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 a 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 drawing the attention of two defenders, the ball drifted to Wolfgang Prentice to bury a shot into the bottom left to make it 1-1.
OC regained 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 56th minute when Jesus de Vicente played a gorgeous long ball to spring Peter Wilson on a run in behind. After receiving the pass, Wilson took one touch past OC’s keeper Alex Rando rushing off his line, shooting into the empty net to tie it at 2-2.
Orange County got its winner 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 to make it 3-2 to give his side their third and final lead of the night.
Missed Chances
Regardless of the error that led to OC’s second goal, perhaps what leaves the most sour taste is the number of missed chances Oakland had. With proper finishing, Roots may have left some goals on the field.
Oakland had the first scoring opportunity of the game in the fourth minute. Tommy McCabe rushed to boot a loose ball to spring Bertin Jacquesson down the right side. Jacquesson headed a ball down near the end line, rolling a low pass to find Florian Valot halfway into the box. However. Valot’s shot went straight to the feet of Rando. Valot put his hands to his head, knowing he missed out on scoring his first goal in a Roots uniform.
Roots had another great chance to score right before halftime at 45+1′. Following an Orange County corner, a defensive header led to Tyler Gibson footing out wide to Jacquesson. The Frenchman sent a pass forward to Wolfgang, causing the ball to lie up for Jacquesson to recover.
Taking the ball into the box, Jacquesson’s shot from the right side went across the face of the keeper and narrowly wide of the left post. He fell to his knees in disbelief.
Oakland had its best chance for a third goal in the 63rd. This time, Keegan Tingey sent a long cross from a couple of yards outside the box on the right side. His ball went all the way to the far post, finding Jesus de Vicente a yard in front of the six-yard box, but he couldn’t catch the ball cleanly off a bounce.
Mistake goal
Orange County’s second goal makes the loss all the more painful. With a cleanly executed match, Roots very well could’ve won by blowout proportions.
County’s 50th-minute goal may have been a mistake by Oakland, but it was the result of concerted defensive pressure from the home side. As Roots prepared for Spiegel to roll a pass for a goal kick, the camera panned to OC manager Danny Stone shouting directions to players.
Michael Edwards dribbled the ball down the right side, but never pulled the trigger on a pass. He then turned the ball backwards, resulting in a desperation pass back to Spiegel. The Swiss goalkeeper attempted to pass to Tommy McCabe on his first touch, but Ousmane Sylla pressured Spiegel and was close enough to deflect it to Stephen Kelly for a long-shot goal into the empty net.
It was a poor collective moment for the back line, aiding in Orange County taking all three points.
Wilson, Wolfgang, & finding a third scorer
Peter Wilson notched his sixth goal in four games on Saturday night with his 56th-minute score, continuing a hot streak for Roots’ talisman.
He showcased his speed, which was touted when the club first signed him in 2025. In the buildup, Wolfgang played an initial ball out wide to Jesus de Vicente on the left side. The Spaniard took one touch before sending a long pass to Wilson, charging past OC’s back line to the top of the box.
Wilson then showed enough technicality to read Rando rushing toward him, taking one touch into the box before sending in a shot with the outside of his right foot.
The striker was also a part of the action in Roots’ opening goal in the 40th. As Jacquesson played his pass into the box, Wilson was soaking up the attention of multiple defenders, enabling the ball to find Wolfgang for his goal.
Prentice also continued producing as the team’s leader in goal contributions, now with five goals and four assists. He now matches his total in both categories in 809 minutes, which is 948 fewer minutes than last season.
Missed chances for Oakland’s attack aside, they are the second-leading scoring team in the Western Conference and third in the league with 18 goals. Roots now have the best opportunity to have two players with double-digit goal contributions since 2022, when they had three with Otter Magnus Karlsson, Edgardo Rito, and Juan Carlos Azocar.
With that, Roots still face the task of identifying a third scorer, as the club is still looking to hit on several acquisitions.
Danny Trejo has yet to score or create an assist in 424 minutes, while Florian Valot is still seeking his first in both categories in 257. Bertin Jacquesson logged his third goal contribution in 431 minutes, which ties him with Faysal Bettache and Jesus de Vicente.
After Wilson’s six goals and Wolfgang’s five, Oakland has one goal scorer from five players, including Tucker Lepley, Mark Fisher, Julian Bravo, Jacquesson, and Bettache.
Roots’ riches in the attacker roles have been well noted, as it’s been a marquee focus of new additions. But so far, only the two main holdovers from 2025 continue to make the largest impact. Should Oakland continue pushing toward the top of the league, they are going to require bigger numbers from the rest of the rotation.
Jesus de Vicente’s third assist in three games
Jesus de Vicente continues to make an impact at the left back role, gaining his third assist in as many appearances with his ball in behind to Wilson. He’s now done so with 482 minutes, which brings him to eighth on the team.
The last time we talked to coach Ryan Martin following Oakland’s 2-1 win over El Paso, he was complimentary of de Vicente’s passing ability, saying they want to continue putting him in dangerous positions.
“To be honest, it’s his decision on how he performs, trains, and works. He’s on a tremendous path with what he’s brought to us and has made tremendous strides since his first game. He’s become a better 1-v-1 defender, he’s more reliable, and more consistent. His service is a special quality, so our ask is how many times can we get him in good positions to create danger. He’ll play a big role, and his job now with Bravo coming back is to keep it. When you have guys competing for positions, it makes everyone around them better,” Martin said.
With de Vicente producing time and again, it’s becoming more and more difficult to justify Julian Bravo returning to the starting job.
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.