2020–21 Oakland Roots SC season

The 2020–21 Oakland Roots SC season was the club's second in the National Independent Soccer Association (NISA) and second overall.

Oakland Roots SC
2020–21 NISA season
ChairmanSteven Aldrich
Head coachJordan Ferrell
StadiumLaney College
Oakland, CA
NISAFall, Western Conf.: 1st
PlayoffsFall: Fall Championship Final
Top goalscorerLeague: Matthew Fondy: 2
All: Matthew Fondy: 5
Biggest winOAK 3–0 NAFC
(Sep. 21, Fall Playoffs)
Biggest defeatOAK 1–2 DCFC
(Sep. 23, Fall Playoffs)
OAK 1–2 DCFC
(Oct. 2, Fall Championship)

On September 15, 2020, Oakland announced that it would be joining the second division USL Championship in 2021.[1] The Roots became the fourth NISA team to cease league play during an on-going season and second to-do so in order to join the USLC after Miami FC made the same jump one year prior.

Roster

Players
As of September 6, 2020 [2]
No. Position Player Nation
1 Goalkeeper Christian Herrera  United States
2 Defender Daniel Navarro  United States
5 Defender Nana Attakora (Captain)  Canada
06 Forward Matthew Fondy  United States
8 Midfielder Angel Heredia  United States
9 Forward Jack McInerney  United States
10 Midfielder Nelson Blanco  El Salvador
11 Forward Tristan Bowen  United States
12 Midfielder Peter Pearson  United States
16 Midfielder Niall Irwin  Ireland
19 Forward Josiah Romero  United States
22 Midfielder Diego Casillas (on loan from Reno 1868 FC)  Mexico
27 Forward Julio Cervantes  Mexico
32 Midfielder Manny González  Colombia
33 Defender Robert Hines II  United States
44 Midfielder Ariel Mbumba  DR Congo
47 Goalkeeper Taylor Bailey  United States
49 Defender Tarn Weir  United States
50 Defender David Abidor  United States
61 Forward Johnny Rodriguez  United States
88 Defender Seo-In Kim  South Korea
90 Goalkeeper Kevin Gonzalez  United States
91 Midfielder Yohannes Harish  Eritrea
98 Midfielder Jonathan Orozco  United States

Staff
  • Jordan Ferrell – Head coach
  • Dario Pot – Assistant coach
  • Kristopher Hall – Assistant coach
  • Yuta Tanaka – Strength and conditioning coach

Transfers

In
No. Pos. Player Transferred From Fee/Notes Date Source
88 MF Seo-In Kim SK Zápy Free transfer July 31, 2020 [3]
10 MF Nelson Blanco San Diego 1904 FC Free transfer August 6, 2020 [4]
22 MF Diego Casillas Reno 1868 FC Loan for Fall season September 3, 2020 [5]
61 FW Johnny Rodriguez Cal State Northridge Matadors Free transfer
1 GK Christian Herrera Tacoma Defiance End of loan

Out
No. Pos. Player Transferred To Fee/Notes Date Source
24 DF Nikolai Littleton Unattached Retired July 14, 2020 [6]
3 DF Wilfred Williams Chattanooga FC Free transfer August 31, 2020 [7]
4 DF Doueugui Mala Unattached Not re-signed
13 DF Francesco Tiozzo Adriese Free transfer September 4, 2020
15 MF Khadim Seye Unattached Not re-signed
17 MF David Ochoa Unattached Not re-signed
22 FW Alex Garuba Unattached Not re-signed
5 DF Nana Attakora Unattached Retired November 17, 2020 [8][9][10]
22 MF Diego Casillas Reno 1868 FC End of loan November 30, 2020

Justice Match

On July 30, 2020, Oakland announced it would be hosting and broadcasting a special event prior to the regular season start called the "Justice Match" on August 29.[11] The scrimmage featured Roots players mixed into two teams with retired local women's professional players and local women’s soccer ambassadors that both played and coached, including former USWNT player Aly Wagner, Miranda Nild of the Thailand women's national football team, and former Afghanistan captain Hailai Arghandiwal.[12]

The event was postponed on August 26 due to unhealthy air quality from the 2020 California wildfires.[13] It was later rescheduled for October 10.[14]

October 10, 2020 (2020-10-10) Team Dania 4–4 Team Nana Walnut Creek, California
3:10 p.m. PDT
  • Mbumba  34', 48'
  • McInerney  51'
  • Heredia  60+1'
 Report
Broadcast
Stadium: COPA Soccer Training Center
Attendance: 0
Note: Game was played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic, comprised of two 30-minute halves, 8v8 indoor format

Competitions

NISA Fall Season

On June 4, NISA announced details for the 2020 Fall Season.[15] The eight member teams would be split into conferences, Eastern and Western, with the Roots playing in the later.

The Fall regular season schedule was announced on July 31, 2020.[16] The team is set to play two regular season games, both on the road, against the rest of the Western Conference.

Standings
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Oakland Roots SC 2 1 1 0 3 1 +2 4
2 California United Strikers FC 2 0 2 0 1 1 0 2
3 Los Angeles Force 2 0 1 1 0 2 −2 1
Source: NISAofficial.com

Results summary
OverallHomeAway
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsWDLGFGAGDWDLGFGAGD
2 1 1 0 3 1  +2 4 0 0 0 0 0  0 1 1 0 3 1  +2

Last updated: September 13, 2020.
Source: Match reports

Matches
September 6, 2020 (2020-09-06) Week 1 Los Angeles Force 0–2 Oakland Roots SC Irvine, California
5:00 p.m. PDT
Report
Broadcast
Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium
Attendance: 0
Referee: Omeed Azadpour
Note: Game was played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic
September 13, 2020 (2020-09-13) Week 2 California United Strikers FC 1–1 Oakland Roots SC Irvine, California
4:00 p.m. PDT
NISA Report
Cal United Report
FotMob Report
Broadcast
Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium
Attendance: 0
Referee: Karen Callado
Note: Game was played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Fall Playoffs

All eight NISA teams qualified for the 2020 Fall tournament, which will be hosted at Keyworth Stadium in Detroit, Michigan, beginning on September 21 ending with the final on October 2.[17]

Group Stage
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Oakland Roots SC 3 2 0 1 5 2 +3 6 Advance to semifinals
2 Detroit City FC 3 2 0 1 6 5 +1 6
3 Michigan Stars FC 3 1 1 1 4 3 +1 4
4 New Amsterdam FC 3 0 1 2 4 9 −5 1
Source: NISAofficial.com
Rules for classification: 1) Points, 2) Goal differential, 3) Goals scored, 4) Head-to-head record, 5) Coin toss
September 21, 2020 (2020-09-21) Group stage Oakland Roots SC 3–0 New Amsterdam FC Hamtramck, Michigan
8:00 p.m. EDT
NISA Report
FotMob Report
Broadcast
  • Yorston  45+2'
  • Bello  45+2'
  • Vicente  67'
  • Nadaner  69'
 Stadium: Keyworth Stadium
Attendance: 0
Referee: Samuel Pizzimenti
Note: Game was played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic
September 24, 2020 (2020-09-24) Group stage Oakland Roots SC 1–2 Detroit City FC Hamtramck, Michigan
5:00 p.m. EDT
  • Ariel Mbumba  39'
  • Fondy  45'
 NISA Report
FotMob Report
Broadcast
  • Kafari  36'
  • Matthews  54'
  • Filerman  64'
  • Lawson  80'
 Stadium: Keyworth Stadium
Attendance: 0
Referee: Jacob Little
Note: Game was played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic
September 27, 2020 (2020-09-27) Group stage Oakland Roots SC 1–0 Michigan Stars FC Hamtramck, Michigan
5:00 p.m. EDT
NISA Report
FotMob Report
Broadcast
Stadium: Keyworth Stadium
Attendance: 0
Referee: Carter Brochu
Note: Game was played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Knockout stage
September 30, 2020 (2020-09-30) Semifinal Oakland Roots SC 3–2 Chattanooga FC Hamtramck, Michigan
5:00 p.m. EDT
NISA Report
FotMob Report
Broadcast
Stadium: Keyworth Stadium
Attendance: 0
Referee: Samuel Pizzimenti
Note: Game was played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic
October 2, 2020 (2020-10-02) Fall Championship Oakland Roots SC 1–2 Detroit City FC Hamtramck, Michigan
6:00 p.m. EDT
  • Rodriguez  26'
  • Harish  54'
  • Navarro  77'
  • Wier  80'
  • Irwin  90'
 NISA Report
FotMob Report
Broadcast
  • Saydee  16'
  • Lawson  65'
  • Peterson  85'
 Stadium: Keyworth Stadium
Attendance: 0
Referee: Nicole Green
Note: Game was played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Squad statistics
As of Match played October 2, 2020

Appearances and goals
No. Pos Nat Player TotalFall SeasonFall Playoffs
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Goalkeepers
1 GK Christian Herrera 702+005+00
47 GK Taylor Bailey 000+000+00
90 GK Kevin Gonzalez 000+000+00
Defenders
2 DF Daniel Navarro 400+002+20
5 DF Nana Attakora 502+003+00
33 DF Robert Hines II 402+002+00
49 DF Tarn Weir 702+005+00
50 DF David Abidor 702+005+00
Midfielders
8 MF Angel Heredia 510+002+31
10 MF Nelson Blanco 710+201+41
12 MF Peter Pearson 702+004+10
16 MF Niall Irwin 300+002+10
22 MF Diego Casillas 602+004+00
32 MF Manny González 602+001+30
44 MF Ariel Mbumba 700+205+00
88 MF Seo-In Kim 210+101+01
91 MF Yohannes Harish 602+004+00
98 MF Jonathan Orozco 200+200+00
Forwards
06 FW Matthew Fondy 752+024+13
9 FW Jack McInerney 722+012+31
11 FW Tristan Bowen 000+000+00
19 FW Josiah Romero 000+000+00
27 FW Julio Cervantes 000+000+00
61 FW Johnny Rodriguez 620+203+12

Goal scorers
Place Position Nation Number Name Fall Season Fall Playoffs Total
1FW06Matthew Fondy235
2FW9Jack McInerney112
FW61Johnny Rodriguez022
3MF8Angel Heredia011
MF10Nelson Blanco011
MF88Seo-In Kim011

Disciplinary record
Number Nation Position Name Fall Season Fall Playoff Total
2DFDaniel Navarro001010
9FWJack McInerney101020
10MFNelson Blanco001010
12MFPeter Pearson001010
16MFNiall Irwin002020
22MFDiego Casillas001010
44MFAriel Mbumba001010
49DFTarn Weir001010
50DFDavid Abidor101020
91MFDavid Abidor001010

Notes

    References
    1. "USL Championship Welcomes Oakland Roots for 2021 Season". USL Championship. 15 September 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
    2. "2020 Squad". Oakland Roots SC. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
    3. "Roots Add South Korean Born Seo-in Kim Ahead of the 2020 Fall NISA Season". Oakland Roots SC. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
    4. "Roots Sign 20-Year-Old Salvadorian Midfielder Nelson Blanco". Oakland Roots SC. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
    5. "Roots Add Midfielder Diego Casillas and Forward Johnny Rodriguez Ahead of Sunday's Fall Season Opener". Oakland Roots SC. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
    6. "Oakland Born and Raised Roots Original Retires". Oakland Roots SC. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
    7. "Chattanooga FC Strengthens Back Line, Adds Wilfred Williams to the Club". Chattanooga FC. 31 August 2020. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
    8. https://www.oaklandrootssc.com/news_article/show/1131875
    9. https://blog.sfgate.com/soccer/2020/11/18/nana-attakora-star-with-oakland-roots-sf-deltas-sj-quakes-retires/
    10. https://oaklandnewsnow.com/oakland-roots-soccer-captain-nana-attakora-retires-from-playing-to-join-roots-coaching-staff/u-s-news/11/24/2020/12/01/18/71110/
    11. "Roots Return to Play August 29th with the "Justice Match," Presented by Fremont Bank". Oakland Roots SC. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
    12. Zimmerman, Douglas (31 July 2020). "Bay Area Soccer: Oakland Roots return in August, SJ Quakes aim for MLS Tourney semis, NSL adds teams". SF Gate. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
    13. Zimmerman, Douglas (26 August 2020). "Bay Area Soccer: Oakland Roots justice match postponed, SJ Quakes resume without Erikkson, NSL adds team". SF Gate. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
    14. "Roots Announce the Rescheduled "Justice Match" Date to be Played on October 10th, Presented by Fremont Bank". Oakland Roots SC. 18 September 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
    15. "Roots 2020 Fall Season Update". Oakland Roots SC. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
    16. "NISA Fall 2020 Schedule Update". www.nisaofficial.com. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
    17. "2020 NISA Fall Tournament locks in on Detroit". nisaofficial.com. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
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