SAN JOSE – Memo Diaz knows his Oakland Roots Soccer Club can pull off a stunner against the San Jose Earthquakes on Tuesday night at PayPal Park.
Getting the victory over the MLS team in the US Open Cup will be a tall task for the lower-level USL club, but the midfielder knows the formula.
“It’s going to take everything from every single one of us,” said Diaz, who has created a team-leading 17 scoring chances. “It’s on us to put on a good shift for 90 minutes, or even more than 90 minutes.”
The Open Cup, which started in 1914, is a single-elimination competition in which teams ranging from professional to amateur level compete for a trophy named in honor of the late Lamar Hunt, a soccer pioneer and former owner of the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs.
This spring, 96 teams entered the competition.
The Quakes and Roots will meet in the fourth round.
The David vs. Goliath matchup between the Bay Area teams could have added spice because a fan group from another Oakland team, the A’s, is expected make its presence known in the stadium.
Quakes owner John Fisher also owns the A’s, who are relocating to Sacramento next season before their planned move to Las Vegas despite pleas from Oakland fans to sell the baseball team.
“We see this as supporting our Oakland Roots, and definitely would be the cherry on top if we can come out of there victorious,” Jorge Leon, the founder of the A’s fan group the Oakland 68s, said in a text message to the Bay Area News Group. “This is also a great opportunity for Quakes fans who don’t like their ownership group to join us in the sell the team chant in the 12th minute.”
The Roots, who fired coach Noah Delgado on April 28, are now led by Gavin Glinton, a former Earthquakes player and Livermore native. Glinton is obviously familiar with the A’s situation, but that’s not his priority.
“I grew up supporting the A’s, Raiders and Warriors, and I hear a lot of the talk,” Glinton said. “But to be honest, right now I”m focused on this club and building what we want to build here in Oakland.”
The Roots are 2-2-5 this season. In their only match thus far under Glinton, they tied San Antonio FC 2-2.
San Jose is last in the MLS standings but is coming off its most impressive showing of the season, a 3-1 victory LAFC on Saturday at Levi’s Stadium.
In last season’s Open Cup, the Quakes were beaten by Monterey Bay FC, which, like the Roots, plays in the USL.
Given that result, San Jose winger Cristian Espinoza said that taking the Roots lightly could be a disaster.
“The Cup game is very important for us,” he added.
Given the gap in levels of play, the USL teams typically play a defensive brand of soccer when facing teams from MLS.
The Roots aren’t likely to follow that formula. In addition to the prolific Diaz, the Oakland team also features Johnny Rodriguez (three goals) and Jeciel Cedeno (10 chances created).
“I don’t think we’ll be looking to sit back that much on them,” Diaz said. “It should be a good game for us.”
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Oakland got to play its attacking style in the previous round.
The Roots defeated El Farolito SC, an amateur club named after a Mexican restaurant, 2-1.
Matchups such as that one and Tuesday’s between the Roots and Quakes are what make the Open Cup so special.
“It’s such a staple of the game, for David being able to go against Goliath,” said Glinton, the Roots’ new coach. “I hope it’s around for years to come, because it needs to be.
“It’s magical.”