USL Oakland Roots

Oakland Roots SC 2022 Season Opener Match Notes

Published on March 12, 2022 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Oakland Roots News Release


Oakland Roots get their season underway with a trip to Edinburg, Texas to take on Rio Grande Valley FC Toros for the first time in club history. The Toros are looking to build upon a late season surge in 2021, similar to Oakland Roots turnaround to make the postseason. Like Oakland, the Toros snuck into the playoffs on the final day of the season and then upset Phoenix Rising in the first round of the USL Championship playoffs, before falling to San Antonio FC. The playoff run was the second in the club's six year history, their first run being in 2016.

Rio Grande Valley is coached by Wilmer Cabrera who returned to the club after four seasons in Houston with the Toros former MLS affiliate Houston Dynamo. The Dynamo midfield is highlighted by Jose Francisco Torres who featured 26 times for the USMNT from 2008-2013, having spent the 2021 season with the Colorado Switchbacks.

Oakland Roots feature a number of players set to make their return appearance in the Rio Grande Valley having played for the Toros in the past. Jesus "Chuy" Enriquez featured for RGV from 2018-2019 making 61 appearances scoring on 10 occasions. Paul Blanchette played with the Toros in 2020 making 10 appearances. Defender Alejandro Feunmayor made six appearances in South Texas while on loan from Houston Dynamo. Juan Azocar spent 2021 with the Toros helping them reach the playoffs, scoring seven times in the regular season. Nico Lemoine is the last of the former RGV players on Oakland Roots having been part of the Toros set up in 2019 making 19 appearances scoring on two occasions.

This match marks the Head Coaching debut of Juan Guerra. Guerra who has been a top assistant around the USL for three seasons will get his first crack as a head coach at just 35 years of age.

Last 3 Roots Games:

March 5, 2022 (Preseason)

- OAK 1, CVF 0

Feb 26, 2022 (Preseason)

- OAK 1, TUC 0

Feb 20, 2022 (Preseason)

- OAK 3, TUL 2

Last Starting XI: 4-3-3

Starting XI vs. Central Valley Fuego on March 5th (Preseason)

- GK Taylor Bailey

- D Akeem Ward

- D Alejandro Fuenmayor

- D Emrah Klimenta

- D Memo Diaz

- M Charlie Dennis

- M Jose Hernandez

- M Matias Fissore

- F Darek Formella

- F Johnny Rodriguez

- F Juan Azocar

Injuries

Nico Lemoine - Unavailable - lower body

Matias Fissore - Unavailable - upper body

Edgardo Rito - Unavailable - upper body

Max Ornstil - Unavailable - lower body

Ottar Karlsson - Unavailable - upper body

Discipline

None

Match Up: Oakland Roots SC vs Rio Grande Valley FC

Competition: USL Championship

Date: March 12, 2022

Kick off time: 5:30 PM PT

Weather Forecast: 52 degrees, clear skies

Venue: H-E-B Park, Edinburg, Texas

Match Preview:

Check out the Oakland Roots Statistics

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United Soccer League Championship Stories from March 12, 2022


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