Newcomers looked great as head Coach Ryan Martin began his tenure on a high note, and Oakland Roots SC looked renewed in their 2026 season opener at Cardinale Stadium in Seaside on Saturday night, controlling the pitch for most of the game en route to a 1-0 road victory over in-state rivals Monterey Bay FC.

Alameda Post - Four Oakland Roots players run and celebrate in a game against Monterey Bay FC.Photo by Oakland Roots SC.

The Roots started the match patient on the ball, keeping possession but remaining intentional with their presses up the pitch. This game plan led to some early scoring chances for Oakland, and limited Monterey Bay’s ability to put together anything of their own.

Most of the first frame followed this script, with the Roots looking like the more organized team, frustrating Monterey Bay’s attack while looking for opportunities to push the ball themselves.

But both teams brought some first-game rust onto the pitch in the finishing department, as dangerous opportunities later in the opening half led to multiple fanned-on shot attempts from both sides, with zeroes on the board as the clubs headed into their respective locker rooms for halftime.

Monterey Bay looked strong coming into the second half, beginning to build their attack on a more consistent basis, and the Roots quickly settled in themselves, setting up an extended deadlock at midfield that saw both sides struggle to push the ball into their attacking thirds.

The offenses started to come alive in the last phase of play, starting with a Monterey Bay chance that saw a shot rebound off of Roots’ keeper Raphael Spiegel, taking him out of the play. The resulting second-chance attempt was cleared off the goal line by newcomer Michael Edwards, keeping the match level at 0-0 in the 67th minute.

The Roots looked to take the lead in the 78th minute when Danny Trejo buried a header into the twine, but the line judge determined the play to be offside and the goal was disallowed.

Nevertheless, the Roots retained the momentum of the moment and in the 85th minute they buried the game-winner courtesy of another offseason addition, Mark Fisher, who received a corner kick just outside the 18-yard box, taking an inside touch to beat a defender before curling a left-footed strike inside the right post to make it 1-0 Oakland with time dwindling.

Monterey Bay pushed desperately for an equalizer that never came, as the Roots sealed their 1-0 victory at the final whistle to earn all three points in their 2026 season debut, giving new head coach Ryan Martin the quick start he was looking for in his first game at the helm.

The Roots will return to Oakland to host New Mexico United in the home opener at the Oakland Coliseum on Saturday, March 14.

Summary
Scoring:

Discipline:

MB: Giorgi Lomtadze 40’ (yellow card)
MB: Kelsey Egwu 59’ (yellow card)
OAK: David Garcia 70’ (yellow card)
MB: Joel Garcia Jr. 77’ (yellow card)
MB: Luka Malesevic 82’ (yellow card)

Oakland Roots SC

Lineup: Tommy McCabe, David Garcia, Bobosi Byaruhanga, Wolfgang Prentice (Danny Trejo), Peter Wilson (Jackson Kiil), Tyler Gibson (Neveal Hackshaw), Mark Fisher, Julian Bravo, Raphael Spiegel, Michael Edwards, Faysal Bettache

Unused subs: Kendall McIntosh, Ali Elmasnaouy, Jesus De Vicente, Bradley Roberson

Line: Shots: 9 | Shots On Goal: 3 | Corner Kicks: 3 | Fouls: 10 | Offside: 4

Monterey Bay FC

Lineup: Fernando Delgado, Nick Ross (Eduardo Blancas), Stuart Ritchie, Abdel Talabi (Joel Garcia Jr.), Luka Malesevic, Kelsey Egwu, Omari Glasgow, Zackery Farnsworth, Giorgi Lomtadze (Paul Gindiri), Wesley Leggett, Belmar Joseph (Johnny Klein)

Unused subs: Ciaran Dalton, Ballack Villasana, Andres O’Neal, Djimon Anderson

Line: Shots: 12 | Shots On Goal: 5 | Corner Kicks: 1 | Fouls: 16 | Offside: 1