Oakland Roots got back in the win column, gaining three points for the first time since May 9 to in a thrilling 4-3 win over Phoenix Rising. The result catapults Roots up to second place in the USL Championship Western Conference with 21 points, just two shy of first-place Orange County.
After missing out on several opportunities in the first half to hold a 0-0 tie at halftime, Oakland exploded for four second-half goals while conceding three.
Roots came out hot in the second half with Peter Wilson awarded a penalty kick in the 47th minute after Adrián Pelayo shouldered him in the back as the ball arrived in the box. Wilson stepped to the spot to slot his shot to the right post past Patrick Rakovsky to give Oakland a 1-nil lead.
Oakland doubled their lead in the 56th minute courtesy of Danny Trejo bagging his first goal of 2026 after a perfect cross from Wilson. In the buildup, Tommy McCabe played a terrific long ball from deep in Roots’ defensive zone to Wilson, making a run down the right side. Wilson then played the ball perfectly to Trejo at the top of the six-yard box for the tap-in goal.
But Phoenix began a comeback just moments later in the 62nd after drawing a penalty of their own when Roots’ keeper Kendall McIntosh made a leaping punch on the ball to clear it from danger, but made too much additional contact. Ihsan Sacko replicated Wilson’s conversion almost exactly to make it 1-2.
Then, Rising leveled the match at 2-2 in the 72nd minute when a through ball from midfield found Sacko on a run up the right wing. Sacko played a cross into the box to find Diego Gomez near the penalty spot, taking no time to put a strike low left and draw the game even.
Roots snatched back momentum just moments later in the 74th minute when Oakland’s season leader in assists, Wolfgang Prentice, earned another with one of his first touches after getting subbed on just minutes earlier. From the left wing, Wolfgang sent an inch-perfect cross to find Florian Valot a foot above the six-yard box to bury a header for his first of the year to return the lead to Oakland at 3-2.
Prentice earned his second assist within four minutes, this time playing it to Wilson to bag his brace. This time, Tyler Gibson played an initial throw-in to Trejo, who toed it to his CSUN Matadors teammate. Prentice picked up the dribble to send a low laser to Wilson for the first-touch goal.
Phoenix began a desperate push to fight back into the match after Oakland regained their lead, and in the final minute of regulation, brought it back to within one when a corner service was headed up high near the far post, taking McIntosh out of the play. The ball came down near the goal line, where Kelvin Arase was there to head it home and make it 3-4.
Here are our talking points from Saturday night.
Peter Wilson, Danny Trejo, and the attack
Peter Wilson was magnificent on Saturday night, increasing his contributions tally to nine goals while gaining his first assist of the season. He is now second in the USL Championship in goals and fifth in total goal contributions.
But Wilson’s future is suddenly murky after being stretchered off the field in the 89th minute, making way for teenager Bradley Roberson. With that, Oakland is looking like it will be without its Golden Boot striker for the foreseeable future.
Early, unconfirmed indications from Phoenix Rising Stadium suggest that Wilson suffered a fibula injury and is undergoing an MRI.
Should Wilson have fractured his fibula, one anonymous athletic trainer the blog spoke to predicts he would require six weeks to recover and another three weeks of rehab. If he suffered a full break, he would likely need much longer. A nine-week recovery timetable would put Wilson on track for a return in late August.
And with a five-point gap on the playoff line, so much could happen between now and August.
Danny Trejo getting off the snide with his first goal of the season couldn’t come at a better time. Trejo provides Roots with center-forward experience and is the logical fill-in at this point. Jackson Kiil, notably, did not play Saturday night.
Trejo looked deadly, despite not capitalizing on a couple of clear chances in the first half. He’s Roots’ best one-on-one attacker and, despite taking a long time to get on the score sheet, continues to show that he’s one of the most difficult players to defend in the USL Championship.
Wolfgang Prentice is another player with experience playing at the center of the park, but has emerged as the league’s leading assister with his sixth of the year. Lining up at left wing, Wolfy is hitting all-time marks with five goals and five assists, eclipsing last year’s nine-goal contribution mark in 700 fewer minutes.
With Wolfgang’s prowess and production along the wing, it’s hard to envision him moving elsewhere.
Florian Valot’s first Oakland goal also came at the most opportune time. It looked like a moment of triumph for the veteran forward, falling to the floor with a beaming smile after scoring his goal.
Without Wilson, Oakland will undoubtedly depend on the Frenchman to help carry the load on the offensive end.
Perhaps Trejo and Kiil’s presence means Roots doesn’t need to panic-buy another striker. But, knowing the club has proven they will listen to any coach’s demands, never say never at this point in the season. The severity of Wilson’s injury could dictate a lot.
The goalkeeper battle
Kendall McIntosh’s return to the starting lineup confirmed it; the battle between him and Raphael Spiegel is on. The two have now split starts in the last eight matches, going back to May 9 against El Paso.
In his last four appearanes, McIntosh conceded one goal in its 1-nil loss to Sacramento in the USL Cup on May 16, one in their 1-nil loss to Colorado Spring on May 30, held a clean sheet in their 0-0 tie with Miami FC on June 13, and now conceded three to Phoenix.
Spiegel allowed one to El Paso on May 9 in their 2-1 win, three in theri 3-2 loss to Orange County on May 23, held a clean sheet in their 2-0 win over Las Vegas in the USL Cup on June 6, and one in their 1-1 tie with Birmingham on June 17.
After Saturday night against Phoenix, it’s difficult to say if either one as the lead.
Although McIntosh was penalized for a foul in the box, it’s hard to fault him for making a punch on the ball on such a close play. In fact, he was pretty stellar, stopping Rising with six saves, including five shots stopped in the box.
He made a huge stop in the 16th minute to stop a goal-scoring opportunity when rushing off his line to prevent Ihsan Sacko from scoring. He made another big stop on Sacko in the 52nd minute when rushing out to prevent a shot near the six-yard box.
McIntosh made two more huge stops in succession in the 82nd and 83rd minutes. The first was when Dominique Badji attempted a shot in the box from a right angle toward the right post. On the ensuing corner, McIntosh leaped to prevent a goal on a header by John Scearce.
At that point, McIntosh looked like he was bound to take the lead in the goalkeeper race. But disaster struck in the 90th minute on Rising’s third goal.
Following a corner, the ball chipped to Phoenix’s Aleksandar Vukovic near the left post. At that moment, McIntosh rushed out to try to prevent a centering pass. However, he was unable to make contact, allowing it to find Kelvin Arase for the easy header goal into the empty net.
It was a moment that felt pretty damning toward McIntosh’s chance of putting a stamp on his candidacy for the job. And with that, Spiegel should get the chance to continue competing in practice and on July 4 at New Mexico.
Starting Lineups
- Oakland Roots
Five changes to Oakland Roots’ lineup from Wednesday. Kendall McIntosh gets the nod at GK, the competition is on. Tyler Gibson starts at RB in place of Tingey. Julian Bravo moves to the bench for Neveal Hackshaw. Danny Trejo moves in for Wolfgang Prentice. Bertin Jacquesson gets the start in place of Tuckr Lepley.
- Phoenix Rising
Timeline
PHX corner – 3′
Play in behind to Wilson, Rakovsky rushes out but Roots never pull the trigger – 5′
PHX corner – 9′
Another golden chance missed – 10′
Trejo in 1-on-1 and passes up a shot to play Jacquesson. The Frenchman doesn’t pull the trigger in time and his shot is blocked and clangs off the post.
PHX shot on target from distance – 10′
PHX corner – 14′
PHX bigg chance – 16′
Force a turnover in the defensive zone, McIntosh great to rush out to greet the shooter at the top of the box to block his shot.
PHX shot deflected high for a high for a corner – 17′
PHX corner – 18′
Wilson in behind again and his square pass to Trejo is knocked away – 19′
Bobosi shot high and wide – 19′
Does well to steal the ball
Wilson dangerous ball goes across the face, another play in behind to him – 27′
Trejo with a great dribble to free himself up in the box but sails his shot super high – 36′
PHC free kick – 38′
Another chance missed, Peter Wilson in the box but doesn’t pull the trigger in time – 40′
What is going on with this team. It should be at least 3-nil
First Half Notes:
A very frustrating 0-0 deadlock with many, many chances in behind for Roots, but they never could find the finishing touch. The good news is they are creating chances, and finding plays in behind with frequency. The bad news is whether the well will run dry in the second half. Oakland with 8 shots, but just 1 on target and 11 touches in the box. Phoenix with 5 shots, 3 on target, 1 big chance missed.
PETER WILSON DRAWS A PK – 47′
Pelayo just shoulders Wilson square in the center of his box, an obvious foul.
Wilson steps to the spot. Drills it, Roots lead! – 49′
McIntosh stops another big chance near the six-yard box – 53′
Rushes out to stuff a shot as it’s pulled.
ROOTS GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!! – 56′
GREAT PASS IN BEHIND TO PETER WILSON, HE SQUARES IT TO DANNY TREJO FOR THE TAP IN GOAL. Outstanding long pass out of the back by Tommy McCabe, outstanding pass from Wilson. Trejo, FINALLY, scores his first goal of the season.
Phoenix draws a PK, which felt like a generous call with McIntosh going for a punch – 59′
Sacko steps up and slots it in. Roots lead 2-1
Wilson sends a shot on his first touch narrowly wide – 66′
Great chance atop the box. Good ball from Jacquesson
Wolfy on for Jaquesson, Tingey on for Gibson – 69′
Phoenix scores, wide open in the box – 72′
Gomez wide open in the box for a first-touch goal. Ball to Sacko down the right side, plays it to Gomez, unmarked near the 6-yard box.
ROOTS GOAL – 74′
WOLFGANG WITH A GREAT CROSS FROM THE LEFT SIDE, FINDS FLORIAN VALOT WIDE OPEN AT THE TOP OF THE 6-YARD BOX FOR THE HEADER. Oakland back to the lead! Valot with his first goal of the season as well!
ROOTS GOAL – 78′
WOLFY BACK TO BACK ASSISTS. Trejo receives a throw in by Gibson, he toes the ball to Wolfgang who picks up the dribble in the box. He sends a laser pass to Peter Wilson for the first-touch goal. Wilson’s second goal, Wolfgang’s second assist in nine minutes since bing subbed on.
Big save McIntosh – 82′
Bravo on for Valot – 83′
PHX corner – 83′
Header attempt, HUGE SAVE BY MCINTOSH. Kitty paws a ball the was curling into the net.
PHX corner – 84′
Roots free kick in great area – 87′
Foul about six yards outside the box.
De Vicente sends a shot on target
Wilson taken off on a stretcher – 89′
Robertson enters for him.
PHX corner – 90′
Chaos in front of the net, leads to a header goal. That was a bad play by McIntosh. Rushes off his line and gets punished.
PHX corner – 90+5′
PHX corner – 90+8′
PHX sails a shot high and wide – 90+9′
Shot by Sako.
Corner – 90+10′
Trejo red carded in a scrum – 90+11′
No card for Luke Biasi, somehow. Trejo red carded for retaliating.