The day after: Roots fall 3-0 to OC

The Oakland Roots sustained a 3-nil loss to Orange County thanks to two goals in quick succession at 31 and 36 minutes. A straight red card to Max Ornstil at 55’ doomed the Roots while down 2-0, relinquishing the final goal in the 76th minute. 

The Roots were without several previous starters in the lineup, including Ariel Mbumba, Chuy Enriquez, Lindo Mfeka, Matias Fissore, and Tyler Blackwood.

Of the group, it marked Mbumba’s first absence from a game-day lineup this season. 

Manager and technical director Jordan Ferrell said after the match that players are still working their way back from COVID-19, while its also critical to manage the roster for the next two months.

“There’s still a few missing. Just making sure the guys are healthy, COVID is more than just what it does to you on the front-end, it’s how it carries on,” said Ferrell, via Douglas Zimmerman. “We also recognize we have quite a few games coming up.”

Brandon Allen got the start at striker, while Jeremy Bokila subbed in at 69 minutes and became an instant factor. It was his first game back since he started June 29 against San Diego. 

Roots SC had a few bright spots along its attack despite the lopsided loss: 

Tarn Weir, a natural wingback, is carving out a role in the attack with his speed and vision. He had a shot trail wide in the sixth minute, turned a defender inside-out in the ninth minute which led to a corner and scoring opportunity from Allen. He also had a shot attempt sail over the net at 72’. 

Weir is also proving to be nifty at drawing fouls, gaining three set pieces on the night for the Roots’ attack. 

Recent signing Joseph Restani was another impressive performance in his first start, making a few runs between defenders with slick footwork and had two attempts blocked in the first half.  

As for Bokila, he’s by far the most consistent Roots’ forward on the pitch. The ball naturally gravitates towards him as the striker and he always seems to be in the right spot. 

He nearly scored his third goal of the season in the 85th minute when wingback Soya Takahashi squared a nice cross to him a few yards in front of the net. Leaping over the defender, Bokila’s header required OC’s keeper to make a leaping save to the left. 

Danny Flores, meanwhile, was the Roots’ top-rated player on FotMob at 7.0. 

Ferrell was happy to see the Roots play on the front foot despite being down. 

“Its progress,” said Ferrell, per Zimmerman. “The last couple of games, we’ve been playing without a center forward so it’s tough to create chances without somebody who’s comfortable in front of the net. Tonight we had Brandon and we were able bring Bokila back as well and it makes a big difference. It gives us a sharp point to the attack.” 

OC’s first goal came after drawing a foul from about 35 yards out when Mikko Kuningas sent in a cross to Kobi Henry, who tapped the ball on a header to skip in the ball in the 31st. 

Five minutes later, Eric Calvillo sent a nice cross across the goal to the feet of Ronaldo Damus for the tap-in. It was Damus’ eighth goal of the season. 

As for Ornstil’s red card in the 54th minute, the Roots’ defender got into an altercation with OC’s Brian Iloski after the two collided during a corner kick. 

Iloski, who was only a given a yellow, appeared to hit Ornstil in the back after getting back to his feet. Ornstil put an elbow to the chest of Iloski to retaliate—resulting in a red for violent conduct. 

Per USL standards, reds for violent conduct implicates that Ornstil faces a minimum four-game suspension, receiving a $100 fine for the first offense which increases with each violation. The Roots are eligible to appeal Ornstil’s red card.  

OC scored its last goal in the 75th by Aidan Apodaca. 

Now the Roots return home to Laney for the first official game since 2019.  Nearly the entire Oakland roster has never played in front of a home crowd, only Yohannes Harish and Taylor Bailey have felt the atmosphere of a crowd at Laney. 

Ferrell, like the rest of us, is excited for the first game in the Town. He thinks it could provide the “spark” for the rest of the season. 

“For a lot of the guys, they don’t even know what the energy of Laney is like. I think that’s going to be something very unique. Phoenix is a tough opponent, for sure, but I think the group will be ready. They’re hungry. I think the energy at Laney will provide them with the perspective on the club and community that they haven’t had yet. I think we’re looking at that to be the spark for us,” mentioned Ferrell.

FotMob’s best rated:

1. Danny Flores, 7.0

2. Soya Takahashi, 6.9

3. Tarek Morad, 6.8

4. Tarn Weir, 6.6

5. Joseph Restani, 6.6