Oakland Roots vs. Austin Bold (June 26, 2021) - Match Preview

The Roots will attempt to host their sorta-home opener against Austin Bold, F.C. on June 26, 2021 at 7:30 p.m. (NOTE SCHEDULE CHANGE) at Las Positas College.  You are unlikely to be there, however, as it is closed to the public.  You may, however, be at a bar, or at the Roots’ sponsored Watch Party.  The Blog will be at the Roots’ sponsored Watch Party.

You can catch the game on ESPN+ or on KOFY TV.  

The Club

History and Background

Austin Bold are a new team, founded in 2017, and having competed in only two competitions, the 2019 and 2020 USL seasons.  

Austin Bold play in Bold Stadium, a soccer-specific stadium (luxury) located within the Circuit of the Americas, a motor racing track within the extraterritorial jurisdiction of Austin, Texas.  If it makes you feel better about the soccer-specific stadium, this is about the same distance from downtown Austin as Walnut Creek is from downtown Oakland.  It’s also inside a damn race track. 

Austin Bold’s Logo (https://www.austinboldfc.com/about) has several noteworthy features.  The Capitol “B” is made up of “two lines moving together - one line representing the players and one line representing the supporters.”  The “B” “includes a subtle reference to the profile of the iconic (?) Circuit of the Americas Tower, evoking movement and speed.”  The name “Austin Bold FC” is set in a “custom brand typeface.  It is a wide-stance sans serif that emphasizes” both “the power of the team” and Austin’s close relationship with disgraced Idaho Senator Larry Craig.  The team website proclaims that Austin Bold FC play an exciting, up-tempo style of soccer (the Bold average 1.1 goal per game) that delivers a matchday atmosphere “as dynamic as the southeast exurbs of the city of Austin itself.”

Apparently there was something of a fight between the ownership of Austin Bold and new MLS club Austin FC.  Austin Bold’s primary owner does not have his own Wikipedia page, so he is wholly unknowable.  Like a ghost.  A hollow man.  Someone’s memory of a person.

(Incidentally, Austin FC’s Owner)

The Bold are in their third year under manager Marcelo Serrano.  In their 2019 they finished 8th in the USL Western Conference, and were knocked out on penalties following a 0-0 draw  in the first round of the playoffs against number 1 seed Phoenix.  In the shortened 2020 season, the Bold finished 3rd in their Group, with a barely positive goal differential and more draws than either wins or losses.  

2021 Season

The Bold are 3-2-3 so far on the season, with nine goals for and nine goals against, and sit fifth in the Western Conference Mountain Division on eleven points, with no discernible form.  

The Bold have played New Mexico United twice, and have a loss and a draw to show for it.  New Mexico United also sit mid-table in the Mountain Division.  The Bold have also played Real Monarchs twice and have a win and a draw against the Monarchs, who sit last place in the Mountain Division, and second-to-last in USL overall.  

You would say that the Bold’s season has been bang average so far but for three noteworthy results in June: road wins over the Pittsburgh Riverhounds (14 points in 9 matches) and the RGV Toros (17 points in 9 matches, first in the Mountain Division); followed by a 3-2 loss against mid-table Colorado Springs Switchbacks after both going ahead early and playing a man up from the 27th minute. 

The Players

Fabien Garcia - the 26-year-old French centerback has played every minute of the Bold’s season so far, and has scored twice in the Bold’s last two games, the first a worldy distance FK in the sixth minute of stoppage time to walk off RGV Toros in Edinburg on June 16, and then again another (!) world free kick goal three minutes into the Bold’s 3-2 loss against the Colorado Springs Switchbacks.  As a reminder--Garcia is a centerback.  Garcia has played for Austin Bold for their entire existence.

Amobi Okugo - 30-year-old Hayward, California-native Okugo has the next most minutes for the Bold this season, starting every game.  Okugo is a defensive-minded midfielder, whose earliest professional years were as a regular starter for they first five years of the Philadelphia Union’s time in MLS.  

Sean Okoli - Austin have their very own large number 9 with critical goals off the bench, although Okoli has played significantly more minutes than the Roots’ Bokila.  Okoli, a one-time USL Golden Boot winner, scored in the 55th minute to tie the game before the Bold’s finished off their over the Toros on June 16. Okoli has two other goals on the season, both penalties, and an assist in the Bold’s 1-0 win over the Pittsburgh Riverhounds.

Owayne Gordon - Jamaican forward Owayne Gordon lines up primarily on the right side of the attacking three, although Google tells me in at least one recent game he lined up as the furthest left of a midfield five.  Google might be lying to us.  Fans of North American soccer have seen Gordon in another context--in the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup where he started in Jamaica’s 2-1 win over Canada in the Quarterfinals, 1-0 win over Mexico in the Semifinals, and 1-2 loss to the United States in the finals.  Nothing bad ever happened to the USMNT again.  

Elliot Panicco - goalkeeper and Peducahan Panicco has played every minute since joining the Bold from parent-club Nashville SC.  Importantly, Panicco wears a magic hat. 

Predictions

FPR

Roots have had a lot of turmoil in the last few weeks, and are going to be playing in front of no fans instead of many fans. The Bold had a grueling road trip, and then returned to near Austin for what must have been a devastating 3-2 loss despite the man advantage.  The Roots will capitalize on the Bold’s frustration.  Roots win 2-1, Enriquez will be Man of the Match.

RootsBlog

I’ll be honest, I have no idea what to expect here, but for whatever reason (maybe its the hangover), I’m a little pessimistic here: The aborted home opener plus the venue change has to have disrupted the Roots’ rhythm. And while I think having a lot of practice time was beneficial early in the season, as this remade Roots roster needed time to gel, at some point, lack of game pressure starts to be detrimental. I’m seeing a very frustrating 2-1 loss.