Oakland Roots reeled in a big 2-1 win on the road at San Antonio, giving them the club’s first-ever win against the Texas side in nine appearances. The win brings Roots’ record to 3-1-5 with 10 points, currently sitting in eighth place and equal points with Orange County above them, while they are just three points back of FC Tulsa in fourth.
San Antonio got on the board quickly in the 12th minute when Nicky Hernandez played a header pass into the box to Jorge Hernandez, who hit an inch-perfect shot into the net while on the run. But 13 minutes later, Oakland knotted things up at 1-1 when Jose Luis Sinisterra put away a penalty kick drawn by Peter Wilson.
Roots got the game-winner near the end of the match in the 84th thanks to a costly giveaway by Richard Sanchez. After recovering a ball and looking to make an overhand toss out of his own penalty box, Sanchez lost control. There to pounce on it was Wilson, taking a touch before sending a shot into the empty net.
San Antonio finished the match with 10 men after Mitch Taintor was red-carded after swiping Wilson’s face.
Here are our talking points coming out of Saturday’s match and our RootsBlog Man of the Match.
Talking Points
- Peter Wilson was a nuisance for SA and highly productive
We named Kendall McIntosh our Man of the Match, but Peter Wilson deserves equal praise. He might be at his best when he’s being a problem and playing aggressively, creating his own luck on multiple occasions.
He had Roots’ first big chance in the third minute of action, when winning possession against an SA defender atop the box. He may have rolled his shot wide, but he did well to create the play.
Wilson then did well to generate Oakland Roots’ penalty kick in the 23rd minute, drawing contact in the box after Neveal Hackshaw headed a ball in. He also nearly chipped one past Sanchez in the 30th.
Scoring the game-winner was a testament to him committed to posing problems. Although it as a gift, Wilson kept putting himself in good situations.
- Panos Armenakas looked good
Panos Armenakas returned to the starting lineup, making his first start since April 5 against Rhode Island. He and Sinisterra have a very similar heat map, rotating around the field.
He helped set up a rocket-shot by Sinisterra in the 19th, sent the long ball from a free kick in the 23rd to set up the PK, and passed a dangerous ball across the face of goal in the 48th.
Where Armenakas was best may have been areas that don’t show up in the stat sheets–setting up Roots attack by getting out of traps and dangerous situations. He finished with two chances created, had 32 touches, and completed four passes into the final third.
- Jose Luis Sinisterra continues strong
Roots fans got their gift when asking for Jose Luis Sinsiterra and Panos to play in the same lineup, and it looked to have paid off. The two looked good together, and with Sinisterra continuing his strong run of form, maybe Roots can find a new wrinkle to their system.
Per the USL match center page, Sinisterra moved up to one of the center forward spots in Glinton’s twin striker 3-4-1-2, which kicked Wolfgang out wide to the left side.
Sinisterra’s best stuff came in the first half. He sent Roots’ first shot attempt from long distance in the 18th minute, scored the penalty kick with a cool roll into the net in the 25th, and set up Wilson’s chip attempt in the 30th.
If he can continue playing well, Roots may be able to reach new heights.
- Just three points back of fourth-place
“Street fight” was a term Glinton continuously used in our last postgame press conference after the loss to Sacramento, speaking of the tight race that is forming in the USL Championship Western Conference. Although Oakland still sits outside the playoff window in ninth place, they are just three points back of FC Tulsa in fourth, meaning a “street fight” for playoff positioning is bound to ensue.
The start of the season hasn’t gone to plan, obviously. With the Western Conference still in a deadheat entering the 1/3 mark of the season, Roots can still accomplish its goal of receiving a home playoff berth.
Looking ahead, Oakland will travel across the country against North Carolina next Friday for a cross-conference clash. NC is current fifth in the Eastern Conference with 14 points and coming off a 1-nil win over Orange County. After that, third-place New Mexico awaits on May 24 at the Coliseum. United just lost 2-1 to Phoenix Rising and will face Orange County as a precursor on May 17.
RootsBlog Man of the Match – Kendall McIntosh
We’re giving Kendall McIntosh our RootsBlog Man of the Match for keeping Oakland in the match with some critical saves. We debated giving the praise to Peter Wilson for drawing the penalty kick and creating problems for Richard Sanchez and SA’s back line, but without McIntosh, this easily could’ve gone the other way.
His first stop came in the 16th minute, he got a save on his back in the 63rd minute, and had a big diving stop in the 77th. He finished the night with five saves.
Starting Lineups
- Oakland Roots
Gavin Glinton hears Roots’ fans’ calls for featuring Panos Armenakas and Jose Luis Sinisterra in the same lineup. Camden Riley is not included in the lineup, which is concerning after a spell with an injury. With that, Ilya Alekseev gets the start. Hackshaw, Greene, and Bravo are all in as well, so that tells me it’s still a back three. Interested to see where Panos is. I’m guessing left mid, so he will likely play higher up the field.
- San Antonio
Timeline
GAME TIME! Can Oakland Roots upset the conference leaders at home?
SA quick header on target, McIntosh there to grab it – 2′
Wilson rolls one wide – 3′
Does great to win the ball, can’t get the ball out of his feet cleanly. Peter Wilson fights light contact with Sanchez, takes a step inside and shoots it wide of the left post.
SA free kick – 9′
leads to nothing.
SA corner – 10′
Mohamed Omar header in the box sails high.
SA goal – 12′
Jorge Hernandez receives a headed pass from Nicky Hernandez, sends in a nice shot on the volley across the face of McIntosh.
It should be 1-1 if Peter Wilson finishes his early chance. Shows how important it is to finish their chances.
SA nearly scores again – 16′
Hernandez sends a pinpoint cross to Luis Paredes at the doorstep, McIntosh stops the initial shot and eventually bats it out for a corner.
Sinisterra sends a rocket – 19′
Shot from long distance, like 20 yards outside area, and forces a diving save from Sanchez. Nice work between Panos.
Roots long free kick leads to a PK – 23′
Panos sends a long ball, and Hackshaw eventually heads the ball back into the box. Wilson gets contact in the back for a PK
Roots PK – 25′
Sinisterra takes it and rolls it into the right side. It’s tied!
Wilson nearly chips one past the keeper – 30′
Big chance and a great way to create the play by Sinisterra.
Wolfgang was somehow not fouled after nutmegging a defender – 33′
SA corner – 34′
SA longshot – 39′
Goes straight to the feet of McIntosh.
SA free kick – 44′
Ball in cleared out. Roots start a counter.
Bobosi long shot blocked – 45′
Ilya shoved over in the box, but no call given – 45′
On a long pass in from Wolfgang down by the corner.
SA corner – 45+2′
Leads to a shot from atop the box that deflected wide.
SA corner – 45+3′
Ball bouncing around the Roots’ penalty area. One more long ball batted away by McIntosh.
First Half notes:
It’s tied 1-1 with Roots’ holding 40 percent of the ball, scoring its goal on a PK by Sinisterra. It should arguably be 2-1 or 3-1 for Oakland, having generated three big chances but converted just one. Oakland with five shots, two on target, while SAFC with 13 shots and four on target. They’ve also generated two big chances and have missed both.
I like how Panos and Sinisterra are working together. Armenakas is showing good defensive effort as well. Wolfgang also doing well playing a little wider than usual.
Panos dangerous ball across the face of the net, but it goes to no one – 48′
Someone needs to get on the end of that ball.
Roots corner – 52′
Draws their first corner of the match.
Wilson called for a foul.
Big stop by McIntosh, luckily it bounced right to him on the ground – 63′
Dangerous pass directed on target in close distance.
SA shot high – 64′
Ilya off for Abdi. EJ on for Sinisterra – 67′
SA draws a corner – 69′
SA shot goes wide – 74′
Gomez and Njie on for Panos and Wolfgang – 75′
I guess we’re going for the tie.
Great turn by Bobosi sends it out wide. Pass jussssst missed Wilson for a header in front of the net – 76′
McIntosh huuuuuge save – 77′
Big chance stopped by McIntosh. Stops the shot at close distance with a quick dive. May have been his best save of the season.
SA hits another wide narrowly wide – 79′
Roots long free kick – 81′
Njie airmails the ball, but we get a do-over?
Njie long ballwas cleared out.
EJ draws a free kick on the left side – 83′
About 10 yards outside the elbow of the box. Njie pass goes straight into the first defender.
ROOTS GOAL -84′
Sanchez totally screws up the throw and loses possession. Wilson there to pounce on it and slot it in from close distance. ROOTS LEAD 2-1!
SA long free kick – 86′
Goes straight at EJ.
SA dangerous pass – 86′
Taintor red carded – 89′
Called for swiping Peter Wilson in the face.
SA header loops high – 90+5′
Draws a corner
SA corner – 90+5′
Might be the last play. Cleared to the top and cleared out.
It’s over! Roots win their first game ever against San Antonio