It was a rough start for Oakland Roots’ run in the 2026 Prinx Tires USL Cup on Saturday night, falling 4-3 in penalty kicks at Monterey Bay FC after ending regulation in a 1-1 tie. The result gives Oakland one point for the tie, but Sacramento Republic leads Group 1 with a 4-nil over Spokane Velocity, Athletic Club Boise, and MBFC both have two points for their PK victories, while Oakland and Las Vegas Lights sit with a point.
Roots struck first in the 15th minute when Neveal Hackshaw played a long ball to Jackson Kiil along the left side. Kiil did well to fight through a foul and put himself into the box one-on-one with a defender, making a crafty stepover before sending a shot past Monterey GK Fernando Delgado.
Oakland nearly went up 2-nil in the 30th minute when Kiil laid off a perfect pass to Florian Valot in the box, but the Frenchman’s shot went narrowly wide of the left post. It turned out to be a missed opportunity that Roots would regret.
Following the goal, Monterey Bay began to grow into the match, switching to an aggressive high-press. The home side carried momentum into the second half, finishing the night with its most productive game of the season with 20 shots to Oakland’s six.
Monterey found the equalizer in the 63rd minute when a through ball up the middle arrived at the feet of Paul Gindiri, charging through the back line. Gindiri put a pinpoint shot into the bottom right corner on the short side of Kendall McIntosh to tie it up at 1-1.
As per the tournament rules, the match went straight to penalties following the final whistle.
McIntosh denied the first Monterey Bay attempt by Ilijah Paul, while Jesus de Vicente buried his chance to put Oakland ahead. However, Wesley Leggett scored for MB, then Peter Wilson was denied by Delgado. Omari Glasgow put MB up 2-1, and then Delgado stonewalled Wolfgang Prentice. Monterey went up 3-1 with Belmar Joseph, while Keegan Tingey kept things at 3-2. McIntosh kept Oakland alive with a diving save on Eduardo Blancas, and then Tommy McCabe evened things up at 3-3. Nico Gordon puts Monterey up, once again, at 4-3. Then, Ali Elmasnaouy stepped up, rolling his shot to the left side, but it clanged off the post.
Here are our talking points from Saturday night.
Kendall McIntosh’s great night
It was a Man of the Match type performance by Kendall McIntosh. He was the sole reason Oakland Roots stayed in the game and reached penalty kicks.
FotMob credited McIntosh with four saves, with three shots coming from inside the box.
His first stop came in the 29th minute when Paul broke into the box past Neveal Hackshaw, jolting down to stop the shot at his feel. Five minutes later, McIntosh stopped a shot from the center of the box by Sebastian Lleget.
In the 52nd minute, McIntosh bailed out Hackshaw, once again. This time, Hackshaw came off his line at the perfect time to pounce on a ball in behind to Paul. Then in the 80th, McIntosh was in the right position to stop a thunderous strike by Belmar Joseph at the top of the box.
Perhaps his biggest plays came in second-half stoppage time. At 90+5′, McIntosh rushed off his line to punch away a long ball to Omari Glasgow, decking him in the process. Two minutes later, he similarly floored Paul while punching away another ball.
His biggest save of the game came at the very end a 90+11′, robbing Glasgow of the game-winning goal on a diving save. He also stopped two shots during penalty kicks, but his heroics weren’t enough to push Oakland over the line.
Questionable cup quest
Seeing Oakland Roots’ starting lineup was somewhat surprising despite mainline starters like Peter Wilson, Wolfgang Prentice, and Bobosi Byaruhanga not in the opening 11. Ali Elmasnaouy was the only outfield player with less than 100 total minutes this year, and despite that, Oakland was unexpectedly overpowered for the final 60 minutes of the game.
Roots conclude the opening day already looking down and out of Group 1. Republic leads with three points and four goals scored, giving them an astronomical lead, meaning Oakland must beat Sacramento in its May 16 clash, and likely needs final wins over Las Vegas and Spokane to win the group or attain a the one Wild Card spot available.
Additionally, running out veterans may have come with a cost. Florian Valot appeared hobbled to end the first half and was subsequently taken off for Faysal Bettache. Tyler Gibson clanged knees in the second half, but was able to continue playing.
So, what does that mean for the rest of the way? Does a low percentage of making the next round impact the lineup choices for Ryan Martin?
Despite Elmasnaouy missing the final PK, the Cup gives him a good chance to get playing time. Martin has shown that he prefers to keep McCabe and Bobosi as his stalwarts in the midfield, and unless they miss time, it’s tough to see them ever coming off the field. Midfielders like Elmasnaouy and Luka Rosic need time to develop, and the USL Cup certainly provides them a chance to see the field.
With the injuries along the back line, it is also an opportunity to give defenders a look. Emilio Martinez was on the subs list and didn’t see the field, and although he plays more of a midfield role with Project 51O, he’s talented defensively. Martin clued that defensive additions should be on the way, so I’m curious to see how that will impact choices as well.
Neveal Hackshaw
Neveal Hackshaw deserves praise for the stellar long ball to set up Jackson Kiil’s goal, but if there were questions about whether he can execute Martin’s defensive alignment, several recent appearances may provide the clear answer.
Hackshaw was beaten time and again on Saturday night, and was involved in nearly every Monterey play in behind. They continuously targetted his side, leading to Paul’s equalizer.
Paul burned Hackshaw in the 29th minute for Monterey’s first shot on target, requiring an acrobatic save out of McIntosh. Paul sped by him again in the 52nd, forcing McIntosh to rush off his line to meet the MB forward high in the box. 11 minute later, Paul sprinted past Hackshaw, once again, to finally nail the equalizer.
He was red-carded against FC Tulsa in a similar situation, when Remi Cabral was played a long pass in behind, resulting in Hackshaw sliding through him when desperately trying to make up ground.
Against Tampa Bay on April 11, Tampa Bay gained a chance on a play in behind to Evan Conway, but his shot went wide. Even versus Orange County on March 28, Hackshaw entered in the center back spot at halftime, leading to OC scoring just seconds into the half after playing a longball in behind to his side.
The film appears to be out on Roots when Hackshaw is on the field, play it long, and beat him on the run. At this point, Hackshaw must prove he hasn’t lost a step. That, or Martin must find a way to adjust.
Starting Lineup
- Oakland Roots
It’s a lineup that says, “We’re going for it.” Jackson Kiil gets the nod at striker, while Peter Wilson is still available on the bench. Also in the attack is Florian Valot, Bertin Jacquesson, and Danny Trejo. Tyler Gibson, Tommy McCabe, and Neveal Hackshaw make up three veterans to start, while Ali Elmasnaouy gets his first start of the season in the midfield. Kendall McIntosh starts at GK. It’s a strong bench with Wilson, Wolfgang Prentice, Bobosi Byaruhanga, Faysal Bettache, and Keegan Tingey.
Timeline
Jacquesson dangerous centering pass, grabbed by the GK – 14′
JACKSON KIIL GOAL – 15′
WHAT A FINISH! GREAT LONG BALL FROM HACKSHAW. Kiil beats his man 1-on-1, breaks into the box all alone. Slots it home.
De Vicente needs to take a shot there – 18′
Trejo feeds him in the box, but de Vicente doesn’t pull the trigger.
Corner – 24′
Eventually falls to de Vicente, scuffs a shot.
Big save McIntosh – 29′
Ilijah Paul breaks into the box past Hackshaw, the shot goes to the feet of McIntosh but he stops it.
Valot skims it jusssst wide – 30′
Great layoff by Kiil after receiving a pass from Jacquesson.
Jacquesson shot blocked – 32′
HUGE SAVE MCINTOSH – 34′
Quick dive keeps Oakland ahead. Great stop by McIntosh.
Slow header Paul, called offside – 38′
Nadje shot way high for MB – 41′
Bad play in the back by Roots.
MB corner – 45+2′
Nico Gordon header skips off the ground
First Half Notes:
Oakland could be leading 2-nil, but hasn’t created much since Valot skimmed a shot wide in the 30th minute. Great finish by Jackson Kiil, but MB controlled the action in the final 15 minutes, carrying some momentum into halftime. Roots with 54% possession, 4 shots, 1 on target. MB with 8 shots, 2 on target. We’ll see if Martin opts for changes, but Roots haven’t looked bad.
Faysal Bettache is on. Valot off – 46′
Hope its not an injury. but Valot looked hobbled at the end of the first half.
MB corner – 49′
Paul header wide – 51′
Great job McIntosh to come off his line to stop Paul – 52′
Stopped a ball in behind, Hackshaw beat again.
Jacquesson shot blocked – 54′
MB equalizes, Ilijah Paul – 63′
They continue attacking Hackshaw’s side, and it finally breaks through. Three times Hackshaw gets beaten in behind, and they score on the third one.
Wilson and Tingey coming on – 65′
Kiil and Gibson off.
Wolfy on for Trejo – 69′
MB corner – 71′
MB corner – 73′
MB free kick – 74′
Jacquesson shot blocked for a corner – 75′
Corner – 75′
De Vicente nearly olympico’s it. Leads to an MB counter, but Glasgow’s pass deflected to McIntosh.
MB really pushing – 80′
Lots of plays in the box, no clear shots.
McIntosh another big save – 80′
McIntosh down – 81′
De Vicente dangerous pass toward the goal – 85′
MB corner – 88′
MB long free kick – 90′
McIntosh asking for a change – 90+2′
He’s staying on.
Jacquesson draws a second yellow, he’s off – 90+4′
Careless foul, grabs Leggett from behind.
McIntosh decks Glasgow coming out for a long ball – 90+5′
McIntosh decks Ilijah Paul this time – 90+7′
Rosic on for Bettache – 90+10′
McIntosh another HUGE save – 90+11′
Robs Glasgow of a goal. Wow. What a game from McIntosh.
Penalty Kicks
Paul up first for MB – MCINTOSH DIVING SAVE
De Vicente for Roots – Scores to the right, Oakland up 1-0
Leggett second for MB – Scores to the right, tied 1-1
Wilson second for Roots – Stopped by Delgado, stays 1-1
Glasgow third for MB – Scores to the left, MB up 2-1
Wolfy up third for Roots – Stopped by Delgado, MB advantage
Belmar fourth for MB – Scores to the right, McIntosh gets a finger tip on it, 3-1
Tingey fourth for Roots – Scores to the right, 3-2 MB.
MB scores and it’s over. Blancas STOPPED BY MCINTOSH. STAYS 3-2
McCabe up fifth, needs to score to continue – Scores to the left, we continue, 3-3
Gordon up sixth for MB – Scores to the right, MB up 4-3
Ali up sixth for Roots, needs to score – hits the post, its over