Oakland SC Tops California Odyssey SC
Oakland SC took the direct approach to earning a 3-1 win over California Odyssey SC on Saturday night at Oakland Technical High School. They relied on direct passing out of the back to set up their speedy forwards to get behind Odyssey SC’s backline.
The home team opened the scoring in the 8th minute, when a cross found Mahmoud Musa unmarked at the left post for the easy finish, as the visitors from Clovis, California pleaded for an offside call.
The first half ended with a 1-0 score, with the Odyssey’s best opportunities coming from shots from beyond the penalty area, including a free kick in the first minute and a shot from near midfield in the 34th minute.
Oakland’s other first half opportunities included a shot that sailed wide on a breakaway by Mohamed El Kaddouri in the 6th minute and a blast from Diraj Thajali in the 32nd minute that sailed over the bar.
Oakland Breaks the Game Open in the Second Half
The host side continued on the attack in the second half. Musa had a chance for a second goal in a shot from the near post in the 51st minute, but goalkeeper Eddie Veliz made the save.
The second goal came in the 55th minute, when Veliz made the initial save, but Alejandro Zarate was waiting to pounce on the rebound.
Zarate scored his second goal of the match in the 73rd minute, as Oakland flooded the zone with attackers on the counter. El Kaddouri made a run down the right side, crossed the ball over to his left foot, and fed the ball to Zarate inside the penalty arc. Zarate’s right-footed blast tucked inside the left post, and just out of reach for the diving Veliz.
Oakland goalkeeper Jesus Medina-Rangel was denied a clean sheet thanks to an 89th minute goal from second half substitute Bryan Rocha. A long throw-in from midfield found Rocha making his run down the right side. Rocha eluded a tackle from an Oakland defender. Medina-Rangel went to ground, and Rocha slid the ball into the net.
The win brought Oakland SC closer to overtaking California Odyssey for fifth place in the Golden Gate Conference standings. Both clubs have 7 points, but Oakland has played 7 matches, while Odyssey has played only 6.
Sacramento Stuns Napa Valley
Sacramento Gold FC knocked Napa Valley 1839 FC out of the top spot in the conference after a 2-1 road win.
Sacramento got on the board first in the 32nd minute, on a Napa Valley own goal. Sacramento’s Mike Mazzoni sent in a cross for teammate Kody Duff, but the ball deflected off of a Napa Valley defender and into the net.
Napa equalized three minutes later on the counterattack. Dario Pavon led Sebastian Carbajal as he made his run down the left side. Carbajal dribbled the ball into the penalty area and blasted a shot that nestled just inside the far post.
But the visitors grabbed the full three points thanks to a 66th minute goal by Francisco Magana. Duff sent in a free kick just as Magana made his run toward the near post and Magana redirected the ball with his right foot into the net.
Napa’s loss vaulted El Farolito into first place in the conference standings. Farolito has 3 wins and 2 losses, (2.20 points per game), while Napa has 5 wins and 2 losses (2.14 ppg).
For Sacramento, the win moved them closer to idle San Ramon FC in the battle for third place. Both clubs have 11 points, but Sacramento has played 6 matches, while San Ramon has played only 5.
El Farolito v. Stompers Postponed
El Farolito’s scheduled match vs. the Stompers has been postponed to an as yet undetermined date due to rain and the soggy field conditions at Boxer Stadium in San Francisco.
Next Week’s Schedule
All seven teams are in action next weekend, thanks to California Odyssey taking on the challenge of hosting Sacramento on Saturday night, then traveling to San Francisco to take on El Farolito on Sunday. Other Saturday matches including Oakland SC hosting San Ramon and the Oakland Stompers hosting Napa Valley.
