Oakland Roots came away with a point at Loudoun United with a 2-2 draw after it looked like things were going to end dreadfully, until Peter Wilson landed a header to equalize the match with a couple of minutes remaining. With the result, Oakland stays unbeaten through its last four league games despite three of them being ties. They remain in fourth place in the USL Championship’s Western Conference, while Sacramento Republic could tie them in points pending its match later on.
Loudoun struck first early in the ninth minute, when Pacifique Niyongabire sent a cross from the right side toward the net. Raphael Spiegel attempted to make a play on the ball, but spilled it right to the feet of Richard Aman, slotting it into the empty net.
But Oakland remained aggressive from there, drawing four consecutive corners from the 16th to 18th minutes. On the fourth one, Jesus de Vicente sent a perfect cross to the near post to find Bertin Jacquesson, heading the ball with his back turned to the net to redirect it home.
However, Loudoun United took control of the match in the second half. Following a corner that was played short, Bobosi Byaruhanga blocked an initial shot by Richard Aman. The ball trickled away from Bobosi toward the end line, leading to him trying to retrieve it. James Murphy then darted in front of Byaruhanga, leading to the Roots’ midfielder making contact with him.
Stepping to the spot was Pedro Santos, sending in a shot to the right side in the 66th minute.
As the clock ticked away, it was looking like the Roots were going to leave without a point. But in the second of five minutes in second-half stoppage time, Faysal Bettache whipped in a perfect cross from the left side to find Wilson charging toward the 6-yard box, landing a header to the left post.
Here are our talking points from Saturday.
Second Half Woes
For a second straight match, Oakland Roots’ production completely fell off a cliff in the second half. After going into the break with 10 shots and seven corners, they only produced five shots with one corner in the latter 45 minutes.
Wilson’s goal, thankfully, was the only time Oakland challenged Loudoun GK Adam Beaudry. The home side took control with 11 shots, three on target, and two big scoring chances.
It was a bit of a shock, but it brought a similar feeling to the second-half collapse against Monterey Bay FC in the USL Cup. In that match, Oakland logged just two shots in the second half, while MBFC put up similar numbers to Loudoun with 12 shots, three on target, and a big scoring chance.
Just like the Monterey PK defeat, there was a sense of panic at points in the second half. Loudoun was fully on the front foot when they drew their penalty kick, when Bobosi frantically defended two players. He wound up getting pulled for the first time this season in the 76th.
It felt somewhat similar in the 89th when Arquímides Ordóñez dribbled into the box by Florian Valot, Neveal Hackshaw, and Jesus de Vicente. Luckily, de Vicente wasn’t called for a foul on Ordóñez, but it was still a tense moment.
Jesus de Vicente
One player who I was impressed with was Jesus de Vicente at left back. Now in his third start, he logged his first goal contribution in a Roots’ uniform on his cross to Jacquesson from a corner.
It’s the perfect time for De Vicente to take advantage of his playing time with Julian Bravo still on the mend. He took all eight of Oakland’s corners throughout the game, along with the team’s most touches with 101, and most defensive actions with 10.
He had a dangerous cross into the box in the 23rd minute, drew two corners with attempted passes, logged eight passes into the final third, while FotMob credits him with two chances created.
Still, his production seemed to wane in the second half, as did the rest of the squad. He could’ve been called for a foul in the box late in the final minutes of regulation, but we’re not going to penalize him for a call that wasn’t made.
Can de Vicente lock down the starting role? Taking every corner and free kick certainly means Ryan Martin has a plan to utilize him in critical situations. Time will tell when Bravo fully returns to training.
Faysal Bettache & the attacking options
One of the largest takeaways from Saturday may be the number of options Martin’s has to play with in attack. Although things didn’t go swimmingly for people like Danny Trejo or Wolfgang Prentice, while Bertin Jacquesson seemed to fade as the match went on, Martin was able to call on Faysal Bettache, Florian Valot, and Jackson Kiil for the final 15 minutes.
The move to Bettache certainly played out well. In just 15 minutes, Faysal took 16 touches, played three passes into the final third, and landed the cross to Wilson for the late goal. He now has two goal contributions over the last two league matches after scoring his emphatic strike against Las Vegas Lights.
Valot was also impressive in his role, sometimes sitting deeper and kicking out to the right side. In the 69th minute, the Frenchman was a key piece in a buildup with a long run in possession before playing a pass out to Prentice on the left side. Wolfgang wound up taking a shot that went narrowly wide of the right post.
Despite Trejo being pulled in the 59th minute and still seeking his first goal contribution of the season, there were still some bright spots. His biggest strength is his footwork and uncanny ability to free himself from other defenders with supreme individual work; it’s something that came into play in Roots’ first goal against Las Vegas in its 4-2 win when he had the hockey assist on Wolfy’s assist to Wilson. Although he has yet to find the score sheet, he’s still shown some quality on the ball that no one else on the roster can replicate.
Starting Lineups
- Oakland Roots
Ryan Martin makes two changes from the last league game, but some notable pivoting around the field. Keegan Tingey gets the start at right back, while Neveal Hackshaw returns to the CB spot opposite of Michael Edwards. This means Tommy McCabe returns to the midfield opposite Bobosi Byaruhanga. Wolfgang Prentice is also back in the forward line on the left with Bertin Jacquesson on the right. Jesus de Vicente gets the nod at left back, while Danny Trejo likely moves into the CAM role.
Also encouraging to see Florian Valot on the subs list.
- Loudoun United
Loudoun’s top two players are out.
Timeline
Trejo a shot? -1′
On the volley, not sure if we’re counting that.
Spiegel spills a cross, and it falls perfectly to Aman, Loudoun leads – 9′
Nice buildup down the right side, regardless. Really good pass by Niyongabire.
Hard to say if Spiegel tried to catch it or push it away. Looked like he was caught between two minds, misjudged the angle late and pushed it back into play.
Corner – 16′
Corner – 17′
Leads to another, de Vicente cross on the doorstep.
Corner – 18′
Ball to the far post targets Tingey, he nearly scores on his former team. Big save by Beaudry.
Corner – 18′
ROOTS GOAL!!!!!!!!!! Bertin Jacquesson with an absolute BEAUTY of a header on a great cross by De Vicente. Oakland great to pressure them, was four corners in a row at that point.
Great angled shot by Jacquesson, header off the back of his head to put in on goal.
Very good clearance by Tingey, dangerous cross to the front of the net – 22′
Stepped in front of an attacker waiting to put away the ball, really smart defensive play by Tingey.
Dangerous cross into the box almost forced a mistake – 23′
De Vicente on the cross.
Loudoun longshot on target – 23′
Spiegel stops it easily.
Corner – 26′
De Vicente draws it again.
Hackshaw sails a volley, good chance missed – 26′
Nice longball by Tingey.
Nice longball to Wolfy, takes a shot on the volley and it draws another corner – 29′
Wonderful ball by McCabe.
Corner – 30′
It’s short this time.
Corner – 31′
Came after a ball targeted Jacquesson, cleared away by Loudoun.
Wolfy shot blockd, leads to McCabe sailing a shot – 33′
Nice work between Trejo and Jacquesson, leads to Trejo sending what looked like a pass across the face – 36′
Trejo sends a shot wide – 37′
Nice to take a touch and turn for a shot, but sends it well wide. Maybe a little pressing there.
Hackshaw blocks a nice shot by Santos – 39′
Really sacrifices his face there.
Loudoun corner – 44′
cleared away by Hackshaw
Tingey nice play, cross across the face to Prentice – 46+2′
Wolfy looked like he tried to head it across the box, but leads to nothing. Tingey freed himself up by stopping on a dime, allowing a defender to slide past him.
Loudoun corner – 45+5′
Play short then dribble into the box, eventually cleared away by I think McCabe.
Loudoun corner – 45+8′
Eventual shot goes wide.
First Half notes:
Been a pretty fun game to watch, good amount of action on both sides of the field. Roots with 54% possession, 10 shots with 2 on target, and getting the ball near the end line to draw 7 corners. LOU with 4 shots, 2 on target, 3 corners. Feels like more goals are coming.
Bobosi sends a shot wide by about 35 yards – 46′
Loudoun dangerous ball across the face following a free kick – 48′
Looked like a low shot to the far post, big chance for Loudoun.
Loudoun shot blocked in the box, nearly a big chance – 55′
Ordonez holds onto the ball through a couple of tackles.
Valot on for Trejo – 59′
playing with 10 men for a couple of minutes, for some reason.
Valot on in the 61st.
Big save by Spiegel, forced a corner – 64′
Loudoun corner – 64′
Loudoun penalty – 65′
Bobosi attempts a tackle, clips a player from behind. I don’t think he knew he was coming. Blocked an initial shot, then chased after it to retrieve.
Loudoun scores – 66′
Only one shot for Roots so far – 67′
Wolfy sends a shot narrowly wide – 69′
Curled away from the right post. Nice buildup by Valot to feed him out wide.
Loudoun sails a shot in the box – 74′
Gibson, Kiil, and Bettache coming on for Jacquesson, Bobosi, and Tingey – 76′
Free kick – 77′
Wilson drew it in a good area, about 10 yards above the box.
De Vicente lines up over it and sends a shot way over the net.
Spiegel comes out to stop a shot by Ordonez, good counterattack by Loudoun – 85′
Loudoun corner – 86′
Loudoun corner – 87′
Leads to a shot that goes high.
Bettache header goes over the net – 89′
Loudoun play in the box, looking dangerous. Shot went wide – 89′
Really not impressive second game. De Vicente near foul in the box.
Loudoun corner – 90′
Header goes wide.
ROOTS GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!! – 90+3′
WHAT A CROSS BY BETTACHE. Peter Wilson with a GREAT header finish. What a ball, what a finish.
Loudoun free kick – 90+4′
Spiegel claims it.
Long throw by HAckshaw to end it – 90+5′
Leads to a corner, last play?
Corner – 90+5′