It was another lackluster performance for Oakland Roots on Saturday, as they lost 1-nil to El Paso Locomotive, continuing their meteoric drop in the standings. The result puts Roots four points back of the playoff line in a two-way tie for 10th place with Phoenix Rising.
Oakland struggled in the first half, finishing with no shot attempts and just two touches in the box through the first 45 minutes. El Paso got its lone goal quickly in the ninth minute when Bryant Farkarlun sent a low cross from the right side to Rubio Rubin near the six-yard box. The Guatemalan took a deft first touch to redirect the ball into the net.
Roots’ attack improved in the second half, finishing with 10 shot attempts, with three on target and one off the woodwork when a strike from Julain Bravo outside the box clanged off the crossbar. They also took 14 touches in the box in the second half, but never found the back of the net.
The scoreless result brings Oakland to 338 minutes without a goal and just one goal over their last five games. They now look to get back on track when hosting Monterey Bay FC at the Coliseum next Saturday.
Better second half
Oakland looked much better in the second half and seemed deserving of a goal with chances that narrowly missed equalizing the game. Although nothing went in, it was encouraging to see Roots create opportunities amidst their scoring drought.
In the 49th minute, an errant pass by El Paso was cut off by Wolfgang Prentice and toed to Bruno Lapa. The Brazilian fed Florian Valot into the box on the left side, leading to a low shot that was saved by Locomotive GK Abraham Romero.
Four minutes later, Roots missed capitalizing on another El Paso mistake when CB Arturo Ortíz played a pass directly to the feet of Lapa. However, miscommunication between Lapa and Peter Wilson led to nothing. Wilson attempted to make a run behind Ortiz, but Lapa fed the ball to the opposite side. Then in the 55th minute, Bravo’s attempt from outside the box smashed off the crossbar.
Roots’ best chance of the game came in the 68th after another El Paso mistake near their own box. This time, Tony Alfaro rolled a pass about six yards above Locomotive’s penalty area straight to Tommy McCabe. The ball worked to Valot, who found Tucker Lepley on the left side of the box. Lepley took a couple of touches to the inside before curling a shot to the top left bin. But Locomotive’s 6-foot-6-inch defender Noah Dollenmayer was there to clear the shot off the line with a leaping header.
Late in the 82nd minute, Bobosi Byaurhanga sent a rocket on target from a few yards outside the box that took a deflection on the way toward Romero — forcing a diving save.
Oakland’s last chance came in the 90th minute when Jackson Kiil made a nice run down the right side to center a ball to the top of the box. It found McCabe charging into the area, but he scuffed his shot attempt wide left of the mark. McCabe fell to the floor knowing that he missed a great chance.
Tinkering
It was interesting to see Ryan Martin tinker with the lineup on Saturday night, perhaps looking for a spark to revive their offense.
Per his heatmap, Wilson appeared out wide more on the left and dropped deeper much more frequently than he’s done previously. However, he struggled to get involved with just 13 touches and exited the match in the 55th minute.
Lapa also got his first start and showed up all over the field as a center forward, central attacking midfielder, and even kicking out wide to the right. In 65 minutes, he had 36 touches in all areas, but was heavily involved in the buildup with six touches slightly past the midfield line near the right sideline.
Prentice also appeared as a right winger for the first time this season. Although it’s a position that allows him to cut inside on his shooting foot, he wasn’t able to record any shot attempts. He switched back to the left side around the 75th minute.
Must-win vs. Monterey
Paging Dr. Kelpie.
If Oakland’s playoff hopes are going to stay alive, they will undoubtedly require a win against last-place Monterey Bay FC. They also mark the end of what should’ve been a favorable three-game stretch against Las Vegas and El Paso, with the next three games being second-place San Antonio (Aug. 22), first-place Orange County (Aug. 29), and fifth-place Lexington (Sep. 12).
Regardless of Roots’ position in the standings, they have to beat Monterey like the bottom-of-the-table team they are. MBFC is currently 4-3-15 with a goal differential of -15, and is coming off a 5-2 loss to New Mexico.
Their last win was 1-nil over El Paso on June 20, and they are 0-1-5 over their last six games. They’ve conceded 14 goals during that span, but are doing more scoring than Roots with seven goals in their last six.
Despite giving up five goals to New Mexico, Monterey’s attack actually did well to pull the trigger often. In the loss, they logged 26 shots with eight on target, along with 39 touches in the box and 12 corners. MBFC actually led 2-1 before United scored four goals over the final 17 minutes of the match.
Starting Lineups
- Oakland Roots
It’s a strange lineup for Oakland Roots with three player changes from Wednesday. David Garcia is back in the fold, Bruno Lapa makes his starting lineup debut, while Tommy McCabe returns from his injury. It looks like three at the back with Garcia, Michael Edwards, and Neveal Hackshaw, while Julian Bravo returns at Left Back. I’m hearing Florian Valot is making a move deeper to the right back spot. I’m also hearing that one big change is Peter Wilson kicking out wide on the left, while Wolfgang Prentice moves to the right side, and Lapa lines up as the center forward.
Innnnnteresting moves, looking to give El Paso a new look.
- El Paso Locomotive
Timeline
El paso shot blocked- 4′
Rubio shot in the box sails – 5′
Flo definitely not at RB, but Wilson is out wide – 9′
El Paso quick goal – 10′
Farkarlun with a ball to Rubin for the redirection goal in front of the net.
Looks like a usual four at the back with Edwards at RB, Bravo LB, Valot in a usual position, but Wilson at LW and Wolf at RW
Nice work from Wolf to Lapa, centers a pass for Wilson that draws a corner – 18′
Corner – 19′
cleared away
El Paso corner – 27′
El Paso shot blocked in the box – 31′
El Paso header bounces off the ground and over – 38′
El Paso header skims wide – 41′
Long free kick – 44′
leads to a corner
Corner – 45′
Corner – 45+1′
First Half Notes: Depressing. Roots haven’t taken a shot, have 2 touches in the box, conceded another goal in the first 10 minutes. El Paso with 9 shots, 2 on target, 14 touches in the box on 52% possession.
De Vicente in for Garcia – 47′
Turnover high by El Paso, leads to a shot on target by Valot but a big save – 49′
big chance missed there
Corner- 50′
De Vicente ball finds Hackshaw but its cleared away
Corner – 51′
Roots the most productive they’ve looked all game.
El Paso another turnover high by Lapa misses Wilson on a pass into the box. Missed him by a lot – 53′
El Paso long shot saved by McIntosh, it rebounds back into play but no one cleans it up – 54′
Bravo long shot smashes off the crossbar – 55′
Jacquesson on for Wilson – 56′
hmm…..
El Paso free kick dangerous areas- 60′
Along the right side just outside the box.
Shot tipped away by McIntosh. Big save
El Paso corner – 61′
Lepley on for Lapa – 65′
El Paso shot stopped by McIntosh. Would’ve gone wide anyways – 67′
El Paso another turnover high. Lepley tries to curl a shot into the top left corner but its cleared off the line – 68′
Corner – 68′
goes straight through the box.
Ball cycles to Valot and he blasts it 20 yards high
El Paso corner – 71′
Lepley shot blocked in the box – 72′
Bobosi sends a shot from like 40 yards high and wide – 78′
El Paso corner – 79′
Bobosi shot on target forces a big save, took a deflection on the way in- 82′
Kiil on for Bravo – 85′
Free kick – 88′
McCabe shot goes wide, good chances after a centering pass by Kiil – 90′
El Paso shot goes high – 90+1′