Live Blog: Oakland Roots vs. Orange County SC

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Welcome to tonight's edition of the blog's live coverage of Oakland Roots' meeting with Orange County SC out in Championship Stadium out in Irvine. 

This marks Oakland's first match while holding playoff contention in 4th with a 8-6-10 record against third-ranked OCSC at 9-7-8. 

Here is Bloom's official match preview for tonight, where he highlights Roots' last 3-0 loss to OC back on July 31 and how the two organizations have fared since then. 

Here's an excerpt from Bloom's preview that puts things perfectly: 

"Orange County enters this match 1-1-1 in their last three, with a win over a terrible team, a draw to a great team at home, and a loss to a great team on the road. Orange County are good, but the Roots really aren’t the team they were the last two times these teams met."

Join the live match discussion on Discord: https://discord.com/invite/NPNM7jmJ

Scroll down for all the latest updates.

Key Events

OCSC Goal 

Goal at 90+1' by Mikko Kuningas. A painful loss, two goals conceded in stoppage time. Several empty chances in the first half. 

OCSC Goal

Michael Orozco scores at 45+1' on a ball-in from a set-piece by Iloski, and then performs a really lame celebration. 

Roots Goal

Ariel Mbumba goal in the 19th minute, assisted by Brian Brown. 

Timeline

Full Time

Tough, tough loss. Roots had good momentum the entire night, and the ref loses his whistle on a clear penalty. Oakland could've had three goals in the first half. Both goals were conceded in stoppage time.  

OCSC goal - 91+1'

OCSC earns a corner at +1, and the ball trickles in on a tap in for Kuningas. 

Yellow on Bokila - 88'

Yellow Kuningas - 84' 

Gets handsy with Bokila. The referee finally finds his whistle. 

No call - 81'

Somehow not foul by Damus on Jose Hernandez. Nutmegs him, then Jose gets tugged down. That's a pen, vital no call. Hernandez endured another no-call moments later after taking a hit to his ankle. 

Provided is a live replay of Damus' tackle on Jose:


Chance missed - 77'

Ward with a pass to Bokila, gets a foot on it but the ball was too far behind. 

Bokila attempt missed - 76'

Bokila free header at the 76', can't get it on target. Perfect pass by Akeem Ward. 

Sub - 72'

Jeremy Bokila on for Brian Brown at 72'. Need a spark right now. 

OCSC sub - 67'

McCabe for Kuningas.

Quincy shot wiped - 67'

Quincy's goal-scoring opportunity wiped after being called offside at 67'. Would like a replay there. Nice long pass by Hernandez.

Yellow on Iloski - 66'

Iloski carded after preventing Hernandez's run. 

OCSC shot, easy save - 61'

Shot deflected, goes straight to Blanchette. 

Sub - 58'

Lindo Mfeka on for Mbumba, Quincy Amarikwa on for Johnny Rodriguez. 

Yellow on Hernandez - 57'

Hernandez gets his ninth yellow card this season, have to check what that means. 

Yellow on Orozco - 55'

OCSC's Michael Orozco gets yellowed at 55'. Brian Brown tries a backheel shot on the pass in. 

OCSC shot attempt - 53'

Okoli shot goes high over the net on a tight angle along the left post. Damus takes a hard shot, no foul. 

Paul Blanchette 1-on-1 save - 48'

Benjamin Mines goes 1-on-1 with Blanchette after a stumble in the Roots' Memo Diaz. Shot save, keeps it tied. OCSC coming out with a lot of energy, pressing. 

First Half Notes: 

Orange County's goal at the end of the first half spoils an otherwise very strong first half by the Oakland Roots. It could easily be 3- or 4-1 for Oakland if they finished on all their opportunities. Becomes the Roots' third goal conceded this season in the final minute of the first half. 

In 45 minutes, Roots held 52 percent possession with nine shots, two shots on target, and eight chances created. They have completed 183 passes (83 percent) with 18 of 35 long balls (51 percent), but only one of 10 on crosses. 

OC set-piece - 45+1'

OC wins a set piece on a tug by Mbumba, header goal for the equalizer by Michael Orozco. 

Klimenta cleanup - 39'

Klimenta closes out Sean Okoli well in a critical situation. Leads to a corner and claim by Blanchette.

Brian Brown shot high - 36'

Brown 1-on-1 with the keeper on a field-length long ball from Paul Blanchette. Couldn't corral the ball for a clean shot. 

Ornstil shot blocked - 31'

Another shot stuffed by OCSC defense, Roots have them on their heels. Beautiful ball in by Jose Hernandez from a long set piece. 

Johnny attempt blocked - 29'

Memo with a slick pass out of the back, should be 2-0; Johnny Rodriguez doesn't pull trigger. Memo is another player on fire tonight. "He's got a magic wand of a right foot."

Brian Brown chance missed - 27' 

Ariel Mbumba a beautiful field-length run in possession, plays it to Brian Brown--looks to cutback to himself, can't get the shot. 

Johnny shot deflects high - 24'

Rodriguez gains Roots' second corner. 

Mbumba goal - 19'

MBUMBA GOAL!!!! Beautiful footwork by Mbumbi with a triple stepover and a nutmeg; his 4th goal of the season in the 19th minute. Assist by Brian Brown.

Damus shot high - 17'

As I write the last line; OCSC's Ronaldo Damus should've had a goal after working around Akeem Ward. Shot goes high and right. Whew.

Mbumba shot saved -16'

Beautiful work on the counter-attack by Jose Hernandez and co.; working the ball to Mbumba--his shot saved in the 15th. Roots looking very strong on the front foot, feels like a goal is coming. 

Brian Brown shot wide - 13' 

Shot attempt goes wide by Brian Brown. Nice footwork in the penalty area by the forward. 

Johnny Rodriguez shot stuffed -6'

Johnny shot in the 6th minute, second consecutive cross in by Memo Diaz. Very nice plays back-to-back by the wingback, it could be 1-0. 

Roots shot attempt - 5'

Jose Hernandez works ball down, cross goes across the net, and then centers to Matias Fissore about five yards about the 18-yard box. His attempt trails very high. 

Orange County Starting XI:

Roots Starting XI: 

GK Paul Blanchette, CB Emrah Klimenta, CB Kai Greene, WB Akeem Ward, WB Memo Diaz, CB/CDM Max Ornstil, M Ariel Mbumba, M Matias Fissore, M Jose Hernandez, FW Brian Brown, FW Johnny Rodriguez.

Subs: Wal Fall, Jeremy Bokila, Lindo Mfeka, Tarn Weir, Quincy Amarikwa, Taylor Bailey, Yohannes Harish. 

  • Reaction: It looks like the potential to run another variation of a back-three with Greene, Klimenta, and Ornstil. Mbumba can provide some width alongside Brown and Johnny Rodriguez. A lot of firepower on the bench with Fall, Bokila, and Amarikwa--it seems like obvious names to watch for second-half subs. 


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