Live Blog: Oakland Roots vs. Tacoma Defiance (October 20)

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Welcome to Wednesday's edition of the blog's live coverage of Oakland Roots on the road against Tacoma Defiance.

Scroll down for all the latest updates.

Roots SC is up in Washington looking to rebound off of its 1-0 loss to OCSC last Saturday, still holding fifth place with a 9-7-13 record, five points back of LA Galaxy II for a playoff spot, and tied for points with Tacoma and Republic in sixth and seventh. 

Los Dos lost to Charleston 3-1, making a win tonight that much more critical for Roots SC in order to keep playoff hopes alive. 

Provided is Bloom's official match preview, where he highlights both organizations since this last meeting a month ago and points out that it requires much more than a win to sneak into the playoffs. Here's an excerpt from Bloom's preview:

"The Roots’ inconsistency has caught up with them at an absolutely devastating time. They not only no longer control their fate for the postseason, but need quite a lot of luck.... Roots don’t control their destiny with respect to LA II, but if they can get lucky and LA II can’t get any wins, the Roots can still steal this at the death."

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

Full Time

Match ends at 0-0, the draw brings Oakland's record to 9-8-13 and four points back of LA Galaxy II--meaning their playoff chances are still alive, technically, but look just about done with two matches left in the season. 


Once again, Oakland left to rue its chances in the first half--where they had at least four good chances at net. Roots SC's lack of finishing has been in the limelight, now going scoreless in its last three matches.

Matias Fissore started the action with a shot on target in the 7th minute after Memo Diaz played a nice pass through the legs of Tacoma's defender. 

Johnny Rodriguez couldn't put a shot on target in the 19th after a perfect ball over the top from Kai Green. 

Soon after, Chuy Enriquez could've had a tap-in at 25' after jumping on a mistake by Defiance's back line. In the following minute, Quincy Amarikwa missed on a diving header after a nice ball in by Enriquez. 

In the second half, Oakland couldn't seem to create as many clearcut opportunities despite drawing seven corners in the latter 45 minutes. Things started well with Amarikwa looking for a penalty after a nice nutmeg in the 48th minute, while Rodriguez had a header loop over net in the 54th. 

But, from there, the intensity seemed to turn lower than one would like in a playoff chase. 

Oakland gained four corners from the 68th to 74th minute, but none of the chances created clear-cut looks. Enriquez had the best look at net in the 74th, but his curling shot was easily stopped by the keeper.

Oakland finished the match with 11 shots, four on target, and eight chances created after taking five shots, two on target, with three chances in the first half. 

Tacoma Starting 11

Roots Starting 11

Reaction: Good to see Quincy Amarikwa back in the starting lineup, his leadership is needed in a must-win match. Emrah Klimenta on the subs, big start for Tarek Morad.  

Timeline

Ward cross batted into play - 90+3'

Ward cross at 90+3' gets batted away by the keeper. Was the last gasp for Roots. 

Roots corner x2 - 90+2'

Leads to nothing. Ball came off Brewitt's arm, predictable no call from the ref. 

Roots corner - 90+1'

Akeem Ward draws a corner. Leads to another corner. 

Tacoma corner - 88'

Ball skips around, leads to nothing. 

Roots corner - 86'

Mbumba plays a cross in, leads to a corner. 

Tacoma shot high - 83'

Cody Baker sails a good opportunity over the net. 

Sub - 82' 

Bokila and Harish on for Quincy and Chuy at 82' 

Tacoma shot high - 77'

Adeniran gets a header on the ball, can't angle his shot. 

Chuy play toward net - 74'

Chuy with a shot, easy stop for the keeper. 

Roots corner - 74'

Play down to Mbumba, Tacoma keeper charges ball and knocks out. 

Roots corner - 69'

Mbumba plays down to Ward, low cross to Quincy knocked out. Leads to nothing. 

Roots corner x2 - 68'

Drops to Ornstil, skies it into the seats. 

Roots corner - 67'

Skips around, leads to another corner. 

Sub - 63'

Mbumba and Ornstil on for Johnny and Joseph Nane. 

Johnny attempt - 54'

Rodriguez pushes a looping header toward goal at 54'.

Quincy looks for a foul - 48'

Amarikwa nutmegs Tacoma defender and gets pushed over, looks for a foul; no call.

First Half Notes:

Roots are controlling the action; it could be 3-0 for Oakland with proper finishing. Johnny Rodriguez couldn't put a shot on target in the 19th, Chuy could've had a tap-in at 25', and Quincy opted for a header instead of a shot with his feet the following minute. 

In a big game, the hope is Oakland isn't left to rue its chance, similar to recent matches. 

Oakland has 66 percent possession with five shots, two on target, and three chances created. Defiance has two shots, none on target, with two chances created. 

Tacoma empty chance - 43'

Tacoma's Adeniran scuffs his shot, good chance for Defiance a few yards in front of the net. 

Yellow on Amarikwa - 40'

Quincy runs into back of TAC keeper Stefan Cleveland along the by line. 

Akeem Ward shot wide - 36'

Akeem Ward shot narrowly wide of the far post at 36'. Great chance, Roots have been on the doorstep.

Amarikwa attempt - 26'

Quincy looks for a header at 26' after a long ball in by Chuy. Doesn't make contact. 

Chuy near tap-in - 25' 

Chuy nearly takes advantage of a mistake, his shot goes into the keeper's midsection at 25'.

Johnny shot off target - 19'

Beautiful ball over the top from Kai Greene to Johnny Rodriguez. His shot off of target, near chance for Roots at 19'. 

Memo pass in, empty - 14'

Diaz looking for Johnny, cleared out. 

Mati shot on target - 7'

Matias Fissore with a shot on target in the seventh minute, goes straight to the keeper. Nice pass in by Memo Diaz, nutmegs the defender.  

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