the gas tank, but in the 57th minute Oakland’s Guillermo Diaz gets a beautiful pass and cleans it up scoring the only goal of the night for Oakland and even after this brilliant display of offense, the Roots never built anymore steam.

After a stalemate in minute 74, Lamar Batista accidentally had an amazing goal where he lobbed the ball all the way from midfield and Oakland’s goalkeeper Blanchette couldn’t get a grasp on the ball and Batista scored. The final whistle would sound after seven minutes of stoppage and San Antonio FC would win 3-1.

The takeaways from this game are that Oakland couldn’t keep up with the defending USL champions. Oakland on paper had a better game. 66% possession time, even shots on goal with San Antonio, and more corner kicks, but visibly Oakland never had an advantage.

The thing that they can learn from this game is to stay more disciplined, because the categories they didn’t win at were yellow cards. This season will be interesting for the Oakland Roots, but if there’s more discipline, their defense can help them develop more of an offense. The two Batista goals for San Antonio weren’t flukes but don’t happen again if these two play again, so Oakland’s defense is a highlight and with less yellows, you can see a different outcome. Oakland’s next game will be against Rio Grande.

Oakland Roots FC podcast with Morris Phillips: Roots selling out home games; Televising all road games on KTVU Fox 2

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Oakland Roots and the San Diego Royal tangle in their match at Laney College in Professional soccer action. Roots home games have sold out or nearly sold out. (Image from Oakland Roots twitter)

On the Oakland Roots podcast:

#1 Morris were taking in our first Oakland Roots game there’s been a lot of excitement about this club for team that’s not in the MLS and has been left out in some publications this league this team is still able to sell games out.

#2 The Roots are hosting their games at Laney College’s football field and needless to say it’s worked out.

#3 The Football stadium holds 5,000 plus and the fan experience has been positive and it has kept fans returning as this team was founded in 2018.

#4 The Roots televise all their away games on on KTVU Fox 2 and that also has been huge for the football club getting a local draw which Roots Chief Revenue Officer Steven Powell said KTVU has strong ties with Oakland thus the huge draws they’ve been getting.

#5 Morris looking around and from what you’ve experienced so far what your impression about the football club and the field at Laney College?

Morris Phillips took in coverage of the Oakland Roots match on Wed Apr 13, 2022 at Laney College in Oakland for http://www.sportsradioservice.com