Monterey Bay FC – Sports Radio Service

Final score of the Oakland Roots vs. Monterey Bay FC match at UC Hayward East Bay on Sat Sep 23, 2023 (@oaklandrootssc photo)

Saturday, September 23rd, 2023

By Troy Ewers

Hayward, CA – This week the Oakland Roots raised over 2 million dollars from over 3,200 new investors setting the American sports record for crowdfunding effort. Billie Joe Armstrong the lead singer of Green Day became an owner as well, but with all this big hype for Oakland, they still had a game this week and tonight was against Monterey Bay FC. Oakland currently sits in 7th place in the West just one point clear of the playoff line.

The game started with Monterey Bay getting on the board in the opening three minutes with Alex Dixon scoring one past Paul Blanchette after receiving an assist from Sam Gleadle and knocking the shot the center of the goal off his left foot, 1-0 Monterey Bay.

The Roots looked to respond in minute 28, but the attack was foiled by Monterey’s defense. Oakland would end up getting the equalizer in the 44th minute when a cross from Bryan Tamacas was capitalized on by Daniel Barbir and shot from close range to even the game at 1-1, this would take us to the end of the 1st half and it was enough for Oakland to see they might have a chance to earn three points.

The second half on a chilly night in Hayward, California was seemingly the most important 45 minutes for the Roots at this point in the season. If Oakland was able to get the win here, they’d find themselves right at the front door of the playoffs.

The tie was broken when a deep pass beat the Roots defensive back line and with a great one touch, Sean Okoli took it himself and scored it himself, 2-1 Monterey Bay FC. It seemed like Oakland wouldn’t come back and get the equalizing goal, but in the 90th minute Neveal Hackshaw did exactly that for the Roots.

It was Hackshaw’s first goal in a Roots jersey and it couldn’t have been at a more perfect time. After three minutes in stoppage time the ref blew the closing whistle and this game ended in a 2-2 draw with the Roots at this point two points below the playoff line.

The next game for Oakland will be a home game Saturday, September 30th against San Antonio and with four games left the playoff race is in Oakland’s hands if they can run the table riding the momentum of this draw.

An Oakland Roots player was doing a backflip over the Roots victory over Monterey Bay FC to end their six game winless streak on Sat Jul 15, 2023 (@oaklandrootssc photo)

By Troy Ewers

In a foggy Monterey Bay, the Oakland Roots took on Monterey Bay FC in their third matchup of the season. Both teams have got their wins on the road in this rivalry and this game showed nothing different. What was different was the Roots ended their losing streak with two goal 3-1 win at Cardinale Stadium in Seaside Calif.

The Roots started this game with a goal from Lindo Mfeka that was called back for offsides, but the pressure didn’t stop for Oakland as they earned a penalty shot which was easily converted by Johnny Rodriguez and the score in the 15th minute was 1-0 Roots.

Later in the half in the 29th minute, Monterey Bay would gain the equalizer as Alex Dixon hit a shot from the top of the box to the back of the net and it was now 1-1, but Rodriguez would regain the lead for the Roots quickly with his second goal to obtain a 2-1 lead for Oakland and when the first half ended that was the score.

The second half started with intense pressure from both squads and no one letting their foot off the gas, continuing the pace from the first half. This pressure was taken advantage of by the Roots in the 78th minute as Daniel Gomez scored with an assist from Memo Diaz for the third and final goal for Oakland.

When the final whistle blew the game ended 3-1 Oakland and they got their first win in a month. The Roots hope to continue this feeling of victory as they head to Texas next game and face El Paso on July 22nd.