Yeah, I thought so as well. Normally, they wouldn't be much of an issue and Sora could just no sell the Elemental Materia magic and break them with physical attacks or use his own magic to destroy them. But the AP gap changes that. That's why I was wondering if Sora has something that can stop the Materia. For example, while Sephiroth resists Power Null, the same can't be said for his Elemental Materia. That would just leave the Materia slowly following Sora around and clumsily using a very short range physical attack ocassionally.
It doesn't necesarilly need to pierce barriers the same way a bullet or a bladed weapon can inflict their piercing damage, though. Some dispelling abilities disable barriers and shields by essentially "disarming" them similarly how you may not be able to... to give an example... break a metal chair, but you can separate its parts with a proper tool. The Dispel Spell works that way, for instance. While Sephy can still parry and dodge himself, his offensive would be more limited compared as if he had a wall stopping incoming attacks.
Risk Dodge is a pretty good option, not only for Strike Raid, but from what I could check around Sora can also use other maneuvers such as quickly step behind the enemy and attack, among other things. It's not quite an assured killing blow, Sephiroth uses a lot Teleportation himself and can fight several opponents comparable to him simulteneously and not get hit (Mind Scan also allows him to see it coming, but if Risk Dodge is instinctive this is rendered much less effective), but it gives Sora a solid option to counter or at least evade and stay in the game, preventing the crush of his guard from being his defeat.
You mean Sephiroth's Telekinesis? If that's so, well, it's an AOE effect with at least a few dozens of meters in range (some argue million kilometers due to the Supernova animation, but I have my doubts on that). It's argueably thought based like most psychic abilities are, but Sephiroth tends to raise his arms in a rather dramatic fashion before using it. Though that could be for dramatic porpuses in the scene itself, as when he was crystallized rebuilding his body in the original game, he used the ability when he wasn't able to move, like his telepathy and mind control (this last one doesn't work on Sora, as even if he was vulnerable to Mind Manipulation, Sephiroth can only control those that carry Jenova Cells)