Oakland Roots showed character coming back from a goal and man down versus the San Diego Loyal to earn a hard-fought 2-2 draw. Here are three things we learned from the game:
Dramatic tie equals turning point for season?
Things were looking bleak for the Roots. Desperate for their first victory of the season, Oakland found themselves down a goal early in the second half. Then center back Tarek Morad received his second yellow card of the match in the 64th minute reducing the Roots to ten men.
But despite being a man down, Oakland found a way to get the point.
In the 86th minute, San Diego seemed to be cruising to an impressive win on the road, but a misplay in the backline, thanks to some aggressive Roots pressure, led to a turnover about thirty yards outside the box. Edgardo Rito pounced on the ball and quickly crossed it far post to an unmarked Juan Azócar, who perfectly placed his shot into the bottom left corner of the goal and equalized the game for Oakland.
“With 10 men we didn’t sit back,” said Roots head coach Juan Guerra after the game. “We kept the formation and the system that would allow us the opportunity to attack, but also be compact defensively.”
San Diego quickly responded with a goal in the 90th minute off a scramble in front of the goal after a corner kick. The Loyal’s Grant Stoneman was able to redirect his bicycle kick shot into the net to grab the lead back.
However, the Roots had one more moment of magic up their sleeves before the final whistle.
Substitute Emrah Klimenta was able to find some free space in the 94th minute out wide. He picked out the head of Roots forward Óttar Karlsson, who competently fired his shot into the goal for the dramatic equalizer.
It wasn’t a victory but earning a point under difficult circumstances could prove the fight is there for the Roots need to grab a victory.
High pressure still causing Roots issues
Oakland has been susceptible to mistakes in the back against teams that pressure the Roots backline all season long. That pressure, and their inability to handle it, led directly to San Diego’s first goal of the game.
Seven minutes into the second half, San Diego pressured the ball deep in the Roots half of the field. Loyal forward Koke Vargas forced Oakland goalkeeper Benny Diaz to pass a ball up the middle of the field to Matias Fissore. He was quickly marked by San Diego’s Collin Martin immediately pressured.
Martin’s pressure allowed his teammate Andrew Carleton to disposed Fissore of the ball. He quickly passed it back to Martin, who placed his shot past Diaz for the one-goal lead.
Oakland was able to come back for a point, but they need to stop shooting themselves in the foot with defensive miscues.
Desire for first win is forcing Guerra to lose sleep
For first-year yead coach Juan Guerra it’s been a long first month-plus at the helm of the Roots.
This year, Oakland has coughed up a handful of possible victories. With their winless streak now stretching to six games (seven if you count the US Open Cup match), it has impacted Guerra.
“I can’t sleep. It bothers me,” he admitted after the game. “I don’t feel weak; I’m not afraid. I’m bothered, and I’m angry.”
But an experienced veteran on the field, Guerra knows that the only way for Oakland to break out of their funk is to take destiny into their own hands.
“We can’t catch any breaks, and no one is going to give it to us,” he added. “It’s up to us to grab it and take it.”
Their next chance for the Roots’ first victory of the season is against Loundon United FC on Saturday evening at Laney.
And then, hopefully, Guerra will get a good night’s sleep.
