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.
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