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USL Oakland Roots

Oakland Roots' Unbeaten Streak Ends Following 3-2 Loss to Colorado

August 20, 2023 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Oakland Roots News Release


Oakland's unbeaten streak came to an end Saturday night in the East Bay, as the Colorado Switchbacks FC defeated Roots by a final score of 3-2 after a back and forth battle.

Roots opened the game with an attacking mindset, controlling possession and looking to push the ball up the field. Against the run of play however, the Switchbacks got on the board first when Colorado forward Maalique Foster received a cross in front of the net and squeaked the finish by Roots keeper Paul Blanchette in the fifth minute.

Despite this, Roots continued to attack, looking like the better team for the majority of the first frame. Oakland capitalized on this sustained pressure and found an equalizer courtesy of Memo Diaz in the 25th minute. Diaz's now signature backflip celebration sent the home crowd into a frenzy.

But the Switchbacks weren't done. They took the lead once again in the 40th minute after being hemmed into their own defensive third by Oakland for much of the half. The goal came on another ticky tack offensive sequence in Roots' penalty area. Tyreek Magee received a short pass from Juan Tejada, and placed a shot just out of Blanchette's reach to give Colorado a 2-1 lead.

Determined to score again and bring a draw into the locker room at halftime, Oakland pushed the ball hard up the wings, playing crosses into the box and trying to sustain the pressure that had so far only rewarded them once.

Oakland found the back of the net once more before the halftime whistle after earning a penalty kick in the waning moments of added time. Anuar Peláez buried the attempt to give his team life once again, and knotted the score back up at 2-2.

Colorado began the second half looking like a more cohesive unit, spending more time in Oakland's defensive end. For this they earned their third lead of the contest when Maalique Foster scored his second of the match in the 58th minute - a rocket from the top of the box that deflected off a Roots player before finding the top right corner of the goal past a diving Blanchette.

Oakland closed the game out with a desperation push to tie the game, leading to multiple Roots scoring chances. But the Switchbacks held on to the final whistle, earning the win and all three points.

Roots will now hit the road for two games in four days, playing in New Mexico and Louisville next week before returning home to Pioneer Field on Saturday, September 2nd to take on NorCal rivals Sacramento Republic at 7 PM ET.

Speaking with Head Coach Noah Delgado

Most goals allowed at home, what went wrong trying to keep them off the scoreboard?

Coming out after a break, we just weren't as sharp as we normally are defensively. I think overall we're just catching our rhythm after a long stretch of time off, but you know, gave them some goals, obviously we could defend a bit better but let's go back to it, watch some film and move on to the next one.

We saw Neveal Hackshaw start in the midfield again today and then we saw him move into the backline when Nane came off, what do you see about his relationship with Joseph Nane that had you flip them?

Hack plays the six, the defensive-mid, with the national team, and he's very comfortable in that position. Just looking at different options and different moves. I think Jojo is very solid at the center-center-back and has obviously been playing that role. Comfortable with Hack there as well.

Oakland Roots SC vs Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC

USL Championship | August 19, 2023

Venue: Cal State University, East Bay, Hayward, California

Kickoff: 7:00 PM PT

Weather: 70 degrees, sunny

SCORELINE:

OAK: 2

COS: 3

SCORING SUMMARY:

COS: 5' Maalique Foster

OAK: 25' Memo Diaz

COS: 40' Tyreek Magee

OAK: 45'+ Anuar Peláez

COS: 58' Maalique Foster

DISCIPLINE SUMMARY:

OAK: 43' Bryan Tamacas (yellow card)

COS: 46' James Musa (yellow card)

OAK: 86' Neveal Hackshaw (yellow card)

OAKLAND ROOTS LINEUP: Paul Blanchette, Danny Barbir (Irakoze Donasiyano), Joseph Nane (Tarek Morad), Emrah Klimenta, Bryan Tamacas, Neveal Hackshaw, Daniel Gomez, Memo Diaz, Trayvone Reid (Wolfgang Prentice), Anuar Peláez (Luis Saldaña), Jeciel Cedeño

Unused subs: Ryan Her, Etsgar Cruz, Taylor Bailey

Shots: 18 | Shots On Goal: 5| Corner Kicks: 3 | Fouls: 11| Offside: 0 |

COLORADO SPRINGS SWITCHBACKS LINEUP: Joe Kuzminsky, James Musa (Duke Lacroix), Oskar Agren, Matt Mahoney, Drew Skundrich, Jonas Fjeldberg (Deshane Beckford), Jay Chapman, Juan Tejada, Speedy Williams, Tyreek Magee (Stevie Echevarria), Maalique Foster (Romario Williams)

Unused subs: Christian Herrera, Marco Rios, Jairo Henriquez

Shots: 8 | Shots On Goal: 5| Corner Kicks: 0| Fouls: 15| Offside: 0 |

Check out the Oakland Roots Statistics



United Soccer League Championship Stories from August 20, 2023


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