Unable to convert a number of excellent scoring chances the Oakland Roots fell to Orange County Soccer Club 1-0 on Saturday evening.
Despite outshooting OC 14-7 and controlling 60 percent of the ball, the Roots were unable to find the back of the net while the home side took advantage of their best opportunity to secure the full three points.
“As a full performance, I thought we dominated with the ball,” said Roots defender Hakeem Ward after the game. “Just couldn’t find the net.”
Oakland had five different players in the starting lineup from their last game against Sacramento. Forward Tyler Blackwood remained out due to a concussion and newly signed defender Emrah Klimenta was paired with centerback Tarek Morad.
Midfielder Lindo Mfeka opened the action for the Roots in the 10th minute when he found himself unmarked at the top of the box and hit a strong shot forcing OC keeper Abraham Romero to make a smart save out of bounds.
Orange County had two good chances in the 14th minute from Brian Iloski and Avionne Flanagan, but both were saved by NYCFC loanee keeper Luis Barraza.
From the next twenty-five minutes, Oakland controlled the ball for long periods and had several chances to get on the board.
In the 20th minute, a long ball fell to Jeremy Bokila. He was almost able to get in alone on the OC keeper Romero but defender Rhys Breen was able to toe-poke the ball away from the Bokila and to Romero.
Four minutes later, Roots winger Chuy Enriquez had another chance on target forcing another fine save by Romero.
In the 24th another scramble in the box ended with a fierce shot from Bokila that Romero saved.
The Roots had their best chance to score denied in the 40th minute. Ward’s cross from out wide fell to the feet of Enriquez. He was able to place his shot around the Orange County keeper but the shot was cleared off the goal line by Breem.
Three minutes later Oakland defender Tarek Morad was also forced to clear a ball off the goal line when a cross from OC’s Flanagan was touched on by teammate Ronald Damus. Roots goalie Luis Barraza was able to slow Damus’s shot enough to allow Morad to clear the ball.
Orange County ended up pinning the ball on the Roots side of the field and two minutes later Iloski was able to find his teammate Christopher Wehan out wide. His shot back across the mouth of the goal looked destined for the far post, but OC forward Ronaldo Damus made sure to touch it into the net. As the Roots defense threw their arms into the air calling for Damus to be ruled offside, the Orange County players celebrated their surprise lead.
“You want to be rewarded for those moments and we did really well to put ourselves in good positions and it came back to haunt us with the goal at the end of the first half,” noted Roots head coach Jordan Ferrell.
In the second half Orange County, who were playing their third game in six days, seemed content to pack in the defense and secure the 1-0 result.
The Roots’ best chances was on a corner kick in the 49th minute when Mfeka was able to direct the ball past Romero. However, his shot hit off the post, and defender Brent Richards pulled the ball off the goal line and Romero fell on the loose ball.
Oakland’s had another good chance in the 75th minute when Ward curved a ball in front of goal with the outside of his right foot onto the run of midfielder Danny Flores. Unfortunately, Flores was not able to get his shot on target and it bounced harmlessly out of bounds.
When the final whistle blew Oakland ended their four-game road trip to start the season with one victory, one tie, and two losses for four points.
“The past two games and tonight we created more than enough chances to score. I think that’s good progress from pre-season and where we were even at the start of the season,” explained Ferrell. “But now we need to put the two together and defend well and put the ball in the back of the net as well.”
The Roots now look forward to their first home game of the USL season next Saturday, June 19 against the Sacramento Republic at Laney Stadium.
“We are beyond excited. Jordan was beyond excited saying everywhere we’ve been, we have been to four different stadiums now, he said there is no atmosphere like there is in Oakland,” said Ward. “I’m super excited to come home and we are going to give you all a show for sure.”
Be the first to comment