Oakland Roots stayed hot with its third win in a row, claiming a 2-1 come-from-behind victory over El Paso Locomotive. Roots end the night in third place with a 7-2-7 record, now back to a .500 winning record.
El Paso jumped ahead early with a fifth minute on a gaff by Oakland’s back line. It happened when Niall Logue looked to play a pass out of the back, but it collided with Locomotive’s Miles Lyons to arc straight to Justin Dhillon for the easy goal.
Oakland answered right before halftime following a corner kick, where the ball tricked around the area before settling nicely for Napo Matsoso a few feet inside the penalty area–sending in a laser for the tying goal.
Roots pulled ahead in the 72nd minute when Justin Rasmussen played a perfect pass to teenage wingback Ilya Alekseev for the game-winning tap in after Rasmussen’s pass skirted narrowly past the outstretched glove of GK Ramon Pasquel.
Below is interim HC Gavin Glinton and Rasmussen’s postgame press conferences, our RootsBlog Man of the Match Rasmussen, four initial takeaways, and all of tonight’s key moments in our timeline.
Postgame Press Conferences
RootsBlog Man of the Match – Justin Rasmussen
We name Justin Rasmussen our RootsBlog Man of the Match after landing an inch-perfect low cross to Ilya Alekseev for the game winner. Aside from that, Justin made a big impact throughout the night, heavily involved with 67 total touches. He finished with a 7.6 rating, 15 passes into the final third, and created two scoring chances.
Initial Takeaways
- Roots end the night in third
Oh how sweet is it to win? Oakland answers an 0-1 deficit, tying with a Napo Matsoso firing a laser right before halftime, then Ilya scored the winner. The victory puts Roots up to third place (!!!) going into Monterey.
It marks Oakland’s first 3-game winning streak since mid-July of last year. A four game winning stream would become Roots’ longest winning streak of all time.
- A lackluster start, but a strong response
It was a lackluster start to the match, conceding in the fifth minute. Perhaps a lineup with nine changes from the previous game contributed to the slow opening, but Oakland stayed patient against the possessive El Paso attack.
Glinton made big changes in the second half with three changes in the 57th minute, bringing in Cedeño, Alekseev, and Dom Dwyer.
Roots had 8 shots with 4 on target in the first half, adding five more shots with three on target in the second half–creating two big scoring chances.
- Ilya Alekseev scores again
Ilya Alekseev scored his second goal of the season, getting back on the scoresheet in his first appearance since May 4.
Ilya’s stats are pretty crazy for only appearing in less than 400 minutes. This number will increase once to tonight’s stats are uploaded to Fbref, but Roots carry a +.45 goal average when Alekseev is on the field prior to tonight, which ranks 7th among outfield players. That average and rank will improve after tonight.
- Entering halfway through the season
Now with 16 matches complete, Roots are entering the mid-way mark of the season going into Monterey and being in third place is something fans wouldn’t have expected days after firing former head coach Noah Delgado.
Glinton’s cast continues to surge and the hallmark of the start of his time as interim ehad coach has been his ability to end negative streaks and start new once. He has three home wins after Oakland won just once in the previous 11 USL Championship home games. He ended a streak without a clean sheet in May against Tulsa and has Roots’ first two- and three-game winning streaks since last year.
Starting Lineup
- Oakland Roots Starting 11
Many changes from the Sacramento game. Chéry starts up top with Njie on the left, Koze in the CAM spot, and Etsgar Cruz on the right. Napo Matsoso joins Riley in the midfield, while Niall Logue and Thomas Camier start as the CB duo. Rasmussen at LB again while Tamacas fills in at RB.
Timeline
GAME TIME!!!!! Can Oakland Roots get it done against the struggling Western Conference foe?
El Paso goal- 5th
and a quick giveaway in the back, Dhillon puts it away
Njie shot very wide – 8′
Chery shot on target, not a challenge – 10′
El Paso free kick- 19′
yellow on Riley
Good area on left side. Ball in goes straight to Paul
Koze shot wide – 20′
Chery shot high – 26′
Estgar shot from an odd angle, saved – 29′
product of high pressing
El Paso shot very high and wide – 32′
Yellow on Njie – 38′
Etsgar goal wiped, offside – 40′
Makes run I’m behind, Chery holds up for him, but offside.
Yellow on Dhillon – 42′
Roots corner – 44′
Logue shot on target, draws corner – 44′
Roots corner – 45′
Ball trickles around and falls to Napo Matoso for a laser into the net. It’s tied going into half!
Tamacas shot very high – 45+1′
First half notes:
Roots tie it right before halftime and were asking questions with 6 shots with 3 on target, but Napo’s goal was the most challenging looks at net. El Paso with 54% possession, 2 shots and 1 on target.
Chery big 1-o-1 chance missed – 50′
El Paso shot on target – 52′
Not a challenge
Njie shot wide- 54′
Paul with a HUGE stop- 55′
stops Dhillon 1-o-1
Cedeño on for Cruz. Ilya on for Riley. Dom on for Chery – 57′
El Paso corner – 60′
El Paso shot on target – 64′
Easy grab for Paul.
Big chance for Cedeño, shot saved on approach – 66′
Good recovery by Dwyer to redirect to Cedeño on backheel pass
Gomez on for Napo – 67′
ROOTS GOAL – 73′
ILYA WITH A TAP IN AFTER A PERFECT CROSS BY RASMUSSEN OUT FRONT. Ilya with his second goal of his season and career.
Johnny on for Njie – 76′
El Paso free kick – 79′
play short, cleared
El Paso shot narrowly wide – 81′
Johnny very wide on volley – stoppage
Roots free kick – stoppage
Good area on right side, near sideline about 20 yards out of the area.