2020–21 Oakland Roots SC season

Oakland Roots SC
2020–21 NISA season
Chairman	Steven Aldrich
Head coach	Jordan Ferrell
Stadium	Laney College; Oakland, CA
NISA	Fall, Western Conf.: 1st
Playoffs	Fall: Fall Championship Final
Top goalscorer	League: Matthew Fondy: 2; All: Matthew Fondy: 5
Biggest win	OAK 3–0 NAFC; (Sep. 21, Fall Playoffs)
Biggest defeat	OAK 1–2 DCFC; (Sep. 23, Fall Playoffs); OAK 1–2 DCFC; (Oct. 2, Fall Championship)
	← 2019–20 2021 →

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

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	GK	Christian Herrera	United States
2	DF	Daniel Navarro	United States
5	DF	Nana Attakora (Captain)	Canada
06	FW	Matthew Fondy	United States
8	MF	Angel Heredia	United States
9	FW	Jack McInerney	United States
10	MF	Nelson Blanco	El Salvador
11	FW	Tristan Bowen	United States
12	MF	Peter Pearson	United States
16	MF	Niall Irwin	Republic of Ireland
19	FW	Josiah Romero	United States
22	MF	Diego Casillas (on loan from Reno 1868 FC)	Mexico
27	FW	Julio Cervantes	Mexico
32	MF	Manny González	Colombia
33	DF	Robert Hines II	United States
44	MF	Ariel Mbumba	DR Congo
47	GK	Taylor Bailey	United States
49	DF	Tarn Weir	United States
50	DF	David Abidor	United States
61	FW	Johnny Rodriguez	United States
88	DF	Seo-In Kim	South Korea
90	GK	Kevin Gonzalez	United States
91	MF	Yohannes Harish	Eritrea
98	MF	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	September 3, 2020	^[5]
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	Peterson 18' Mbumba 26' (o.g.) Gradijan 37' Navarro 55'	Stadium: COPA Soccer Training Center Attendance: 0
Note: Game was played behind closed doors because of the COVID-19 pandemic, composed 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 v t e	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


Overall								Home						Away
Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
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	España 58' Gordillo 71' Hale 89'	Report Broadcast	Fondy 15', 18' McInerney 36'	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	Thierjung 3' Lopez 29' Coronado 61' Klute 68' Bowers 77' Nuno 90+4'	NISA Report Cal United Report FotMob Report Broadcast	Abidor 78' McInerney 90' (pen.)	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 v t e	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	Advance to semifinals
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	Fondy 32' Blanco 52', 76' Casillas 55' McInerney 65'	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	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	Kim 3' Abidor 59'	NISA Report FotMob Report Broadcast	Mkuruva 90+5'	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	Rodriguez 6' Heredia 19' Pearson 31' Fondy 48' Irwin 85' McInerney 90+4'	NISA Report FotMob Report Broadcast	McGrath 46' Marcano 77' Russell 90+4'	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	Total		Fall Season		Fall Playoffs
No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Goalkeepers
1	GK	USA	Christian Herrera	7	0	2+0	0	5+0	0
47	GK	USA	Taylor Bailey	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
90	GK	USA	Kevin Gonzalez	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
Defenders
2	DF	USA	Daniel Navarro	4	0	0+0	0	2+2	0
5	DF	CAN	Nana Attakora	5	0	2+0	0	3+0	0
33	DF	USA	Robert Hines II	4	0	2+0	0	2+0	0
49	DF	USA	Tarn Weir	7	0	2+0	0	5+0	0
50	DF	USA	David Abidor	7	0	2+0	0	5+0	0
Midfielders
8	MF	USA	Angel Heredia	5	1	0+0	0	2+3	1
10	MF	SLV	Nelson Blanco	7	1	0+2	0	1+4	1
12	MF	USA	Peter Pearson	7	0	2+0	0	4+1	0
16	MF	IRL	Niall Irwin	3	0	0+0	0	2+1	0
22	MF	MEX	Diego Casillas	6	0	2+0	0	4+0	0
32	MF	COL	Manny González	6	0	2+0	0	1+3	0
44	MF	COD	Ariel Mbumba	7	0	0+2	0	5+0	0
88	MF	KOR	Seo-In Kim	2	1	0+1	0	1+0	1
91	MF	ERI	Yohannes Harish	6	0	2+0	0	4+0	0
98	MF	USA	Jonathan Orozco	2	0	0+2	0	0+0	0
Forwards
06	FW	USA	Matthew Fondy	7	5	2+0	2	4+1	3
9	FW	USA	Jack McInerney	7	2	2+0	1	2+3	1
11	FW	USA	Tristan Bowen	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
19	FW	USA	Josiah Romero	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
27	FW	MEX	Julio Cervantes	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
61	FW	USA	Johnny Rodriguez	6	2	0+2	0	3+1	2

Goal scorers

Place	Position	Number	Name	Fall Season	Fall Playoffs	Total
1	FW	06	Matthew Fondy	2	3	5
2	FW	9	Jack McInerney	1	1	2
2	FW	61	Johnny Rodriguez	0	2	2
3	MF	8	Angel Heredia	0	1	1
	MF	10	Nelson Blanco	0	1	1
	MF	88	Seo-In Kim	0	1	1

Disciplinary record

Number	Nation	Position	Name
Number	Nation	Position	Name	Fall Season		Fall Playoff		Total
2		DF	Daniel Navarro	0	0	1	0	1	0
9		FW	Jack McInerney	1	0	1	0	2	0
10		MF	Nelson Blanco	0	0	1	0	1	0
12		MF	Peter Pearson	0	0	1	0	1	0
16		MF	Niall Irwin	0	0	2	0	2	0
22		MF	Diego Casillas	0	0	1	0	1	0
44		MF	Ariel Mbumba	0	0	1	0	1	0
49		DF	Tarn Weir	0	0	1	0	1	0
50		DF	David Abidor	1	0	1	0	2	0
91		MF	Yohannes Harish	0	0	1	0	1	0

Notes

References

^ "USL Championship Welcomes Oakland Roots for 2021 Season". USL Championship. September 15, 2020. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
^ "2020 Squad". Oakland Roots SC. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
^ "Roots Add South Korean Born Seo-in Kim Ahead of the 2020 Fall NISA Season". Oakland Roots SC. Retrieved September 1, 2020.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
^ "Roots Sign 20-Year-Old Salvadorian Midfielder Nelson Blanco". Oakland Roots SC. Retrieved September 1, 2020.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
^ "Roots Add Midfielder Diego Casillas and Forward Johnny Rodriguez Ahead of Sunday's Fall Season Opener". Oakland Roots SC. Retrieved September 6, 2020.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
^ "Oakland Born and Raised Roots Original Retires". Oakland Roots SC. Archived from the original on July 14, 2020. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
^ "Chattanooga FC Strengthens Back Line, Adds Wilfred Williams to the Club". Chattanooga FC. August 31, 2020. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
^ "Roots Captain Nana Attakora Retires from Playing to Join Roots Coaching Staff". November 17, 2020.
^ "Home". Archived from the original on November 27, 2020. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
^ "Oakland News Now Blog SF Bay Area U.S.A. World".
^ "Roots Return to Play August 29th with the "Justice Match," Presented by Fremont Bank". Oakland Roots SC. Retrieved September 1, 2020.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
^ Zimmerman, Douglas (July 31, 2020). "Bay Area Soccer: Oakland Roots return in August, SJ Quakes aim for MLS Tourney semis, NSL adds teams". SF Gate. Archived from the original on September 3, 2020. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
^ Zimmerman, Douglas (August 26, 2020). "Bay Area Soccer: Oakland Roots justice match postponed, SJ Quakes resume without Erikkson, NSL adds team". SF Gate. Archived from the original on September 27, 2020. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
^ "Roots Announce the Rescheduled "Justice Match" Date to be Played on October 10th, Presented by Fremont Bank". Oakland Roots SC. September 18, 2020. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
^ "Roots 2020 Fall Season Update". Oakland Roots SC. Retrieved September 1, 2020.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
^ "NISA Fall 2020 Schedule Update". www.nisaofficial.com. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
^ "2020 NISA Fall Tournament locks in on Detroit". nisaofficial.com. Retrieved September 11, 2020.

External links

Official website

[1] "USL Championship Welcomes Oakland Roots for 2021 Season". USL Championship. September 15, 2020. Retrieved September 15, 2020.

[2] "2020 Squad". Oakland Roots SC. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved September 1, 2020.

[3] "Roots Add South Korean Born Seo-in Kim Ahead of the 2020 Fall NISA Season". Oakland Roots SC. Retrieved September 1, 2020.^{[permanent dead link‍]}

[4] "Roots Sign 20-Year-Old Salvadorian Midfielder Nelson Blanco". Oakland Roots SC. Retrieved September 1, 2020.^{[permanent dead link‍]}

[5] "Roots Add Midfielder Diego Casillas and Forward Johnny Rodriguez Ahead of Sunday's Fall Season Opener". Oakland Roots SC. Retrieved September 6, 2020.^{[permanent dead link‍]}

[6] "Oakland Born and Raised Roots Original Retires". Oakland Roots SC. Archived from the original on July 14, 2020. Retrieved September 1, 2020.

[7] "Chattanooga FC Strengthens Back Line, Adds Wilfred Williams to the Club". Chattanooga FC. August 31, 2020. Retrieved September 1, 2020.

[8] "Roots Captain Nana Attakora Retires from Playing to Join Roots Coaching Staff". November 17, 2020.

[9] "Home". Archived from the original on November 27, 2020. Retrieved December 4, 2020.

[10] "Oakland News Now Blog SF Bay Area U.S.A. World".

[11] "Roots Return to Play August 29th with the "Justice Match," Presented by Fremont Bank". Oakland Roots SC. Retrieved September 1, 2020.^{[permanent dead link‍]}

[12] Zimmerman, Douglas (July 31, 2020). "Bay Area Soccer: Oakland Roots return in August, SJ Quakes aim for MLS Tourney semis, NSL adds teams". SF Gate. Archived from the original on September 3, 2020. Retrieved September 1, 2020.

[13] Zimmerman, Douglas (August 26, 2020). "Bay Area Soccer: Oakland Roots justice match postponed, SJ Quakes resume without Erikkson, NSL adds team". SF Gate. Archived from the original on September 27, 2020. Retrieved September 1, 2020.

[14] "Roots Announce the Rescheduled "Justice Match" Date to be Played on October 10th, Presented by Fremont Bank". Oakland Roots SC. September 18, 2020. Retrieved September 25, 2020.

[15] "Roots 2020 Fall Season Update". Oakland Roots SC. Retrieved September 1, 2020.^{[permanent dead link‍]}

[16] "NISA Fall 2020 Schedule Update". www.nisaofficial.com. Retrieved August 1, 2020.

[17] "2020 NISA Fall Tournament locks in on Detroit". nisaofficial.com. Retrieved September 11, 2020.

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v t e National Independent Soccer Association
Current teams	Arizona Monsoon FC Capo FC Club de Lyon Georgia Lions FC Irvine Zeta FC Los Angeles Force Maryland Bobcats FC Michigan Stars FC Savannah Clovers FC
On hiatus	Albion San Diego California United Strikers FC Gold Star FC New York Cosmos
Future teams	Calabasas FC
Former teams	Atlanta SC Bay Cities FC Chattanooga FC Chicago House Detroit City FC Flower City Union Miami FC New Amsterdam FC Oakland Roots SC Philadelphia Fury San Diego 1904 FC Stumptown AC Syracuse Pulse Valley United FC
Seasons	2019–20 2020–21 Fall 2021 2022 2023 2024
Affiliated leagues	NISA Nation Cascadia Premier League Eastern Premier Soccer League Florida Gold Coast League Metroplex Premier League Mountain Premier League Southwest Premier League

v t e 2020–21 NISA season by team
Playoffs: (Fall, Spring)
Full season	California United Strikers FC Chattanooga FC Detroit City FC Los Angeles Force Michigan Stars FC New Amsterdam FC
Fall 2020 only	New York Cosmos Oakland Roots SC
Spring 2021 only	Maryland Bobcats FC San Diego 1904 FC Stumptown AC