Oakland Roots took a point in its 1-1 tie with top Western Conference side FC Tulsa. Following tonight’s results, Roots inch to five points behind eighth-place Colorado Springs Switchbacks and stay six back of seventh-place Phoenix Rising.
Roots struck first in the 23rd minute on a beautiful buildup to Peter Wilson logging his seventh goal in his last eight appearances. Neveal Hackshaw fed a pass forward to Faysal Bettache, who rolled a pass out wide to Wolfgang Prentice.
That’s when Wolfy whipped in a low cross on the button to Wilson, turning it in for the goal.
“I thought the performance was pretty good, and we started well. It was a helluva goal; a great ball from Wolfy and an unbelievable run and finish by Peter. I thought we had some moments where we looked like a very dangerous side and the aggressor for the most part,” coach Benny Feilhaber said.
Feilhaber admitted that their early goal changed the approach, and conceding may have been a sign of continued growing pains.
“I do think the goal changes the game a little bit. This is something that takes time and confidence, and we’re a team that’s still teetering. We’ve had some good results and look like a better team of late, but the results go a long way. We want to make a group of guys believe that they can go after a second goal, and I thought we became more defensive-minded,” he mentioned.
However, Tulsa tied the match just minutes out of halftime. After Morey Doner committed a giveaway on Roots’ defensive side, Taylor Calheira dribbled down the left side before taking a shot in the box while sliding to the ground.
Here are our talking points coming out of Saturday night.
Points lost & Phoenix ahead
It wasn’t completely what Oakland Roots needed, but they can find some solace in taking points against the No. 1 in the Western Conference, FC Tulsa, after coming off a 3-3 draw at No. 2 Eastern Conference side, Charleston Battery.
Albeit against top of the conference foes, Roots dropped both matches from winning positions. With both Colorado Springs and Phoenix Rising missing points over the last two weeks, Saturday’s draw against FC Tulsa had some tones of a missed opportunity to catch vital ground.
“You can say a bit of both,” Feilhaber said when asked if recent results felt like points gained or two points lost. “If you’re talking about the playoffs and climbing up the table, it’s two points lost. At home, and the matches can go any way in this league, so I think you expect to win. That has to be the mentality,” Feilhaber said.
Feilhaber still feels there are positives to pull when playing two of the better teams in the league. And if Roots can pull off a similar run when they won four out of five matches stretching from Birmingham on June 21 to Loudoun on July 19, a playoff spot may be achievable.
“Over the last two weeks, we’ve been leading against two top teams and played well against them. Those are always points gained. In these two games, you drop them if you don’t show up to play. Does two feel like enough? Not really. It keeps us in a place where we have to go on a really good run. But it’s still six games. We’ve taken four out of five games before,” he said.
Against Tulsa, Feilhaber thinks coming out of the break playing tentatively led to the equalizing goal.
“The conversation at halftime is we’re not going to win this game 1-0, we need a second or third goal. We want to play the way we want to play, regardless of the current score. Unfortunately, I feel we were tentative to start the second half. It’s one thing to say something to have the team play a certain way, but it’s much harder to follow through on the field when the other team is imposing its will and is one of the top teams in the league,” Feilhaber said.
“One thing we’re missing is the ability to continue playing on the front foot, which we’ve seen at times, but not enough when we’re winning the game. We gave up the goal, and in the last 25 minutes or so, we started going on the front foot. We know how important the points are right now. At the end of the day, it wasn’t clean enough. It doesn’t help much on the table, but it’s a good progression for our group. I think we’re headed in the direction we want to go, but I don’t know if we have enough runway.”
All roads lead to Phoenix, posing as the most critical match of the season. Rising tied 2-2 with Loudoun thanks to a last-second goal from a corner at the very end of stoppage time. Still six points back of Rising, Roots can cut the deficit in half while still having a game in hand.
Oakland lost 2-1 to Phoenix back on July 12, so Roots need a two-goal win to control the tiebreaker. It’ll be a battle of four players going up against their former teams, with Panos Armenakas and Danny Trejo on Oakland, while Darek Formella and Charlie Dennis run out for Phoenix.
“It’s a huge one, all of these games are. We play Phoenix, El Paso, New Mexico, and Las Vegas. Those four are huge; maybe we need to win all four away games. Tonight didn’t put us in a position where we want to be on the table, but it’s a performance that gives us confidence that we’re going in the right direction. We believe we can be successful in those games,” Feilhaber said.
For Wilson, every game feels like the most important of the season.
“I feel like every game is the most important game of the season. I felt like tonight was, to be honest,” Wilson said. “We know that we need all the points we can get. We’ve been saying, ‘We still have a chance,’ and we do, but we need to get results. There are still six games left, and we still have a chance; we just have to believe in it. We have to take it a game at a time and approach them like they are finals.”
“Active competition” at goalkeeper
Feilhaber made the decision to start Swiss international goalkeeper Raphael Spiegel, giving him his second USL Championship start since his addition. The large European keeper had some good moments, notably flashing his passing ability with long balls to spark the buildup.
When asked about his decision, Feilhaber explained that they allowed 10 goals in the last five matches, and it was time to try something different.
“Kendall has done really well for us, but we’ve given up 10 goals in the last five games,” Feilhaber said. “Just like we changed the formation going into Charleston, I thought we needed a jolt and new energy from a goalkeeper.”
Feilhaber made clear that there will be open competition for the starting goalkeeper spot from now until the end of the season.
“It’s tough, my mentality is they are another player on the field. At the end of the day, if I start Rapha in this game or Kendall in the next, they have to be ready to go. We wanted to see what that gave us from a team perspective and, if anything, a mental reset. I told them this week that Rapha was going to start, but here on out, it’s active competition. We’ll be evaluating them based on performance in-game and in training.”
Wilson the Wizard
Peter Wilson now enters double-digit goals, notching his seventh goal in the last eight matches to give him 10 on the season. He is now tied for 10th in the USL Championship for goals, while he moves up to 8th in the league with 13 goal contributions.
It took Wilson a bit to sharpen his finishing. He entered July with just three goals to his credit, but credits getting used to his new surroundings in the United States as a key factor in his change in form after last playing in Norway.
“It’s been a ride; it took some time to adapt,” Wilson said. “But once I got in the team, and got comfortable, not only on the pitch, but at home and in the whole routine–knowing where the shops are, where I get my food, and all that.
“I’m really just feeling myself at the moment.”
Wilson is now two away from matching Johnny Rodriguez’s high of 12 in 2023 and 2024. Should Wilson reach 13 goals, he’ll become Roots’ best scorer since Ottar Magnus Karlsson netted 19 in 2022.
Saturday became yet another connection between Wilson and Wolfgang Prentice, showing similar chemistry the club last saw when Memo Diaz would find Rodriguez for goals at such a high clip. Wilson and Wolfy’s goal was a thing of beauty, where Prentice lasered in a pass from the left side for Wilson to push home with one touch.
“It’s huge. The goal here and the last one against Charleston were high-level goals,” Feilhaber said. “The quality of the cross, the speed of the cross, the ball on the ground, the timing of the run, and the finish itself were amazing. Peter makes a beeline in front of the defender, opens up his foot, and almost makes it into a wall to escort the ball in. I think they’ve had chemistry since before I got here. You can see they understand each other. Peter knows when Wolfy is going to make that cross.”
Wilson can also feel the spark between them coming through with more frequency. And as the team continues to learn what Feilhaber is looking for, the goals should keep coming.
“The more we play together, the more we understand each other,” Wilson. “I think we have four goals together, or something like that. It’s getting the feel of what the other person thinks and building those instincts on knowing where I should go. I feel like we get along in a good way, and the whole team really. The more we play together and the more we understand coaches’ tactics, the more we can play the way we want to play.”
Panos at left back
Panos Armenakas appeared at the left back role for the second straight week, giving Oakland a new passing outlet at the position.
“Do you like it?” Feilhaber asked the blog after being posed a question about Armenakas’ newfound usage.
It’s a shift from a forward lying role that Armenakas typically suited up in throughout his career. But for Feilhaber, he recalled how former Sporting Kansas City and USMNT teammate Graham Zusi moved to a defender role after starting his career as a winger.
“I’ve played with attacking players who play really well as outside backs. I played with Graham Zusi for a really long time, and he was always a winger, and when he was switched to right back, he picked up the position really well from a defensive standpoint and gave us tons of quality going up the field,” Feilhaber described.
Feilhaber added that Panos’ tendency to drift into different pockets means moving him a bit wider could lead to better comfort. With Feilhaber’s system having some of its best moments working down the wide channels, what results is Armenakas fluidly aiding the buildup.
“Panos has been up and down this season. It’s a cause and effect not only from his way of playing, but our lack of getting him the ball in certain pockets, leading him to drift too much to areas I don’t want my 10 to go. We’ve had some issues at left back and bringing quality in the attack,” Feilhaber said.
There can still be downfalls, like Feilhaber pointing out that Panos played a part in each of the three goals conceded at Charleston. But with time, the coach can see the position unlocking Armenakas’ potential to reach even greater heights in his career.
“There are growing pains. It’s a learning process, and I don’t blame him; that’s on me,” Feilhaber said. “I put him in a difficult position, and he did really well in supplying more quality in the attack. I trust his IQ; he can get much better. With his quality and his engine, he can be a high-quality left back at a very high level. I could see him playing that position in the USL or at an even higher level in Europe. He has the quality to play as an attacking left back.”
Press Conference
Starting Lineups
- Oakland Roots
Surprise start for Spiegel over McIntosh, who was not listed on the injury report sitting on the bench. Peter Wilson returns to the starting lineup, while Wolfgang Prentice also gets the nod in what could be a 4-4-2. Elmasnaouy and Bobosi make up the midfield. Panos could be back in the left back spot. Trejo back from injury on the bench, Damm also moves to the bench.
- FC Tulsa
Timeline
Panos shot blocked out for an early corner – 1′
Ensuing corner by Gomez doesn’t get past the first man.
Wolfgang sends a shot at the net from an odd angle, hits off the keeper and into play, but no one is there to clean it up – 3′
Almost a really nice play out by Spiegel. Passed up field to Wolfy, who caught it on the run. His pass forward to Wilson was intercepted – 7′
Tulsa free kick – 11′
In a dangerous area, less than 10 yards above the area on the left side. Shot blocked off the wall and out for a corner.
Tulsa corner – 13′
Ball cleared out by Hackshaw, Tulsa retains. Doner ball of the face for another corner.
Tulsa corner – 13′
Punched away by Spiegel. Leads to a foul on Tulsa.
Shot by Bettache goes narrowly wide – 15′
Another nice play out from Spiegel to Wilson, the ball deflected to Bobosi, who headed it to Bettache for a couple of dribbles before his shot.
Roots free kick – 18′
Ball in from Gomez totally clears the field. Not good.
Tulsa shot blocked out for a corner – 22′
Ensuing corner, headed out by Hackshaw. Leads to a counter, Doner down the right side centers to Wolfgang, but cleared away.
ROOTS GOAL – 23′
WHAT A PLAY. Ball down the left side to Wolfgang Prentice, who whips in a low cross to Peter Wilson for the first-touch redirection into net. Great work from Oakland.
Ball works from Hackshaw up to Bettache, who feeds Wolfy down the right side. A very professional goal by Oakland.
Tulsa corner – 25′
Leads to a header that hits off the crossbar, eek.
Doner doing a Scott Sterling impression with the amount of shots he’s taken – 28′
Tulsa corner – 30′
Leads to a counter. Panos sends a perfect pass to Wilson, but he takes a heavy touch. Wilson ruled offside anyway.
Tulsa free kick in a dangerous area – 32′
About 9 yards above the box in a central area. Shot goes into the wall.
Panos with a great feed to Wolfy in the box, it’s tackled out for a corner – 34′
Ensuing corner, gets deflected out by the second defender.
Tulsa corner – 38′
Ball skips around the area, leads to a foul on Gagi
Near goal scoring chance – 41′
Bettache feeds Elmasnaouy in the box. He sends it across the area to Wolfy, who nicks the ball but doesn’t make clear contact.
Free kick – 43′
Panos pass in deflects around the area, but Roots eventually retain.
Tulsa shot on target – 44′
Spiegel in good position for the save, it goes out for a corner
Tulsa corner – 45′
Spiegel rushes off his line, a header hits off the crossbar and bounces toward the goal line. Roots get the ball.
First half notes:
Oakland leads after a very professional goal between Wolfy and Wilson, but Tulsa has hit the crossbar twice. Roots with 5 shots, 2 on target and 46 percent of the ball. Loudoun is leading Phoenix 2-nil at halftime, Oakland needs results to hold.
Tulsa corner – 46′
Cleared to near midfield, Tulsa retains.
Tulsa corner – 47′
Ali good buildup down the right side, his centering pass is intercepted – 51′
Tulsa goal – 51′
Bad giveaway by Doner, leads to Tulsa gaining possession in Oakland’s defensive third. Taylor Calheira dribbles down the left side before taking a shot while sliding that goes to the far post.
Corner – 56′
Doner draws it down the right side.
Panos ball in cleared away for a throw.
Tulsa shot fires into the side netting – 57′
Wilson with a shot on target – 59′
Good feed into the box by Bettache. Wilson takes the touch on his first touch, maybe he could’ve been a little patient, but I don’t hate his attempt at the near post.
Gibson on for Ali – 60′
Nice play from Doner to Wilson. Whips in a pass and Wilson tries to toe it toward the net, but it loops high – 63′
EJ on for Wolfy – 67′
Trejo checks in as well. Looks like a 4-3-3 now.
Free kick – 69′
EJ ball in from the right side grabbed by the keeper – 71′
Tulsa skims a shot wide – 73′
Tulsa header on target – 75′
Big chance for Tulsa, unmarked man in the box. Header goes straight to Spiegel’s feet and he pounces on it.
Corner – 76′
Drawn after a long toss by Hackshaw.
Gomez ball sails to EJ at the far post. He takes a header while backpeddling, out for a goal kick.
Damm on for Doner – 77′
EJ sends a laser across the box, nearly finds Wilson but its a few inches out front of his outstretched foot – 81′
Panos sends a shot a yard wide of the right post – 84′
Free kick dangerous areas – 87′
About 5 feet above the box in a central spot. Shooting distance. Panos shot goes middle of the wall.
Free kick along the right side – 89′
about 7 yards outside right of box. Roots called for a foul.
Through ball to Trejo hits between his feet and goes straight to keep – 90+2′
Phoenix ties the match in the last second, Roots trail COS by 5 points, PHX by 6.