It was a disappointing 2-1 loss for Oakland Roots visiting New Mexico United on Saturday night, requiring them to respond to a 2-nil halftime deficit. The result puts New Mexico into third place above Roots based on results against conference opponents, but both teams remain tied on 21 points.
Oakland conceded the first goal of the game in the 7th minute of action, marking the sixth time this season Roots allowed a goal within the first 10 minutes. It happened when a longball into the box found United’s Cristian Nava, who corralled the ball with a touch before firing a shot off the bounce that found the top left corner.
New Mexico doubled its lead on a counterattack in the 41st minute when Dayonn Harris sprinted in behind down the left side into Oakland’s penalty area, playing a low cross to Zico Bailey on top of the 6-yard box for a tap-in goal.
In the 65th minute, Roots officially started to turn the tide after being awarded a penalty kick when Peter Wilson darted in front of Maliek Howell to draw a foul in the box. Wilson stepped to the spot and fired the ball straight down the middle for his 10th goal of the season.
The score now gives Wilson his 28th goal in the USL Championship, matching Johnny Rodriguez for the club’s All-Time record. It was also Wilson’s 29th goal across all competitions after scoring once in last year’s USL Cup, which puts him two behind Rodriguez’s 31 total goals in a Roots uniform.
Here are our talking points from Saturday night.
Season reaches midway mark
Oakland Roots finished its 15th match of the season, officially reaching the midway mark of the year.
Roots hold a 5-6-4 record to sit in fourth place in the USL Championship’s Western Conference, six points out of first place, but just three points above eighth. Their 24 goals are tied for second in the conference, while their 22 goals conceded are tied for the third most in the West.
At this time of the year in 2025, Oakland sat in 10th place and four points worse at 5-2-8, a little less than a month into Benny Feildhaber’s short stay. They had just 16 goals scored and allowed 23 after 15 games.
There are definitely areas to improve for Roots as we move into the second half of the year. They have just two clean sheets in league matches after having five at this point in 2025. Allowing goals in the first 10 minutes of action has also been well-documented, with tonight’s game marking the sixth time they’ve done so.
Identifying a third goal scorer continues to be an issue the team must find an answer to, which leads us to our next talking point.
Peter Wilson’s impact
Peter Wilson’s impact on the match was unmistakable after coming off the bench to start the second half.
Wilson and Tyler Gibson were key halftime substitutions that effectively leveled the momentum. Oakland went into halftime with no shot attempts and just three touches in the opponent’s box, finishing with seven shots, two on target, and 15 touches in the box in the latter 45 minutes.
The move allowed Wolfgang Prentice to play in his more-comfortable left side, while Wilson also helped free things up for Tucker Lepley and the rest of the attack.
Without Wilson, Roots looked completely out of sorts, which is very concerning going into the second half of the season. As mentioned above, Oakland has struggled to identify a third goal scorer despite the attack being the deepest area of the roster.
Danny Trejo will return from his red card suspension for when the club returns from its mid-year break on July 22 against Lexington. Florian Valot was also missing in action after suffering an injury in the June 20 match at Phoenix, making the two-and-a-half week break an opportune moment.
Kendall McIntosh’s injury
Kendall McIntosh made his second straight start on Saturday night, but was forced to leave the match after taking a hard shot in the 21st minute when defending a ball from a free kick. Moments earlier, McIntosh was checking out his hamstring area after making a diving play on a pass into the box.
McIntosh making his second consecutive appearance was significant after him and Raphael Spiegel rotated in the previous eight matches. The break in the action will also be important for McIntosh’s recovery, but will the goal keeper competition open back up?
That being said, it’s fair to wonder if Roots will use the mid-year break to make an addition at the position. Let’s dive in more below.
Mid-year moves?
It’s become a time honored tradition where I go on vacation and Oakland Roots stir things up with a transaction.
Last year, Roots released Baboucarr Njie on July 14 while I was in the Tuileries Garden of Paris. They also transferred Jose Luis Sinisterra 11 days later. In 2024, they transferred Jeciel Cedeno to Detroit City while I was walking around the Museo Nacional del Prado in Madrid.
Those were each outgoing moves. When looking at this year’s roster, a move for Ali Elmasnaouy certainly makes sense with him just 21 years old and struggling to get any time on the field. Bobosi Byaruhanga could also make sense as a transfer candidate at 24 years old and somewhat an off-match for Ryan Martin’s system. However, moving Bobosi would entail bringing in a starting level central midfielder to fill his shoes.
Goalkeeper, as mentioned above, is an obvious area for improvement. Could Roots bring in a third senior level contract, or perhaps loan a player in from MLS?
Upgrading the attacker area sees less likely after loaning in Lepley in recent time. Center back also doesn’t look like a pressing area for improvement with David Garcia nearing a return. As does the fullback spot with Mark Fisher on the mend.
For me, all eyes are on goal keeper and maybe that central midfielder spot.
Starting Lineups
- Oakland Roots
Peter Wilson starts on the subs list, which is an encouraging sign after leaving their June 20 game at Phoenix on a stretcher. Five total changes from Phoenix: No Florian Valot, Danny Trejo, or Bertin Jacquesson in the 18, leading to Tucker Lepley, Wolfgang Prentice, and Faysal Bettache getting the nod. Tyler Gibson also moves to the bench, and Keegan Tingey gets the start. Julian Bravo also gets the start. Curious to see the alignment. Kendall McIntosh also gets his second straight start. A lot of youth on the subs list with Rosic, Martinez, and Wachs.
- New Mexico United
Timeline
Looks like Wolfgang is in the nine – 2′
De Vicente also looks like he is higher up the field in a left-wing role
Roots had guys in transition, De Vicente sends a ball through the box and couldn’t find anyone – 3′
Could’ve been a good chance
NM corner – 4′
Play short, leads to nothing.
Very dangerous ball across the face by NM – 6′
Nearly an own goal.
NM goal – 7′
Bad couple of moments for Roots in succession.
Long ball to Nava into the box, beats Bravo in behind. Nava brings the ball down well and follows through with a volley to the left post.
Roots free kick – 10′
De Vicente ball goes straight through the area.
NM fires a shot high – 12′
Roots still settling into the game, holding just 30% of the ball – 13′
NM throw-in leads to a near goal, looked like McIntosh pushed it onto the post – 14′
Tingey finds himself in behind, but sends a low cross straight to the keeper – 15′
NM another dangerous play, gets in behind and a centering pass goes too far in front of the attacker – 16′
McIntosh now sits down and wants to get checked out – 16′
Came after McIntosh dived to stop the pass into the box. Rolling the ball on his hamstring area.
NM in behind again, leads to a shot that sails high – 19′
Oakland’s back line is getting beaten over and over. This isn’t good.
NM free kick – 21′
Tingey dragged Gloster to the ground after he made a couple of moves past defenders. Really a headeous 20 minutes for Roots.
McIntosh punches away a long pass and he looks hurt again, really shaken up. Slammed into Jabang, Spiegel should be coming on.
Spiegel subs on – 27′
De Vicente steals a ball very high near NM’s box, but sends a cross that airmails everyone – 31′
Leads to a corner, at least.
Corner – 31′
cleared away.
Roots sending a lot of empty crosses into the box – 35′
Free kick near the right corner flag – 37′
punched away.
NM scores again – 41′
Another long ball beats Roots in behind. Dribble into the box leads to a centering pass and a tap in from close distance.
About as bad a first half as you could get for Roots.
Long ball to Harris as he sprints past the back line, he centers it to Bailey for the easy goal.
NM long shot tipped over the bar – 45+6′
NM corner – 45+6′
Last play of the first half. Play short, ball skips around until a shot goes wide.
First Half Notes:
Woof, about as bad a 45 minutes as you could get for Oakland Roots. New Mexico is getting in behind effortlessly and looking dangerous with every pass. Roots struggling to find any kind of groove; 0 shots, 3 touches in the box, 45% possession. NM with 8 shots, 4 on target, 12 touches in the box, 2 big chances converted.
Gibson on for Bettache, Wilson on for Bravo – 46′
Wolfy shot on target – 48′
Good steal high by Bobosi, sends it to Lepley, who feeds Wolfgang. First shot attempt for Roots.
Corner – 49′
Good ball in target Hackshaw, but couldn’t get a clean header on it.
NM shot on target leads to a corner – 55′
Harris again finds himself with a lot of space.
NM corner – 55′
Leads to nothing.
WILSON DRAWS A PENALTY KICK – 65′
Wilson darts in front of a loose ball, similar to when Bobosi gave up a PK earlier this season.
Penalty kick – 66′
Wilson steps to the spot. DRILLS IT TO THE CENTER OF THE NET. His 10th goal, he ties Johnny Rodriguez for the club’s all-time lead in USLC goals.
Dangerous play over the top to Wilson – 73′
McCabe sails on a shot atop the box – 85′
NM rolls a shot narrowly wide, should’ve been a goal – 86′
Kiil on for Tingey – 87′
NM corner – 90+1′
Play short, cycles into the box and a first-touch shot goes high and wide.
Long free kick – 90+4′
Good interplay leads to a nice pass from de Vicente, takes a touch out for a corner
Corner – 90+5′
One of the last plays.
Roots NEARLY scores. Ball falls to McCabe at the far post, but his first-touch shot goes over the net.