Oakland Roots came away with a point in a 2-2 tie with Las Vegas Lights, marking another match where they dropped a lead. This time, they led 1-nil and 2-1 before Las Vegas tied the match in the 87th minute.
Roots struck first in the 29th minute when Danny Trejo showed some nifty footwork to beat a defender down the left side before whipping a pass across the face of the net to Peter Wilson at the far post, redirecting the ball off his chest into the net. Wilson’s goal marked a club record for scoring in six consecutive matches.
But Oakland hardly had time to celebrate, conceded a set piece in their own end that led to former Roots striker Johnny Rodriguez scoring in the 31st minute when his shot from the top of the box took a big deflection off Ali Elmasnaouy and into the goal.
Oakland nearly scored in the 50th minute after Wilson drew a foul inches above the right elbow area of the box. Faysal Bettache took the free kick, leading to Lights’ goalkeeper Raiko Arozarena tipping his shot onto the right post before it was cleared out.
Six minutes later, Trejo got Roots back to the front. This time, Bettache worked himself free around midfield, running the ball forward before finding Trejo charging into the area. Trejo’s took a hard shot, hitting the bottom of the crossbar to make it 2-1.
But with three minutes left in regulation, Roots conceded the equalizer. In the buildup, Rodriguez took a pass off his chest, laying it off perfectly to Stojanovic–who took a shot off one bounce to score an absolute beauty to the top right bin.
Oakland had one last chance to score in the last action of the match, where Ilya Alekseev’s late shot was cleared off the line by a defender. The ball eventually fell to Jurgen Damm, but his shot attempt on the volley sailed high over the net.
Here are our talking points coming out of Saturday night.
It’s the Peter Wilson Show
With Oakland pretty much eliminated from playoff contention, the saving grace for Roots’ fans is seeing if Peter Wilson can get to the top of the Golden Boot race.
Now scoring his 15th goal of the season, Wilson is in second place in the USL Championship for goals and just one back of Charleston Battery forward Cal Jennings. He’s also second-place in goal+assist contributions with 18, three behind Jennings.
He has scored all of his goals from open play, which eclipses Roots’ single-season goal record holder Ottar Magnus Karlsson by three. He’s four away from tying Ottar for the club’s all-time record in a season for goals, and three away from matching the Icelander’s 21 goal+assist contributions.
Making it a little more impressive is that Wilson has played in about 600 fewer minutes than Karlsson in 2022. Wilson can max out at around 420 minutes less than what Karlsson played, if the Roots’ striker plays complete games to finish the season.
It is certainly looking like a legendary individual season for Wilson in a Roots’ uniform.
And to those wondering, I would be surprised if Wilson isn’t back next season, regardless of whoever is in charge of roster decisions.
The standard practice in the USL Championship is signing players to a one-year contract with an additional club-option year. In some cases, players are signed to two-year deals plus an option. I’d expect it’s either of those cases for Wilson.
A Machete you can depend on
Danny Trejo continues to show that he could be the most talented player in a Roots uniform. Now with his seventh appearance for Oakland, Trejo’s goal and assist marked the second time he’s contributed in both categories in a single game after also doing so in Roots’ 3-3 tie with Phoenix Rising.
Trejo’s assist to Wilson was a thing of beauty, turning his defender inside-out in a critical one-on-one scenario before sending a laser to Roots’ striker in close distance. He put it on a platter for Wilson, where all he had to do was redirect it home off first contact.
The moment comes after Feilhaber’s recent comments that Trejo is the only player Oakland has that he can depend on in one-on-one situations, executing the exact type of play the coach is looking for.
“I think other than Danny Trejo, we don’t have any one-on-one players who can take people on. The hardest part of the field to create is in the final third, and almost all our goals are where we create numerical advantages and serve crosses into the goal box. You need some moments where guys can create something on their own; that was one of the reasons why we went out to get Danny Trejo,” Feilhaber said.
Perhaps that is one piece of the puzzle that Roots is missing on the right side. Faysal Bettache did well to create Trejo’s goal, but it’s difficult to label him as an out-and-out right winger.
Theoretically, Oakland will have a chance to bring Trejo back into the fold for 2026. Roots acquired his contract from Birmingham, where he signed on last offseason. Similar to Wilson, Oakland could have a club option to exercise, assuming Legion didn’t sign him to a two-year deal with a third-year option. However, Legion wrote they signed Trejo for the “2025 season” in their press release to announce his addition, making things a bit ambiguous.
It’s worth noting that he limped off the pitch in labored fashion, causing some concern for the final two games.
19 points dropped from a winning position
Once again, Oakland Roots dropped points from a winning position.
After Roots held a 2-1 lead in the 56th, Feilhaber brought in natural defenders Kai Greene, Morey Doner, and Ilya Alekseev, but Oakland couldn’t hold on. Following Tuesday’s comeback loss to Hartford, Feilhaber commented on the quality of players he has available.
“The roster build in USL, much like MLS, is incredibly important. When you do that part the way Louisville or Charleston does, and there are different ways to do it, but you need a starting 11 and depth. Against El Paso, we had to sit four or five guys who started in Phoenix because guys can’t play three days apart. We gave up two goals in five minutes; that’s a depth issue. You need more,” Feilhaber said.
Trying to hold a lead with defensive-minded players he should be able to count on, Roots weren’t able to get the job done, once again. Oakland’s lack of quality was highlighted all the way since the preseason, and now at the end of the year, it’s clear that Roots couldn’t out-coach their way from the roster woes John Morrissey highlighted seven months ago.
Regardless of depth issues and a shoddy roster build, Roots’ inability to close out games will remain a topic of conversation should they interview Feilhaber for the 2026 head coaching job. Oakland’s eight games lost or tied from a winning position are now tied with Juan Guerra’s total from 2022, and he’d have to answer how that would be different in 2026 if he’s brought back.
If Benny returns, early-season dropped points will become an automatic eyebrow raiser. And for a club board that has been burned for overlooking mistakes in back-to-back coaching decisions, can they afford to have another coach start another season with another short leash?
Starting Lineups
- Oakland Roots
Just one change to Benny Feilhaber’s lineup from the last match; Kendall McIntosh returns to the starting 11 in place of Raphael Spiegel. Danny Trejo gets his third straight start alongside Peter Wilson, Roots will need both to produce in the attack.
- Las Vegas Lights
Timeline
Trejo shot deflected wide for a corner – 2′
Corner- 2′
Play short, leads to nothing.
Corner – 8′
Play short, leads to another
Corner – 8′
Ball goes straight through the area.
Riley rolls a shot wide – 11′
Riley a nice pass in from the wing, deflects toward net – 15′
ROOTS GOAL – 29′
Trejo turns a defender inside out then sends a rocket pass to Peter Wilson, who takes it off his midsection to turn it into the net. His 15th goal!
Johnny ties it for LV – 31′
Takes a shot from atop the box and it takes a wicked deflection
LV sails a shot – 36′
Bettache sails a shot – 37′
First half notes:
Its tied 1-1 going into the break with both sides scoring within 2 minutes of each other. Peter Wilson with his 15th goal after Danny Trejo made an incredible move to free himself up down by the end line. Oakland with 7 shots, 2 on target, 2 big chances and 61% possession. LV with 6 shots, 2 on target.
Wolfgang on for Panos – 46′
Free kick – 46′
Leads to nothing.
Peter draws a foul a foot outside the box – 49′
Very questionable whether it was in the box.
Bettache’s shot tipped onto the post. Big save for LV.
LV free kick – 53′
Long ball in eventually headed high over the net.
Johnny’s shot deflects wide – 55′
ROOTS GOAL – 56′
DANNY TREJOOOOO!!!!! Bettache with a great move around midfield around a defender before rolling a pass into Trejo. OAKLAND LEADS 2-1.
Kai Greene on for Elmasnaouy, Doner on for Bettache – 60′
Trejo spoils a faulty pass back to LB’s GK. Takes a bad touch in what could’ve been an easy goal – 63′
Johnny rolls a shot wide – 71′
McIntosh down, grabbing his hamstring area – 72′
LV’s Stojanovic rolls one wide -75′
LV free kick – 76′
Long pass in leads to a header that flies high.
Free kick – 78′
Trejo sends a long low pass in, bounces in front of the net but no one can clean it up.
Wilson feeds Trejo on a give-and-go. Not sure why he didn’t shoot sooner, too much hesitation as he looked for Wilson – 81′
Corner – 81′
Gibson pass in cleared away.
Gagi heads away a long pass, concedes a corner – 83′
LV corner – 83′
Alekseev on for Trejo – 84′
Trejo is limping off badly. He wasn’t putting any weight on his left ankle.
LV golazo by Stojanovic – 87′
Absolutely beautiful goal. Johnny took the pass off his chest and played it to Stojanovic, who shot it after one bounce. It’s tied.
Wilson draws a free kick, doesn’t spot Wolfy making a run unmarked – 88′
Free kick – 89′
Hackshaw takes a shot that’s blocked.
Free kick good area – 90′
On the left side, about 6 yards outside the box near the end line.
Targets Kai Greene, looping header retained by Roots. Wolfy dribbles down to the end line and his centering pass is cleared.
Damm on for Riley – 90+1′
Ilya shot cleared off the line – 90+4′
Last action is a Jurgen Damm shot looping over.