Oakland Roots dropped its fourth straight league loss and fifth consecutive defeat across all competitions in Saturday’s 1-nil loss to Pittsburgh Riverhounds. The result puts Roots down to 11th place with 21 points, making them one point behind the next three teams in the Western Conference.
It matches the club’s longest single-season losing streak of five games in its very first USL Championship season in 2021, meaning this year’s team is one league loss away from tying that mark. The last time Roots suffered four straight USLC defeats during a season was back in 2024.
Roots dominated possession throughout the match, finishing with 72 percent of the ball, outshooting Pittsburgh 7-5 in the process. However, Oakland never put anything on target and never had any overtly challenging opportunities.
Pittsburgh scored the game’s only goal in the 20th minute when a cross from Charles Ahl bounced through Oakland’s box to Max Viera near the left post. Viera headed the ball to the front of the net to Eliot Goldthorp for the point-blank volley.
Here are our talking points from Saturday.
Struggling attack
Roots’ attack sputtered against the Riverhounds, which has been a common theme in their skid. On top of producing no shots on target in Saturday’s loss, they had just one shot attempt in the second half of their 3-1 loss to Sacramento, three shots with one on target in the first half of their 2-0 loss to Lexington, and no shot attempts in the first half of their 2-1 loss at New Mexico.
“I thought our spacing against Sacramento wasn’t very good, so we wanted to address that. We’ve got to play with more urgency from the beginning, not after we conceded the goal. We’ve got to continue working with Pete and his movements. When they take away the wide channels, his movement becomes even more important, and I think it was a bit reactive at times,” Martin said.
“We need more of a commitment getting into the box and attacking. There were at least two services that I can remember that just bounced around. We’ve got to get it going again.”
Dipping to 11th place has fans thinking of the 2024 and 2025 seasons. In 2024, Roots briefly got up to second place in July before crashing out of playoff contention. Oakland similarly struggled down the stretch in 2025, leaving them out of the postseason.
When asked if there is a sense of urgency to get back into playoff positioning, Martin responded: “Yeah, for sure.”
“We’ve been talking about that as we’ve gone down the last stretch,” Martin said. “It’s been a difficult stretch, but the reality with sports is you have to navigate these times. Carlo Ancelotti talks about it in one of his books that you have to manage the good and the bad stretches. You keep trying to get better and see where you are at the end.
“There are still 12 games and a lot of opportunity. It’s in our control, but with that, there has to be the accountability of taking the chance, taking the points, and taking the win.”
Martin feels like this match was well within their grasp to take.
“I felt like this was one that was there for the taking, and we let it slide,” Martin said. “We all collectively have to regroup and go again Wednesday.”
Martin commented that he wants players to be more proactive, aggressive, and to attack the box.
“I thought we were reactive against Sacramento. I thought the majority of tonight was more assertive, more proactive, braver, better in tackles and better in duels. Against Lexington, we were better in most categories but donated two goals. Sacramento: they were really good in their structure, but we have to make our own luck,” Martin said.
The Coliseum woes
The situation surrounding the Roots and the Coliseum has soaked up the headlines for the club over the past week. It’s a situation that goes beyond the play on the pitch, instead delving into local politics and where the team is going to host its matches.
It’s a matter that is hard to ignore for Roots’ players and coaching staff, but they are trying to focus on the task at hand. When asked if the Coliseum headlines have any impact on the psyche of the team, Martin said they try to focus on what they can control, but “you never fully know.”
“You never fully know,” Martin said. “They are 16- to 35-year-olds who are on social media all the time, but the reality is we can only control what we can control. The stadium is something we can’t control by any stretch of the imagination. We all signed up to play with this club. The free agents and I came here because we have good people, good ownership, and people who want to build something.
“We knew it wasn’t going to be easy on or off the field. Right now, the message is to control what we can. That is, defending the box better, creating more chances, and letting the powers that be handle the different issues.”
Reinforcements on the horizon
Following Oakland’s match against Sacramento, Martin indicated they are looking to bring in more attacking options to their roster. Tommy McCabe and Danny Trejo both left with injuries against Pittsburgh, including McCabe being evaluated for a concussion and Trejo leaving after possibly aggravating his troublesome hamstring.
When asked again about potential personnel additions, Martin said they are still targeting an attacking role and that a new player should be expected to be finalized before they play on Wednesday at Las Vegas.
“We still need another attacker, especially with Trejo out. We’ll take a look at an attacker, and if things go as we plan, my bet would be there is an addition before Vegas. That’s what I think, if we can get a little push here,” Martin said.
Aside from bringing in an outside option, centerback David Garcia returned to the lineup as a substitute option. As Martin describes, Garcia wasn’t an option to play, but he’s inching closer every day.
“What he has to regain is his match fitness,” Martin said. “We’re still talking about limited minutes until about two weeks from now, but we are going to integrate him very quickly. He wasn’t available minute-wise tonight, or he would’ve played.
“He was on the bench because the next games are going to open him up, and I wanted to get him on the bench to provide his leadership to communicate with players from the bench. He will be open for minutes starting Wednesday night.”
Starting Lineups
- Oakland Roots
Roots with two changes from its previous starting lineup; Wolfgang Prentice and Tucker Lepley enter in place of Danny Trejo and Bertin Jacquesson. No other changes, but one notable addition is David Garcia to the bench, making his first appearance since April 18. Florian Valot gets the nod once again. Bobosi and McCabe make up the midfield pivot, Edwards and Hackshaw in the back, De Vicente at LB, Tingey at RB, McIntosh in goal, and Peter Wilson up top.
- Pittsburgh Riverhounds
Timeline
Corner- 7′
great work by wolfy to draw it.
Free kick – 10′
About 10 ish yards outside the box on the left side.
Dominating possession – 12′
near 75%
Corner – 15′
Wilson header loops over
Wolfy making great moves in possession – 18′
Good clearance by Hackshaw in front of the net – 19′
Pittsburgh goal – 20′
Great cross from the right corner to thr far post, header pass central for the tap in volley. Nice goal from Pitt, bad defense from Roots.
Near giveaway by Hackshaw – 22′
Pitt shot on volley loops high – 24′
Pittsburgh free kick – 30′
Along right sideline, leads to nothing
McCabe slow to get up with an apparent head injury – 32′
Jacquesson on for McCabe – 34′
Valot drops to the midfield
Wolfy pulls a shot after some nice individual work – 40′
It floats just wide of the right post, draws a corner
Corner – 41′
Jacquesson shot takes a deflection- 45′
First Half notes:
Pittsburgh leads on a well worked goal. Oakland dominating possession with near 75%, but 3 shots, 0 on target, 3 touches in the box. Riverhounds 3 shots, 2 on target, 11 touches in the box.
Jacquesson dangerous ball across the face – 51′
Wilson closest to it, cant get a toe on it
More dangerous passes, one by Tingey and one by Wolfy – 52′
Trejo on for Lepley – 60′
Corner – 62′
70% possession but no shots – 70′
Pitt free kick- 71′
Trejo run in behind, cant run it down. He’s asking for a sub, looks ljke a pulled hammy – 72′
Faysal coming on for him.
12 minutes for Trejo before he pulls his hamstring – 72′
Pitt shot sails high and wide – 78′
Bravo and Kiil on for De Vicente and Bobosi – 83′
A couple dangerous crosses by Tingey and Faysal, cant make contact- 90+1′
Free kick – 90+2″
Tingey call across thr face – 90+3′
Ball eventually drops to Valot but he does nothing with it near top of the box
Pitt free kick- 90+4′
Full time. Roots lose 1-nil despite holding over 70% of ball. 7 shots, none on target, just could create. Oakland falls to 11th