Oakland Roots got back in the win column with a monumental 3-2 win over Las Vegas Lights in the desert. The victory marked Oakland’s first since August 31, clinching a playoff berth in the process and moving Roots up to 6th place.
Roots took just three minutes to get on the board when Johnny Rodriguez netted his first goal of the game. In the buildup, Justin Rasmussen ripped a shot at Lights’ goal keeper George Marks, who fumbled the ball perfectly for Johnny to tap it in.
Vegas equalized in the 12th minute on a home goal, where Neveal Hackshaw deflected a centering pass into Roots’ own net. With the help of some big saves by Paul Blanchette, Oakland took the 1-1 tie into halftime.
Roots’ go-ahead in the 61st was a thing of beauty from Jose Luis Sinisterra with incredible individual work. After receiving a pass, Sinisterra made a fool of Charlie Adams, turning him inside-out with one touch by him before ripping a right-footed shot to the bottom right corner.
In the 73rd, Johnny bagged his brace after Irakoze Donasiyano made a long run in possession down the right wing before squaring a pass to the Oakland striker. It marked Rodriguez’s 12th goal of the season.
Las Vegas scored at 90+4 when Valentin Noël curled in a shot from outside of the box to the far post. It was a type of shot Lights’ looked to score several times on the night, but just one got past Blanchette.
RootsBlog Man of the Match – Johnny Rodriguez
Boy, it’s been a while since we’ve listed one of these. We name Johnny Rodriguez tonight’s RootsBlog Man of the Match for bagging a brace in Oakland’s 3-2 win over Las Vegas to clinch a playoff spot.
It marked Johnny’s 12th goal of the season, matching his career high from last season. Rodriguez has now notched 15 goal contributions, which also sets a new career high.
He finished with an 8.7 FotMob rating with his two goals, recording four shots, two on target, and missed one big chance. He took six touches inside the Lights’ penalty area, won five duels, and finished with 28 total touches.
Talking Points
- Paul The Wall was much needed
Las Vegas got two on the board and Noël scored one in the waning minutes, but Paul The Wall had to show up in some critical situations. He finished with a 7.1 FotMob rating, credited with two saves thus far, while his rating will probably take a boost when the site corrects his stats to include two diving saves.
A big part of Lights’ game plan, evidently, was to take a lot of curling shots to the far post like Noël’s goal and Jean-Claude Ngando smacking the post in the 15th minute.
Blanchette’s first diving save came in the 11th minute when Noël curled a shot toward the right post from slightly outside the penalty area on the left side. Noël had another dangerous shot in the 41st minute, but a leap from Paul forced a corner.
- Jose Luis Sinisterra is magic
Jose Luis Sinisterra showed an example of the exact technical excellence the front office brought him in for. The way he turned Adams before launching his goal in the 61st minute was a live example of his YouTube highlights.
“He’s an explosive player and has great technique,” Gavin Glinton said about Sinisterra on August 31 following the New Mexico match. “He finds spaces really well; he’s intelligent and can play in front or behind the lines.”
When we talked to Oakland’s front office about Sinisterra shortly after his acquisition, an anonymous source described his style of play, noting his decisiveness around the box. It came to fruition tonight.
“He’s good in tight spaces and is really good in combination play… Not just a passer or creative player, but also someone who can finalize things in and around the box. We think his decisiveness is something that can create good positions into good chances.”
He finished Saturday with an 8.1 FotMob rating in his 64 minutes, recording one shot, one successful dribble, won five duels, completed 9-10 passes, one long ball, two passes into the final third, and created one scoring chance.
Sinisterra was also a factor without the ball, winning all three of his tackles, two recoveries, and took six defensive actions.
- Didn’t need the ball
Oakland didn’t seem to need or want a lot of the ball on Saturday night, finishing with just 22 percent of possession–which marks a season-low by a long shot. Despite not possessing much, Roots outshot Lights 16-11 while generating eight shots on target, three big scoring chances, and seven corners.
Roots’ eight shots on target marked its most of the season. In fact, it marks the club’s most attempts on target since recording nine in their 4-1 win over Birmingham on May 6, 2023.
- Can finish as high as 6th, low as 8th
Oakland looks ahead to the season-finale against Birmingham at Pioneer Stadium on October 26, marking the club’s final game in Hayward.
Roots’ victory put them up to 6th place with 44 points, which would currently secure them a visit to Sacramento if the playoffs started today. Oakland is four points back of 5th place Memphis and six back of 4th place Colorado Springs, meaning Roots are currently as high as they can finish.
Oakland will keep a watchful eye on 7th place Orange County (43 points) and 8th place Phoenix Rising (42 points). OC will host Hartford on Championship Saturday, while Phoenix travels to league-best Louisville.
Oakland controls the tiebreaker over OC by winning both of its contests this season. As for Phoenix, Roots lost both meetings to the Arizona side, so Rising controls the tiebreaker
Be sure to show out for a big tailgate prior to October 26’s season-final. Bring a costume for Hoolieween by Homegrown Hooligans.
Starting Lineups
- Oakland Roots Starting 11
It’s back to the 4-2-3-1 with Johnny up top, Gomez in the CAM spot, with Njie on the left and Sinisterra on the right. Baca and Riley provide a defensively solid midfield, while the back line features Rasmussen, Hackshaw, Gagi and Memo from left to right. Seems like an ideal type of lineup for Roots.
- Las Vegas Lights Starting 11
Timeline
Please, Oakland Roots, show us a sign of life.
ROOTS GOAL!!!!!!!! – 3′
OH MY GOD. RASMUSSEN WITH A SHOT ON TARGET, ITS FUMBLED AND JOHNNY IS THERE TO TAP IT IN.
LV corner – 7′
Roots corner – 9′
Paul diving save- 11′
forces a corner. Big curling shot
LV corner – 12′
LV shot wide by Smart – 12′
LV corner – 12′
Played short, shot trickles in. Shot by Pinzon hits off Hackshaw for an own goal.
LV hits the post – 15′
they keep sending in curling shots. They’ve been dangerous. Nearly another goal.
Roots corner – 18′
Ball skips around in front of the goal, but it’s cleared
Roots free kick – 27′
along the right sideline. Leads to a corner
Roots corner – 28′
good ball in, but cleared out.
nice pass from Sinisterra to Johnny in the box. Johnny couldn’t keep it. – 29′
Roots corner – 31′
Rasmussen shot blocked, ball falls to Baca and he sends a rocket off of the crossbar.
Roots corner – 34′
LV corner – 38′
header loops to Paul.
LV corner – 38′
played short, leads to nothing.
Paul huge diving save, stops another curling shot – 41′
LV corner – 41′
eventually cleared.
Roots corner – 45+1′
Ball skatters around and trickles wide
Njie shot on target fumbled again. Johnny nearly scored but Howell got a foot in front at the last millisecond – 45+3′
First half notes:
Roots went up early but conceded just 8-9 minutes later. Oakland with 5 shots, 3 on target, 2 big chances and 1 missed–only 22% possession. LV with 6 shots, 2 on target. Both sides have drawn 5 corners. Hope you bet the over.
Koze in for Baca – 46′
Baca looked hurt at the end, probably an injury
LV long free kick – 49′
Cleared out.
LV near chance- 56′
Noel wide open in front, but ball played too far away
LV looking dangerous, keeping ball in Roots’ penalty area – 58
Smart right in front, tried to pass instead of taking a shot
ROOTS GOAL – 61!!!!
SINISTERRA OH MY GOD. Turns his defender inside out with outstanding touch work, then uncorks a rocket.
That work by Sinisterra was everything we saw on film. What a goal
Reid for Rasmussen, Ilya for Sinisterra – 64′
Johnny a chance right in front, shot blocked out for a corner – 68′
Roots corner – 69′
bad ball in from Memo
LV corner – 71′
ROOTS GOAL!!!!!!! – 73′
THEY FINALLY KILLED A GAME. JOHNNY BAGS A BRACE. Great run down the wing by Koze Donasiyano and feed for the goal.
LV free kick – 77′
nobody home
Roots free kick – 81′
from about 12 yards above area. Pass to Gagi jussssst missed
Roots corner – 85′
Chéry on for Johnny
Trayvone looping header grabbed
LV corner – 86′
cleared
LV shot from distance wide – 88′
LV free kick – 90+3′
Ball in blocked
LV goal – 90+3′
Noel with another curling shot from outside of the box.
ROOTS WIN, WE CLINCH