Ilya Alekseev scored just fifty minutes into his professional debut, and Roots salvaged a point in a 1-1 draw versus visiting Charleston Battery on Saturday night in the East Bay.
The night started slow for Oakland. Playing with a thin roster, both Alekseev and Thomas Camier made their professional debuts to fill in for missing starters. From the opening whistle it looked like Charleston would control the night, playing much of the first half in Roots’ defensive zone.
Facing constant pressure, Oakland finally relinquished a goal in the 35th minute when the Battery’s Arturo Rodriguez sent a cross into the box, where his teammate Nicholas Markanich was waiting to head home the finish to give Charleston a 1-0 lead.
But Roots were determined to play stronger in the second half — and they did not dissapoint. At the 50’ mark, Alekseev who was making his professional debut, found some unguarded real estate in front of the Charleston keeper. Memo Diaz capitalized by sending a picture perfect cross from the left side, which Alekseev headed home from in close to knot the game back up at 1-1.
Oakland continued applying pressure in the second half, and nearly found a winner on multiple occasions, including a 90th minute header from Neveal Hackshaw that was cleaned up by the Charleston keeper.
Both teams played to a dramatic finish, but neither side could find a game-winner before the referee blew the final whistle. Roots will now head to Arizona for their first road test of the season when they play Phoenix Rising on Saturday, March 23rd.
Roots will be back home to face Las Vegas Lights FC on Saturday, March 30th at 7 p.m.
Talking with Head Coach Noah Delgado
You take a point — I think everybody would take a point today given the lineup and mass changes. Talk about those challenges that you guys faced coming into tonight.
You know obviously we had four guys sick, and out for the game today. Lindo wasn’t available as well to go much, but we’ve talked about it, that we’re gonna need everyone this season. Especially with injuries and the international window opening, players leaving tomorrow, people are gonna have to step up. We just look at the quality, players, understanding and we had guys making their debut tonight which was awesome — and contributing. So you know, these guys played minutes in the preseason, and I think that preparation helped us for tonight
What does it mean to see so many young players from Project 51O step including Ilya with his first goal on debut?
You know, he came in as a young professional, getting minutes, Thomas made his debut as well tonight. That’s a credit to the organization. There’s a plan — building up, building youth, building local, and now we’re seeing some very early profits and seeing those players contributing.
Oakland Roots SC vs Charleston Battery
USL Championship | March 16, 2024
Venue: Cal State University, East Bay
Kickoff: 7:00 PM PT
Weather: 62 degrees, sunny
SCORELINE:
OAK: 1
CHS: 1
SCORING SUMMARY:
CHS: Nicholas Markanich 35’
OAK: Ilya Alekseev 50’
DISCIPLINE SUMMARY:
OAK: Bryan Tamacas 6’ (yellow card)
CHS: Juan Sebastian Palma Micolta 16’ (yellow card)
OAK: Johnny Rodriguez 43’ (yellow card)
CHS: Juan David Torres Henriquez 63’ (yellow card)
OAK: Miche-Naider Chéry 66’ (yellow card)
CHS: Nicholas Markanich 77’ (yellow card)
CHS: Adam Grinwis 90’+ (yellow card)
CHS: Aaron Molloy 90’+ (yellow card)
OAKLAND ROOTS LINEUP: Paul Blanchette, Justin Rasmussen, Niall Logue, Bryan Tamacas (Etsgar Cruz), Neveal Hackshaw, Ilya Alekseev (Thomas Camier), Memo Diaz, Napo Matsoso (Miche-Naider Chéry) (Trayvone Reid), Daniel Gomez, Jeciel Cedeño, Johnny Rodriguez.
Unused subs: Lindo Mfeka, Javier Bedolla-Vera, Kieran Bracken Serra, Tim Syrel, Edwin Rodriguez
Shots: 6 | Shots On Goal: 2 | Corner Kicks: 0 | Fouls: 17 | Offside: 1 |
CHARLESTON BATTERY LINEUP: Adam Grinwis, Graham Smith, Juan Sebastian Palma Micolta, Nathan Dossantos (Joshua Drack-Asami) (Robert Crawford), Mark Segbers, Chris Allan (Emilio Ycaza), Aaron Molloy, Arturo Rodriguez, Diego Gutiérrez (Juan David Torres Henriquez), Nicholas Markanich, Jackson Conway (Matthew Meyers)
Unused subs: Daniel Kuzemka, Jake LaCava,
Shots: 21 | Shots On Goal: 7 | Corner Kicks: 9 | Fouls: 15 | Offside: 2 |
