Welcome to Saturday's edition of the blog's live coverage of the Oakland Roots' match with Orange County SC under the lights of Laney College, oh we've missed you.
Roots return from the desert after falling 1-0 to Phoenix Rising last Saturday, entering tonight's match in fifth-place with a 9-7-12 record, two points back of LA Galaxy II for a playoff spot and a point ahead of Sacramento Republic in sixth. For Oakland, that means it's all must-win matches over the remaining matches and table-watching along the way.
Provided is Bloom's official match preview for tonight, where he highlights the Pacific Division's slate of matches on Saturday.
Here's an excerpt from Bloom's preview:
If Oakland wins tonight, that OCSC-LA II match-up to end the season has huge potential to outright decide a playoff spot for both OCSC and LA II. If Oakland lose tonight, we are going to be desperate for OCSC to win that last one, almost certainly.
Here is an updated google spreadsheet tracking the Pacific's run-in.
Join the live match discussion on Discord: https://discord.com/invite/NPNM7jmJ
Key Events
Jordan Ferrell initial thoughts:
"It's a tough one. We did it to ourselves. We had some good chances, Paul [Blanchette] even almost scored. Obviously, we were pretty stretched going down to 10 men, but we're not just gonna pack it in. We're going to go after it and we had some chances. That was a tough one."
Red card on Jose
Jose Hernandez red carded after a kick at 55'. Bokila and Johnny yellowed for dissent.
OC goal
OC scores at 25.
OC penalty missed
Blanchette stops penalty kick on the retake afyer 1st try called for encroachment.
Orange County Starting 11
Roots Starting 11
Timeline
Roots corner - stoppage
Play down leads to a corner. Sends everyone, Bokila shot blocked.
Roots free kick - 86'
Fall draws free kick about 14 yards above area. Ball in goes nowhere.
Sub
Aggressive sub, Chuy for Emrah.
Roots corners- 79'
Trio of corners, Wal puts a header over the bar at 79'.
Emrah attempt high - 74'
Ball trickles to Emrah from a set piece. Shot goes high.
Save Blanchette - 72'
Subs
Ward for Memo. Quincy for Johnny. Morad for Mbumba.
Roots red card - 55'
Jose red carded, Bokila and Johnny draw yellows. Really poor turn of events.
OC shot wide - 53
Empty chance - 50'
Ball towards Johnny in front of net, can't gather it.
First Half notes:
Roots come out flat, OC jumps on them with consistent pressure. Damus having his way out there.
Oakland holding 59 percent possession, but two shots, none on target.
OCSC has six shots, two on target, three blocked, five chances created.
Wal Fall attempt - 43'
Wal Fall has shot go wide of post. Wouldn't of challenged OC.
Sub - 42'
Bokila on for Lindo.
Roots corner - 39'
Leads to nothing.
OCSC goal - 25'
Long play to Damus; able to shoulder off defender and sends a ball across the box. Finds Mines at the end.
OC draws penalty - 21'
Blanchette saves PK on retake after first attempt called for encroachment.
Roots play in- 9'
First serious action. Johnny plays out wide to Lindo, squares a cross to Johnny--header sails high.
Talking Point
How I've missed you, Laney College Stadium. Coming back from Phoenix Rising's Wifi-less stadium in Chandler, it is so refreshing to be back in actual civilization.
Rising's stadium at Wild Horse Pass gave ideas of what a cost-friendly project would look like in Oakland. Here at Laney, it's an undoubted better location right next to Downtown.
Out at Wild Horse Pass on the outskirts of Chandler, asking the Banditos (Rising's supporters group) recommendations for a postgame drink brought nothing but shrugs. But in the town, the options are endless, and it's easy to see Roots SC's impact on local businesses.
Mad Oak, already popular as it is, certainly has become the go-to postgame watering hole for Roots fans. Personally, I'd love to see the USL trophy paraded around the Ruby Room, or Roots supporters draped around The Alley's piano. Let's make it happen, people.
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