Oakland Roots dropped its second USL Jägermeister Cup match in as many attempts, but has gained its first point after ending regulation in a 2-2 draw. In penalty kicks, AV Alta’s goalkeeper Carlos Avilez stopped Oakland’s first and fourth takers, Baboucarr Njie and Peter Wilson, while the home side bagged all four attempts.
The result brings Roots’ record to 0-1-1 in the USL Cup, sitting in fifth place of seven teams. Oakland isn’t totally out with matches remaining against Monterey on June 28 and Orange County on July 26 in the competition, but the odds of achieving first place in the group or one of two Wild Card spots are increasingly slim.
After a 0-0 tie in the first half, AV Alta scored the game’s first goal in the 57th minute. Charging toward the goal, Sebastian Cruz put a shot on target that was initially saved by Raphael Spiegel, but it ricocheted back off Cruz and bounced into the net.
But Oakland responded with a quickness. Just four minutes after coming into his Roots debut, recent transfer Morey Doner whipped in a cross toward the net that was mishandled by Alivez, and the ball flew into the net with the keeper being credited for an own goal in the 62nd. Two minutes later, Doner made another great play to gain his first assist, rolling a low pass to Peter Wilson storming toward the net for a first-touch tap-in.
Roots held the 2-1 advantage all the way to the final minutes of stoppage time, nearly looking assured to capture its first win in the competition. AV Alta drew a second corner after taking an initial kick at 90+4′, making the most of their follow-up try. This time, the ball flicked to Maboumou Alassane in the box–sending a header past Spiegel’s outstretched dive.
In penalty kicks, Baboucarr Njie was stuffed by Avilez on the first attempt. AV Alta’s Eduardo Blancas scored with a panenka chip past Spiegel, but Kai Greene kept Oakland in it with a shot to the left side. AV’s Alexis Cerritos hit a hard shot to go back ahead 2-1, then Neveal Hackshaw curled a shot to the left side. Cruz sent in his shot to give AV Alta a 3-2 advantage, which led to Avilez stopping Peter Wilson. With the deathnell was Kaloyan Pehlivanov converting the PK to win it for AV Alta, 4-2.
Here are our talking points from the match.
Talking Points
- Morey Doner’s instant impact
Talk about instant impact. Morey Doner came onto the field in the 58th minute and has already made a case to assure himself of playing time.
Doner has a case to be credited for the goal to tie things up in the 62nd. The attempt was definitely a cross, but AV Alta’s Avilez badly misplayed it, and the ball likely was going in anyway. But two minutes later was the more impressive play. On some interplay between Panos Armenakas, Doner whipped in a low cross to Peter Wilson running toward the frame.
The 31-year-old back was in the process of being phased out in Detroit City and he seems to be carrying a chip on his shoulder coming to Oakland. After the own-goal in the 62nd, Doner looked toward the sideline to pump them up. He was also dragged down for a foul at 90+3′ and came up from the field roaring, pumping his chest.
If Doner can provide a spark to the squad, maybe his energy is something that’s missing from the locker room.
- The crowded outside back spot
With Doner’s acquisition and performance on Saturday night, Oakland Roots now look at a very crowded outside back position.
Doner came into the match on the right side and has been listed at fullback on various sites like his Wikipedia, Transfermarkt, and FBref. In total, Roots has seven players who have featured on the outside, including Doner, Njie, Camden Riley, Abdi Mohamed, Ilya Alekseev, Jurgen Damm, and Justin Rasmussen.
Of that batch, people who have gotten time on Doner’s right side have been Riley, Mohamed, Alekseev, and Damm. Patrolling the left has included Njie, Rasmussen, Ilya has gotten time on both sides, and Julian Bravo has seldom rotated wider.
It begs the question: Are any players available for more transfers?
On the right side, Doner’s availability could allow Riley to focus on the center back or central midfield spots. Mohamed seems to be on the road to being phased out, making it difficult to see a suitor coming to light. With that, could Abdi be a ‘mutual consent’ release candidate? Damm also looks unlikely to be dealt at 32 years old and a marquee offseason signing who has shown glimpses.
Back in our 7 predictions for the 2025 season post, I named Rasmussen as a potential former starter who could be a transferrable option because of his age (26) and ability on the front-foot. He isn’t on the same side as Doner, but is he someone Roots could move?
- Missed chances sting, yet again
For another match, Oakland Roots could’ve put the game away with proper finishing in critical areas.
It was an action-filled opening 10 minutes for Roots, where it looked like a quality win was on the horizon.
There was a nice feed by Panos Armenakas to Ilya in the second minute of the game, taking a shot that was blocked out for a corner. After another nice buildup in the third minute, Jose Luis Sinisterra rolled a pass toward EJ Johnson near the doorstep, but the striker couldn’t hold up his run to make contact. Oakland had another chance in the fourth when Sinisterra pounced on a bad pass near AV Alta’s own box, leading to Panos taking a shot that was blocked. Panos then hit the crossbar in the ninth minute from a free kick, while Bobosi Byaruhanga forced a diving save on a long shot.
Later on in the first half, Sinisterra had a golden chance in the 43rd when a ball fell to him standing centrally in the box. But on his first touch, his shot went wide of the left post.
In the 53rd minute, Panos targeted Ilya on a cross in front of the net. Alekseev was able to direct the ball off his knee to Johnson in front of the net for a shot attempt that was saved. Regardless of whether Johnson put away the chance, he was called offside.
- Inability to beat lower-league competition
For a third time this season, Oakland Roots have lost to a lower league side. The first came at Tacoma Defiance, getting knocked out of the U.S. Open Cup 2-1 in extra time. Spokane Velocity put away Oakland 2-1 in April, and now, Roots lost in PKs to AV Alta.
Roots may be pleased with their ability to create goal-scoring opportunities with seven shots, three on target, and one big chance, but the losses are stacking up in comparison to moral victories.
After talks of competing for the top four and fighting for trophies, Oakland is still catching its bearings. They are now out of the U.S. Open Cup, on life support of the USL Cup, and go back to the league schedule in 11th place of 12 teams. Roots are still within three points of seventh-place in the Western Conference. The top four is still within grasp seven points back, albeit looking a little more distant as the weeks roll by.
If the downward trend continues in the immediate matches ahead, it’ll be interesting to see how much more tenuous things become at Oakland Roots.
Startling Lineups
- Oakland Roots
There’s some rotation with Gagi Margvelashvili, Ilya Alekseev, and EJ Johnson getting starts. Kendall McIntosh is still unavailable, so Raphael Spiegel starts again. Camden Riley returns to the subs list. Armenakas and Sinisterra are in the lineup, along with Damm. With all three, plus Ilya, I’m curious to see what that means for the formation.
- AV Alta
Timeline
JAGER TIME!
AV Alta already a long shot on target – 1′
Ilya takes a shot that’s blocked out for a corner -2′
Nice buildup between Gagi to Damm, to Panos, then he fed Ilya running into the box.
Nice run into the box by Sinisterra – 3′
Good feed by Armenakas, Sinisterra tries to roll the ball to EJ Johnson but can’t find him
Good chance for Roots – 4′
Errant pass gets pounced on by Sinisterra, who passes to Panos. Armenakas takes a dribble and tries to take a shot, but it’s blocked and deflects to the keeper.
Ilya draws a free kick a few feet above the box – 9′
Panos hits the crossbar! Nearly put it in the top bin
Bobosi long shot on target draws a corner – 10′
Big diving save from Avilas.
Corner – 10′
Ball from Panos falls at the far post
Corner – 16′
Ball feeds out to Gibson, he takes a shot that’s blocked and starts a counter attack.
Big save Spiegel – 16′
Javi Mariona almost gets revenge on Roots. Good work in transition, Mariona runs a give-and-go and takes a shot on target at close distance. Spiegel comes up with a big diving stop to keep it scoreless.
Bobosi steals the ball in a great area, but sends a shot 20 yards over the net – 19′
Great work out of their defensive end by Roots. Panos sends the ball to Johnson, making a run in behind, but AV’s goalkeeper does well to rush off his line to meet EJ 10 yards above the box – 20′
AV has a shot blocked, later draws a corner – 25′
AV Alta corner – 26′
Ball goes through the area and AV retains the ball.
AV free kick good area – 32′
On the left side, whips in a shot and Spiegel pushes it over the bar.
AV corner – 33′
Header sails over the net, good chance missed.
Bobosi draws a foul about five yards past midfield – 39′
Hackshaw midfield bounces straight to the keeper.
AV Alta draws a corner on a long cross into the box – 40′
Corner – 41′
Sinisterra pulls a shot narrowly wide – 43′
Ball in from Damm deflects to Sinisterra in the middle of the box. He takes a shot on the volley and it rolls narrowly wide of the left post.
First Half Notes:
Oakland Roots looked threatening, particularly in the first 10 minutes or so, including Panos Armenakas hitting the crossbar from a free kick in the 9th minute, but the action faded.
Since then, the match evened up with AV Alta having the best chance of the match when former Roots/Project 51O forward Javi Mariona took a shot on target in close range. Sinisterra also with a good chance missed right before halftime in the 43rd when pulling a shot wide of the left post.
Oakland is playing its game without the ball, holding just 32 percent of the ball. Both sides with 6 shot attempts, Roots with 1 on target and AV Alta with three.
Damm sends a dangerous pass toward net – 47′
Targets Ilya making the run in, but his header just skims the contact.
Sinisterra sends a quick kick from a long spot try – 48′
Tries to catch the keeper off his line from around 40 yards.
Panos sends a dangerous ball to Ilya, skims off his knee, and directs it to Johnson – 53′
Johnson puts a shot on target within feet of the keeper and it’s saved by Alivez. He may have been called offside.
AV corner – 54′
Roots have held the ball 63 percent so far in the second half – 56′
AV Alta scores on a scrum in front of the net – 57′
Spiegel rushes out to make a save on Cruz. It ricochets back to Cruz and he scores off his chest while falling forward.
Wilson and Doner coming on – 58′
EJ Johnson and Jurgen Damm coming off.
MOREY DONER SCORES – 62′
Sends a cross toward the net and Avilez helps guide it into his own net!
DONER ASSISTS PETER WILSON HOLY SHIT – 64′
DONER WITH A PERFECT PASS TO WILSON RUNNING ON THE NET, OAKLAND LEADS 2-1!
Njie on for Ilya – 65′
AV Alta sends a shot high – 70′
Panos free kick nearly finds Njie in front of the net – 72′
AV Alta draws a corner – 74′
Takes a short, leads to a throw-in.
Good tackle by Gagi in the box, goes down with a cramp – 75′
Riley coming on for Gagi – 76′
AV draws a free kick in a dangerous area – 77′
About four yards above the area on the left side.
Free kick goes above the net.
AV long shot tipped over the bar by Spiegel – 86′
AV corner – 86′
Sails out for a goal kick.
Doner fed into the box, takes a shot that sails out – 89′
AV sends a longshot wide – 90′
Spiegel good job to jump on a low cross – 90+1′
Doner draws a foul – 90+3′
Doner dragged to the ground and gets up pumping his chest. I’m liking his energy.
AV corner – 90+4′
AV draws a corner going into the final minute of stoppage time. Alivez is up for AV Alta.
Last play of the game, deflects out for another corner
AV Alta corner – 90+5′
Alassant scores for AV Alta, heads back in a second ball. Goes past Spiegel’s outstretched dive. It’s tied at the death.
Penalty Kick:
Roots go first. Njie steps up, he rolls it too slow to the left and Avilez easily saves it. 0-0
AV Alta’s Blankas with a panenka to score. 0-1
Kai Greene steps up, and he shoots it into the left side. 1-1
AV Alta’s Cerritos hits a hard shot into the net on the left side. 1-2
Neveal Hackshaw is up now. Curls a shot to the left side, well taken. 2-2
AV Alta’s Cruz is up now. Scores on nearly the same shot as Cerritos. 2-3
Peter Wilson steps up to the spot now. Hesitates and Avilez stops Wilson. 2-3, AV Alta can end it.
AV can end it now. It’s over. 4-2