Photos: Oakland Roots make historic night at the Oakland Coliseum, followed by fireworks

The Oakland Roots soccer team played their first game at their new venue, the former home of the Oakland Raiders and the Oakland Athletics.

Roughly 26,575 fans cheered during the sold-out home opener against the San Antonio FC at the Oakland Coliseum on Saturday night.

Fans enjoyed the game, waving flags and chanting, “Dale, Dale, Dale, Oakland Roots!” and participated in the famous wave. It was a World Cup prelude for next year’s biggest soccer event in the Bay Area.

The Ohlone tribe of the Sogorea Te’ Land Trust opened the festivities with a ritual dance performance as part of the Ohlone Land dedication on the field before the start of the game. There was a one-minute applause in the 24th minute to honor late Oakland Athletics legend Rickey Henderson, who wore number 24 while he played with A’s.

Oakland native and rapper Too $hort fired up the fans with his hits during the halftime show. Unfortunately, the Roots lost 1-2 in a USL soccer match. San Antonio scored the first goal by Alexander Greive in minute 5. The Roots’ Justin Rasmussen countered with a world-class bicycle kick to tie the game 1-1 in the 7th minute of the first half. Later in the second half, in the 69th minute, San Antonio’s Luke Haakenson scored the victory goal.

The event concluded with spectacular fireworks over the Coliseum.