After a bright start from Oakland Roots, home side Memphis 901 turned up the pressure and scored two goals from Aaron Maloy in the 13th minute and Patrick Seagrist in the 41st to take a 2-0 lead.
Memphis controlled the first part of the second half but eventually wore down as Oakland stepped up the offensive pressure. Dariusz Formella scored off a loose ball in the box in the 81st minute to set up a frantic final ten minutes.
However, Oakland could not get the tying goal and dropped their second game of the season 2-1.
Here are three things we learned from the game:
Oakland is susceptable to opposing teams pressing up high
The opposing squad’s pressure disrupted the Oakland Roots offense and conceded goals for the second game in a row.
Last week, high pressure forced Oakland’s defense to make a mistake in the first half, leading to a Rio Grande Valley goal. The same scenario played out against Memphis.
Oakland started brightly, and newly signed forward Óttar Magnús Karlsson almost put the Roots ahead in the first ten minutes.
However, Memphis soon got settled and constantly pressured the Oakland defense that attempted to build their attack from the back.
Memphis pressure in the 13th minute set up a dangerous free-kick from just above the penalty box. Aaron Molloy hit a screamer into the top right corner of the goal to give the home team the advantage.
Oakland could not put much positive possession together for the remainder of the half. Memphis almost scored minutes after Molloy’s strike and put the ball into the net in the 33rd minute. However, the goal was rightly ruled offside. But in the 42nd minute, Patrick Seagrist perfectly timed his run to the far post and headed in a perfect cross from Jeremy Kelly.
It’s clear how to beat Oakland: Pressure their backline and don’t allow them to build up.
Roots finally showed life in last quarter of match
Oakland’s strength in the second game proved to be their bench. After Memphis started to run out of steam around the 70th minute of the game, Oakland began to have meaningful possession and generate chances.
The addition of Lindo Mfeka into the midfield also allowed Oakland to enjoy more possession and attack.
Memphis finally conceded a goal in the 81st minute when Dariusz Formella was able to score on a scramble in the box. Chuy Enriquez and Joseph Nane also subbed in and played well.
In the final ten minutes, the Roots showed great energy and looked destined to tie the match. However, Memphis made a few critical plays down the stretch to eke out the home victory.
Hopefully, Oakland can build on the game’s final ten minutes next week in their home opener against Monterey Bay FC.
The starting back line did not perform well
After playing a solid defensive game last week, head coach Juan Guerra decided to shake up the back four with two new additions.
Hakeem Ward and Alejandro Fuenmayor were in the starting eleven for the second game in the row.
Curiously, winger Memo Diaz and center-back Emrah Klimenta, who played well against Rio Grande, were not. Inserted instead were, Edgardo Rito and Daniel Barbir.
LINK: Here are the Oakland Roots new players for 2022
Neither played exceptionally well in the defense. Rito’s attack was decent but napped on Memphis’s second goal.
Barbir also picked up a needless yellow card in the second half when Oakland was struggling.
Fuenmayor also had another unimpressive game in the central defense. It isn’t clear why he is getting the start over Klimenta or Tarek Morad, who both performed well when healthy in 2021.
It will be interesting if Guerra goes back to his starting foursome next week or continues to tinker with the backline.
