Oakland Roots settled for a point in a 2-2 tie with Phoenix Rising on Saturday night, maintaining its undefeated record at 2-1-0. Roots were just minutes from a victory, conceding in the 85th and 96th minutes.
It was a strong first half for Roots, taking the lead in the 43rd minute when Wolfgang Prentice turned in a shot after receiving a pass from Bobosi Byaruhanga, who made a great pass near the end line to find Prentice in front of the six-yard box. Roots took just four minutes to find the net a second time at 45+2′. This time, Prentice sent an inch-perfect pass to Julian Bravo in the box, who flicked in a header to score the first goal of his USL Championship career.
Oakland dominated the first half with 62 percent of possession time, accumulating 17 touches in the box with 11 shots and three on target, to Phoenix’s two shot attempts in total. Those numbers tilted in the second half, with Rising owning 64 percent of the ball and recording nine shots with six on target–including both second-half goals.
Rising’s Diego Gómez reduced Oakland’s lead to one in the 85th minute after a counterattack gave him plenty of room to deliver a strike from near the top of the box. Phoenix were able to level at 90+6′ when Gunnar Studenthofft turned in a header goal after a nice pass from former Roots’ midfielder Charlie Dennis.
Here are our talking points from Saturday night.
Roots looked sluggish in the second half
It was a bit of a surprising downturn in productivity from Roots in the second half, but perhaps the sweltering heat played a factor.
Oakland looked sluggish as the second half wore on, notably recording no shot attempts in the final 23 minutes of regulation time. They had just one shot attempt after the 70th minute, which was Bobosi Byaruhanga taking an attempt from distance at 90+5′.
Ryan Martin opted for defense for much of the second half, taking off Danny Trejo for Neveal Hackshaw in the 65th minute. Jesus De Vicente made his Roots debut in the 78th minute for another offensive-minded player, Faysal Battache.
De Vicente didn’t have the most illustrious showing, concluding with a team-low 5.8 rating on FotMob. He won just 1/4 ground duels and was the closest defender on Dennis’ equalizing pass to Studenthofft.
Danny Trejo’s first start & Peter Wilson
Danny Trejo made his first start in an Oakland Roots uniform, appearing in 65 minutes. He finished with 34 total touches, including five in the box, going 2/3 on dribbles, and recording one of two shot attempts on target.
He had one attempt looking bound to find the net after Rising GK Chituru Odunze rushing off his line to stop him in the box, but it was cleared away by a well-placed defender.
Trejo may not have gained a goal contribution, but he looked like a dangerous playmaker every time the ball was at his feet. And, from the look of things, Oakland will need him as a starter on March 28 against Orange County, and will likely be Roots’ starting striker.
Peter Wilson is set to go on international duty with the Liberian National Team after being called up for their March 27 and March 31 matches against Mauritania and Libya. Luckily, he will only miss March 28’s match against OCSC with Roots taking the following week off before visiting Tampa Bay Rowdies on April 11.
Wilson had Oakland’s first chance to score in the 19th minute when trying to redirect a cross from Prentice, and nearly scored in the 49th minute when his header was tipped over the crossbar by Odunze.
Wolfgang’s excellence
Wolfgang Prentice continued his strong start to the season, logging both a goal and assist to boost himself to the team’s leader in goal contributions with three.
His goal in the 43rd minute required pinpoint precision to redirect Bobosi’s driven pass, giving him his second goal of the season to lead the team. His pass to Bravo was also on the button, puttig the ball only to where the scorer could get it.
With Wilson out in next week’s match against Orange County, Wolfgang will undoubtedly continue being a main piece to Martin’s attack. He finished Satuday with FotMob’s highest rating of an 8.4, creating three scoring chances in 32 touches, three touches in the box, 3/4 accurate crosses, 2/3 accurate long balls, and 1/2 successful dribbles.
Vibes remain high
Despite the come-from-behind tie, the vibes around Oakland Roots remain high. They dominated the first 45 minutes of play, and minutes the last 10 minute stretch, looked poised to win. Roots stay in first-place of the USL Championship Western Conference, tied with seven points with San Antonio FC, but have the edge with five goals scored to SA’s three.
It’s also worth mentioning that Saturday’s results give Oakland the lead on the NorCal Hella Cup against Sacramento and Monterey Bay.
MBFC tied Sac 1-1 on Saturday night, meaning Oakland Roots have a 2-point edge on both teams.
The standings for this year’s Hella Cup are as follows:
- Oakland Roots: 1-0-0 (3 points), 1 goals scored, 0 goals allowed
- Sacramento Republic: 0-1-0 (1 point), 1 goal scored, 1 goal allowed
- Monterey Bay FC: 0-1-1 (1 points), 1 goal scored, 1 goal allowed
Starting Lineups
- Oakland Roots
Danny Trejo makes his debut in Oakland Roots’ starting lineup, moving into the right side in place of Tyler Gibson. He’ll face his former team, Phoenix Rising.
Aside from that, no changes. Wolfgang Prentice on the left and Peter Wilson in the #9 spot, while Faysal Bettache rolls through the middle in the CAM spot. Bobosi Byaruhanga and Tommy McCabe continue to lock down the central midfield, while Mark Fisher, Michael Edwards, David Garcia, and Julian Bravo man the back line from right to left.
- Phoenix Rising
Of note, center back Pape Mar Boye is ruled out. Also out are midfielder Damian Rivera and winger Kelvin Arase.
Timeline
Phoenix free kick – 9′
Sails a shot over from about 40 yards out.
Trejo shoot from long distance – 13′
Never a challenge.
Peter Wilson shot goes narrowly wide – 18′
Nice pass from Wolfy from the left side into Wilson, who takes a shot on the first touch but it skims wide. Couldn’t make good contact on it.
Bobosi nearly capitalizes on a bad pass out – 20′
His shot is saved, goes right at the keeper. A follow-up shot by McCabe sails over the net.
Bettache with a shot blocked in the box – 24′
Roots corner – 25′
Leads to nothing.
Roots free kick – 28′
Long ball in by McCabe is batted away from the keeper and stays in the box, but it leads to nothing.
Peter Wilson tries a header on a rocket pass from Bobosi – 33′
No way anyone could handle that type of pass.
Roots corner – 37′
Trejo shot blocked by a defender, was definitely curling on net – 41′
Great buildup from Roots.
ROOTS GOAL!!!!!!!!! = 42′
Bobosi dribbles down by the end line and sends a pass centrally that deflects perfectly to Wolfgang Prentice. He takes a shot on his first touch that trickles into net. OAKLAND LEADS
ROOTS GOAL – 45+1′
WOLFY WITH A PASS FROM THE LEFT SIDE, JULIAN BRAVO HEADER GOAL. OAKLAND LEADS 2-NIL. Bravo’s first goal in a Roots uniform
First Half Notes:
Oakland Roots lead 2-nil with goals less than 5 minutes apart! Wolfgang Prentice sends a beautiful volley goal after a pass from Bobosi, then Wolfy sends a perfect cross to Julian Bravo for a header.
Roots with 17 touches in the box, holding 63% of the ball. Oakland with 11 shots, 3 on target, to Phoenix’s 2 shots, none on target.
Holy shit, guys, are we good?
Phoenix free kick – 48′
Along the left side, shot goes into a wall.
Wilson shot saved for a corner – 49′
Great pass from Bobosi on the left side, sends a pass to Wilson at the far post and he heads it. Forces a leaping save and it goes over the bar.
Roots corner – 50′
Foul on Roots.
Phoenix free kick – 51′
Along the left, right outside the box.
Spiegel diving save – 56′
Not sure if that’s going on target, but he stops it and Roots gain possession.
Mark Fisher down and looks like they are checking out his knee – 61′
Doesn’t look good. The trainer is inspecting his ACL area. He continues, luckily.
Hackshaw, Gibson and Kiil coming in – 65′
For Trejo, Wolfy, and Fisher off.
Bettache rolls a shot wide, deflected for a corner – 67′
Header sails high.
Phoenix corner – 68′
falls in the box but Hackshaw clears it.
Spiegel diving save – 74′
From distance, forced a corner.
Phoenix corner – 75′
cleared away.
De Vicente on for Bettache – 78′
De Vicente gets his first minutes.
Kill shot blocked in the box – 78′
Phoenix scores – 85′
Nice shot by Diego Gomez, curling shot inside box
Phoenix corner – 87′
Header loops over.
Phoenix corner – 90′
leads to a goal kick
Phoenix free kick – 90+3′
Phoenix equalizes – 90+6′
Big goal for Gunnar on an assist from Charlie Dennis. Rough ending for Roots, they were on their heels and it makes them pay.
Spiegel big diving save – 90+8′
Forces a corner, bad tracking back
Phoenix corner – 90+9′
Game ends in a draw, rough ending.