Oakland Roots took a point on the road at Tampa Bay for the first time on Saturday night, tying 2-2 with the Rowdies at Al Lang Stadium, becoming the only team to take points off the home side through five matches this season. The result keeps Oakland in fifth place of the USL Championship Western Conference at 2-2-1, continuing the club’s best start to a season in its history.
It was a rough start for Oakland with Tampa Bay getting the board in just the third minute after heavy pressure forced a mistake in Oakland’s defensive end. It started with Tommy McCabe playing a pass backwards to Julian Bravo, who tried to whip out a pass that landed straight to the mid-section of TB’s Lewis Hilton. The ball eventually worked to former Sacramento Republic forward Russel Cicerone, who launched a shot from distance that forced a diving save from Kendall McIntosh. However, McIntosh spilled possession, allowing it to conveniently roll to Marco Micaletto on the left side for the goal.
But Roots answered quickly in the 12th minute to find its equalizer. It started with David Garcia sending a ball in behind to Wolfgang Prentice down the left side, sending a ball across the face of the net toward Bertin Jacquesson. It led to Tampa Bay’s Charlie Ostrem inadvertently burying the ball into his own net to level the match at 1-1.
Just as it looked like the first half was destined to end in a draw, Tampa Bay regained their one-goal lead in the final seconds of stoppage time when Dion Acoff lofted a ball from the right side into the box. After his pass cleared a group of defenders, Cicerone was standing unmarked at the left post for the first-touch shot.
Roots returned the favor in the early moments of the second half when a long ball on a counterattack from Faysal Bettache found Prentice, who took an incredible midair touch to free himself up from a defender and put himself in 1-on-1 with goalkeeper Jahmali Waite. Prentice, with even better execution than his initial touch, deftly chipped the ball past Waite to tie it at 2-2 in the 49th minute.
Here are our talking points from Saturday night.
All in all, not bad
I don’t think you will find any Roots’ fan who comes out of Saturday night with their head hanging. Considering Peter Wilson returned after missing a match, Bertin Jacquesson made his start, Tyler Gibson moved to right back, and a new starting goalkeeper in Kendall McIntosh–the result isn’t bad. Tampa Bay very well might be the best team in the league right now, and Roots went toe-to-toe with them.
It felt like a measuring stick type of match for Oakland to see where they are at, and with all those changes plus a surging Tampa side, signs continue pointing toward optimism.
Oakland finished with 48 percent of possession and was outshot 13 to eight, but that doesn’t tell the full story of the match. There were times when Roots showed they could completely execute their plan, regardless of the difficult opponent in front of them.
There was one passage of play that particularly impressed me, despite it not resulting in any overt chances for Roots. From the 17th to 20th minutes, Oakland dominated the ball for nearly three whole minutes, completing 52 passes during that span to Tampa Bay’s two. It ended with Julian Bravo centering a pass from the left side toward Wilson, but it was slightly behind him.
That span of time gave a sense of Roots’ potential with Martin’s system, that they can execute a plan and impose their will, no matter the quality of the team they are facing.
Wolfgang Prentice’s excellence
How about that goal by Wolfgang Prentice? His ability to hold off defenders made all the difference on Saturday night, and it shone on the goal.
It started with Faysal Bettache booting the ball up to him after Roots successfully defended a corner. Wolfy then held off Sebastian Cruz, who whiffed on a header attempt while Prentice took a deft touch with his left foot to put himself in behind. Then, Wolfgang finished the play with a left-footed chip past Waite, rushing out to stop him.
Beating defenders in 1-on-1 situations was also a factor in Roots’ opening goal in the 12th minute, and it’s a shame he wasn’t credited for an assist on Ostrem’s own goal. On the play, Wolfgang positioned himself in the perfect spot to beat Acoff, hanging close to the defender’s back to put himself in behind.
Prentice finished with Roots’ top rating on FotMob with a 7.7. He recorded his third goal of the season to continue leading the team, completing 13 of 18 passes, 36 touches, and won six of 11 ground duels.
Bertin Jacquesson looked great
French international Bertin Jacquesson certainly justified Ryan Martin’s decision to use him in the starting lineup, showing his fleet-footed swiftness time and again on Saturday night. Although he didn’t score the goal in the 12th minute, he put himself in the right position by using his speed to test Tampa Bay’s defense.
He later burned Tampa’s defense on a counterattack in the 37th minute after Bobosi Byaruhanga played him in behind on a long pass. The ball eventually went out for a goal kick following a defensive effort by a Rowdies defender, and it probably should’ve been called a corner. Then in the 45th, he drew a foul slightly outside the box on the right side after splitting two defenders.
Jacquesson had more good work in transition in the 67th after receiving another long pass, this time by Faysal Bettache, leading to a shot that trailed wide.
Bertin received a 7.0 rating by FotMob, finishing with one of two shots on target, 25 touches, three touches in the box, won five of six ground duels, and played 80 total minutes in just his second appearance.
Peter Wilson’s slow start 2.0
Peter Wilson is still seeking his first goal of the season in 359 total minutes so far this season. He’s had his chances, leaving a similar feeling to how his 2025 season got started.
On Saturday night, his only shot attempt came in the 80th minute in what was a clear scoring opportunity. It started with Jesus de Vicente receiving the ball around the midfield line, sending a pass to Wilson sprinting past Tampa’s back line. However, Wilson’s shot was way off the mark, going about six yards wide of the left post.
Wilson also had a clear opportunity in the first half of Roots’ win over New Mexico on March 14, where the striker found himself in behind with the keeper, but couldn’t find the right execution.
Despite the lack of finishing quality, it’s hard to say the alarm bells are ringing just yet. Wilson is clearly a big part of the defensive focus for teams in the early weeks of the season, and the striker is still making a difference even while soaking up attention. Even with that, he is still putting himself in dangerous positions.
Roots fans know the quality Wilson can bring on any given day, and Saturday’s whiff certainly gave reminders of the early days in 2025 when he was pressing for a goal–and perhaps overly trying to pinpoint his shots. If Wilson can recapture his late 2025 magic, where he turned attention to just putting attempts on frame, maybe things can turn around.
He certainly has time to do so.
Tyler Gibson
Tyler Gibson went down on Saturday night in the 58th minute, substituted out of the match for Neveal Hackshaw. Gibson started the match as Roots’ right back after filling in for Mark Fisher, who suffered an injury on March 21 in Phoenix. He becomes the third injured player at the position when accounting for Keegan Tingey out of action since the preseason.
Michael Edwards slotted into the right back spot when Gibson exited the field, which he also did in Roots’ previous match against Orange County. He hasn’t looked out of place as a wide player, but he has shown a lot of promise as Oakland’s starting center back. In fact, Edwards has been so impressive alongside David Garcia that it is difficult to justify him playing elsewhere.
But with the depth chart paper-thin at the position, Martin already eyes the Roots’ first glaring issue of the young season. Is it time to scour the market for an available fullback?
It’s worth mentioning that Jesse Maldonado was signed to a 25-day contract back on March 27, meaning he is passing the 16th day of the deal on April 11. Unless Roots has some longer-term ideas for players still available, it seems likely that he will stay on the roster past the 25 days that expire on April 20.
Starting Lineups
- Oakland Roots
Four changes for Oakland Roots’ lineup from its previous game. Peter Wilson is back, while Florian Valot makes his Oakland Roots debut on the subs list. Ryan Martin returns to a four-in-the-back system, with Tyler Gibson filling into the RB spot with Mark Fisher and Keegan Tingey still out. Kendall McIntosh also gets his first start of the season with Raphael Spiegel serving a red-card suspension. Bertin Jaquesson makes his debut in the starting lineup over Danny Trejo. Aside from that, no changes; Wolfgang Prentice accompanies Wilson and Bettache in the attack, Michael Edwards and David Garcia man the CB spots, Julian Bravo starts at LB, while Tommy McCabe and Bobosi Byaruhanga start in the midfield.
- Tampa Bay Rowdies
Timeline
Rowdies score early – 3′
Product on an early aggressive press. Forces Roots into mistakes, an initial shot is saved by McIntosh. It spills into play and leads to a goal.
Rowdies hit the post -8
Should be 2-0. Centering pass in front of the net leads to a first-touch shot. It hits the post and conveniently rolls to McIntosh. Bad, bad start for Oakland.
ROOTS GOAL!!!!!!!!!! – 13′
GREAT PLAY FROM OAKLAND. Wolfgang Prentice breaks free down the left side, sends low pass across the face and Bertin Jacquesson HAMMERS it home. Great goal, its tied 1-1 after 13 minutes.
It was ruled an own-goal on Ostrem.
Roots stringing together passes – 20′
What seemed like 50 passes led to near shot attempt to Wilson on a nice pass from the left side by Bravo.
Bettache sends a shot very wide – 23′
Doesn’t make contact on the shot at all.
TB corner – 24′
Ball kept in the zone. Roots eventually clear, Wolfy draws a foul on edge of the box.
TB corner – 26′
Leads to nothing.
TB near ship attempt, Mcintosh there to grab it – 29′
TB’s Cicerone sends a shot narrowly wide – 35′
Was played into space.
TB corner – 36′
Roots counter – 37′
Bobosi with a great play out to find Jacquesson running down the right side. It should’ve been a corner, becomes a goal kick.
Jacquesson draws a foul on the right side – 45′
Split two defenders to draw it. Well done.
Bettaches sends the free kick in, leads to a shot that was blocked.
Cicerone scores right before halftime – 45+2′
Great pass along the right side by Acoff. The ball flies over a group of defenders and finds Cicerone unmarked right in front of the goal.
First Half Notes:
Oakland Roots trail 2-1 at halftime after Cicerone scores in the final seconds. Roots score via an own goal by Ostrem. Oakland had moments where they dominated possession, currently 57% possession, credited with 2 shots. TB with 5 shots, 3 on target.
ROOTS GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!! – 49′
Wolfgang Prentice takes a GREAT TOUCH to put himself in behind. Chips one by the keeper to tie it up at 2-2. Great long pass up from Faysal Bettache.
TB sails a shot high – 56
Attempt by Schneider about 6 yards atop the box.
Gibson being checked out – 58′
Looks like Gibson went off for Hackshaw. Michael Edwards shifted to right back – 59′
TB shot in transition leads to a save by McIntish, almost spills it again – 61′
Jacquesson sends a low slow shot on target – 63′
TB corner – 64′
TB shot goes right at McIntosh – 67′
Great play down the left side by Cicerone.
Jacquesson shot trails just wide – 67′
Good work in transition from Bettache to Bertin.
Trejo, Kill and de Vicente on for Bettache, Bravo, Prentice – 75′
TB free kick – 78′
About 20 yards out on the right side, long ball distance.
Leads to a scrum in the box, McIntosh tips it over the crossbar.
TB corner – 79′
,
Peter Wilson play in behind and he scuffs his shot super wide – 79′
Looked like the first half of last season Peter Wilson.
Valot subs on – 80′
Jacquesson off.
TB scuffs a shot wide – 83′
TB sends a shot wide in transition – 86′
Dangerous chance in behind with a 1-on-1 against Hackshaw.
Bobosi sails on a shot – 90+4′
Might be last action by Roots.
Roots take a point, their first-ever in Tampa Bay.