Oakland Roots were able to tie the match twice, but ultimately fell 2-3 on the road to Orange County SC on Saturday night in Santa Ana, marking their second loss of the season to bring their record to 4-2-2. Roots stay in third place with 16 points, but stay just one point above fourth-place Tulsa, the points above El Paso in fifth, and three above sixth-place Sacramento.
Roots conceded first in the 8th minute after OC played ta ball short from a corner kick, leading to a cross by Christopher Hegardt to find Nico Benalcazar unmarked for the header goal.
Oakland answered in the 40th minute, when Bertin Jacquesson made a long run down the right side and squarred a ball into the box. With Peter Wilson draw the attention of two defenders, the ball drifted to Wolfgang Prentice to burry a shot into the bottom left to make it 1-1.
OC refound the lead in the 50th minute when the ball was forced back to goal keeper Raphael Spiegel, who attempted to boot a pass but with his first touch. His pass deflected to OC’s Stephen Kelly about seven yards outside the box for a long shot into the empty net.
Roots knotted things up, once again, in the 57th minute Peter Wilson leveled it for Oakland once again after Jesus de Vicente played a gorgeous through ball up the left side to find Wilson alone in the back. Wilson beat the OC keeper who came off his line before putting an easy shot into the open goal making it 2-2.
Oakland then went on a dominant run for much of the remainder of the match, playing much of the game in the attacking third and making it nearly impossible for OC to maintain any sustained possession.
But near the 86th minute, momentum swung in the other direction, as County began threatening on a consistent basis.
These threats came to fruition in the 87th after a deflected clearance attempt from inside the Oakland box found the foot of OC’s Ousmane Sylla who struck a volley bottom left to make it 3-2 to give his side their third and final lead of the night.
Oakland nearly brought the game even once again on multiple occasions in the final minutes of the match, but couldn’t find their third rally before the final whistle.
Roots will now return home to close out the month of May at the Oakland Coliseum as they prepare to host Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC for a league fixture on Saturday, May 30th at 5 PM PT.
Starting Lineups
- Oakland Roots
Two changes for Oakland Roots since their last league match. Florian Valot and Tyler Gibson are in the starting lineup, while Bobosi Byaruhanga and Faysal Bettache are on the subs list. Other than that, no changes. Looks like McCabe and Gibson are locking down the midfield, marking a return to the CM spot for Gibson. Jesus de Vicente and Keegan Tingey are the fullbacks, Hackshaw and Edwards are the CB combination. Wolfgang Prentice features at left wing, Bertin Jacquesson on the right, and Peter Wilson at striker.
- Orange County
Timeline
Roots good opportunity – 4′
Looked like Edwards sprang a ball out wide to Bertin Jacquesson. He squared a pass from the right side to the Valot in the middle of the box. His shot goes straight to the keeper.
OC shot on target – 4′
Chances on both ends
OC corner – 8′
OCSC scores.
They play short, Hegert sends a cross to Benalcazar for the header goal. Benalcazar left all alone; no one marked him.
Gibson shot from atop the box goes narrowly wide of the left post – 16′
OCSC corner – 19′
McCabe tries to hit it on the volley, rockets it very wide – 23′
De Vicente sends a long shot from a free kick on target, forces a diving save – 27′
Corner – 28′
Cleared out, Roots maintain possession.
WOLFY SCORES – 40′
A HOMECOMING GOAL FOR THE SOCAL NATIVE. Cross from the right sideline by Bertin Jacquesson, the ball takes a touch off Brewitt and rolls to Wolfgang for the first-touch strike in the box.
Wilson nearly scores – 42′
A nice pass from Jacquesson again.
OCSC corner – 45+1′
Jacquesson rolls a shot jusssssst wide -46+1′
Great chance for Roots, Jacquesson breaks in behind and is 1-on-1 with the keeper. However, his shot to the far post rolls just wide of the left post.
First Half Notes:
It’s tied 1-1, but Roots could be leading 2-1 or 3-1. Jacquesson with a huge chance to end the first half, Valot also had a good chance in the early minutes. Oakland with 53% possession, 9 shots, 3 on target, and 9 touches inside the box. OCSC with 4 shots, 2 on target, 5 touches in the box.
OCSC shot on target – 49′
OCSC goal – 50′
Pass back to Spiegel by Tingey, leads to a bad pass out from Spiegel on his first touch. It deflects from Stephen Kelly for the goal.
OC shot by MacKinnon goes a couple of feet high of the crossbar – 55′
WILSON GOAL – 56′
GREAT pass from Jesus de Vicente to spring Peter Wilson in behind. He takes a touch past Alex Rando and shoots it into the empty net. Roots tie it at 2-2
Corner – 61′
De Vicente scuffs a shot at the back post – 63′
Wide open chance and he couldn’t make contact.
Corner – 45′
Cross goes through the box, eventually retained and leads to a foul.
Free Kick – 66′
Outside the box, about 7 yards outside the box. De Vicente ball finds Jacquesson, but his header loops high.
Bettache comes on for Valot – 71′
Jacquesson shot goes wide – 75′
OC free kick – 83′
Foul on De Vicente along the right side about 3 yards outside the box near the end line.
They play a low ball into the box, Cambridge takes a shot on the first touch but it goes straight to Spiegel.
OC dangerous play in the box but its cleared out – 85′
Trejo on for Jacquesson – 86′
Lepley also on for Gibson.
OC scores a banger – 87
They lead 3-2. A defensive header falls to Sylla, takes a great shot on his first touch.
Wolfy nearly scores a Worldie, but it curves wide – 89′
Sends a shot from 3 yards above the left elbow area.
Corner – 90+4′
Spiegel is up
Lepley sends a low shot on target, forces a diving save – 90+5′
Roots fall 3-2. Oakland takes 21 shots, 5 of them on target, 6 corners, 23 touches in the box and looked challenging throughout the night, but some terrific goals by Orange County. They had 12 shots, 6 on target, and took 15 touches in the box. A mistake in the back helps make up the difference for OCSC.