Despite a competitive first half, the Oakland Roots faltered in the second half and fell 3-1 to Sacramento Republic FC on Saturday night, July 25, in the final edition of that NorCal rivalry matchup to be held at the iconic Oakland Coliseum.
The match began with little fanfare as both sides engaged in a fierce midfield battle that limited attacking opportunities at either end.
Sacramento broke the defensive deadlock in the 19th minute of the match when a pinpoint cross from Jack Gurr into the center of the Oakland box found Jose Rodriguez Jr. on a run, splitting two defenders and depositing the service to make it 1-0 for the visitors.
Oakland wasted no time in leveling the contest, as a quick counter following a Republic turnover landed the ball at the feet of Florian Valot outside the box. Valot took a powerful strike from 20 yards out which found the top right twine to bring the score to 1-1 in the 21st minute.
Following that Roots’ leveler, Oakland stepped on the gas, looking hungry to find the back of the net a second time, putting together some extended pressure in the attacking third. But despite the pressure, Sacramento began to fight their way back into the match, taking control of momentum as the first half wound to a close.
Sacramento brought that momentum into the opening portion of the second frame, but both sides began tilting the field in their favor in alternating moments as the match opened up offensively.
In the 75th minute, following these back and forth shifts in momentum, Sacramento regained the lead when a corner kick service landed in a crowded Oakland box, and a through ball found Kyle Edwards with a wide open look, tapping it home to make it 2-1.
Oakland fought for an equalizer as the clock ticked towards the final whistle, but it was Edwards again who would seal it in added time for Sacramento, when he corralled a lob pass just at the top of the box and fired a quick shot off the touch into the low left corner to make it 3-1..
The Roots will now host the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC at the Oakland Coliseum on Saturday, August 1, at 7 p.m.
Talking with the head coach
After the match, Roots Head Coach Ryan Martin was asked to share his overall thoughts how the game played out.
“I think it was a little bit of a sluggish start to the match, and obviously the midweek game in Lexington probably played a little bit of a role in that,” he said. “After the goal we woke up and played pretty well. Obviously, a great response from the team to get the goal right after. Tremendous goal from Florian, we need to get him going in terms of creating chances, etc. So I was really happy with that.”
In general, Martin added, “I felt like we were pretty good in the first half and pretty even. I thought they (Sacramento) were good as well. In the second half, they came out and dictated a lot of the game, and I felt like we were just a step late in terms of our pressing or our ability to close. Obviously, they have tremendous quality in the midfield. The three central midfielders, I thought, were really good on the night. We conceded a goal and then we played quite well and created some chances and had some opportunities, and conceded the third on the break, which we were pushing, and made a bad decision, and it cost us there. So yeah, that’s where we are.”
Summary
Scoring
- SAC: Jose Rodriguez Jr. 19’
- OAK: Florian Valot 21’
- SAC: Kyle Edwards 75’
- SAC: Kyle Edwards 90’+
Discipline
- OAK: Florian Valot 16’ (yellow card)
- SAC: Aaron Essel 26’ (yellow card)
Oakland Roots SC
Lineup: Kendall McIntosh, Tommy McCabe, Bobosi Byaruhanga (Tucker Lepley), Peter Wilson, Florian Valot (Tyler Gibson), Jesus De Vicente (Julian Bravo), Neveal Hackshaw, Keegan Tingey (Jackson Kiil), Bertin Jacquesson (Wolfgang Prentice), Michael Edwards, Danny Trejo
Unused subs: Raphael Spiegel, Etienne Lopez, Emilio Martinez, Faysal Bettache
Line: Shots: 10 | Shots On Goal: 1 | Corner Kicks: 3 | Fouls: 4 | Offside: 0
Sacramento Republic FC
Lineup: Daniel Vitiello, Jack Gurr, Lee Desmond, Jack Timmer, Mayele Malango (Alfreda Midence Alvarado), Jose Rodriguez Jr., Aaron Essel (Chibuike Ukaegbu), Tyler Wolff (Kyle Edwards), Mark Kaye, Blake Willey, Jose Casas De Abadal (Daniel Crisostomo)
Unused subs: Reid Paskey, Jacob Randolph, Arturo Rodriguez Uribe
Line: Shots: 14 | Shots On Goal: 9 | Corner Kicks: 7 | Fouls: 9 | Offside: 3
