Oakland Roots earned a big road win Sunday at Indy Eleven, beating the hosts 1-nil. Although Oakland stays in 11th place, they creep closer toward the playoff line, now six points back of eighth-place Orange County with five matches left in the season.
After a scoreless first half, Oakland broke the deadlock in the 59th minute on some stellar work between Wolfgang Prentice and Peter Wilson. In the buildup, Prentice gained possession following a defensive header about 20 yards outside the box. Wolfgang then took one dribble before feeding Wilson making a run into the area between two defenders.
On his first touch, Wilson buried a right-footed shot to the left side of the net with a stellar finish that Roots’ fans have come to know. The score gave the striker his 32nd goal in an Oakland uniform to make him the club’s all-time leader, surpassing Johnn Rodriguez.
Roots now return home to host Phoenix Rising in a critical Western Conference clash between two teams sitting just below the playoff line.
Kendall McIntosh to the rescue
Kendall McIntosh was our RootsBlog Player of the Match for his heroics on Sunday. He finished with FotMob’s highest rating at an 8.5, recording six saves, with five of them from shots in the box. HE also logged three punches, 15 recoveries, and three clearances.
His first big save came right before halftime at 45+3′, making a diving save to stop a free kick on the edge of the box by Aodhan Quinn. And then right out of the break in the 47th, McIntosh came up big again to stop Edward Kizza in close distance near the six-yard box with another diving save.
Just one minute after Roots’ goal, McIntosh made a leaping save to tip a shot from Josh O’Brien in the 60th minute to keep Indy scoreless. 13 minutes later, a ball fell to Henry Scott following a free kick, leading to another diving save from McIntosh at the left post.
In the zone, McIntosh made another big stop in the 86th despite him not being credited with a save because of a handball by Makel Rasheed. After a header-on fed Rasheed toward the six-yard box, Rasheed found himself in on goal, but McIntosh was already rushing off his line before to greet the shot as it was taken.
Despite Rasheed being called for a handball, it was a testament to McIntosh’s pinpoint play on Sunday.
Peter Wilson back to making an impact
Peter Wilson has now scored in back-to-back games, and it feels like Roots have regained their star striker. It marked Wilson’s 13th goal of the season, putting him three behind El Paso’s Rubio Rubin in the Golden Boot race. It’s a great sign for Wilson as we enter the final five matches of the season after finding himself out of the rotation for three straight matches in August.
But, there is still clear room to improve. Wilson’s goal was his only shot attempt in 29 touches with four of them being in the box, winning just three of 14 duels in the process.
Roots will need him to continue producing against Phoenix Rising next Saturday at the Coliseum. Wilson has a history of scoring on Rising, bagging two goals against them in their 4-3 win in June, and in their 3-3 tie in 2025.
If the striker can stay in form toward the squad gaining their second straight win over Phoenix, it will help lift the mood of Roots fans and their playoff hopes, while also demolishing their Western Conference rivals’ already diminishing confidence.
The Table Watch
With five matches left on the schedule, we remain in table watch season for a final playoff spot. Closing the weekend, Roots are three points behind 10th-place Phoenix and ninth-place Las Vegas, and six behind Orange County for eighth.
Starting with OCSC, their final five matches include fourth-place Eastern side Pittsburgh, last-place Monterey, first-place El Paso, Phoenix, and fourth-place San Antonio. Of those matches, Orange County will be favorites in two; MBFC and Phoenix. Roots will be hoping they can be held to six points or less, giving them 42 to end the season.
Las Vegas faces Sacramento, San Antonio, Phoenix, seventh-place Lexington, and Monterey. The Lights will be the favorites against PHX and MB, meaning six points will spit them out with 39. Oakland, again, will hope the other teams and those underdogs can get the job done.
After Oakland being up next for Phoenix, they’ll play second-place New Mexico, LV, OC, and Lexington. They won’t be the favorites against any of them, and a tie with Orange County will give Roots some comfort.
Roots’ final five isn’t easy. After Phoenix, they travel to third-place Colorado Springs, host San Antonio, and visit sixth-place Tulsa and fifth-place Sacramento. Currently sitting at 30 points, Oakland will arguably need to win all five to put itself above Orange County.
OCSC, notably, controls the tiebreaker against Oakland, but Roots can still close the gap. OC currently has eight conference wins to Roots’ six.
Starting Lineups
- Oakland Roots
Three changes to Roots’ lineup since last week. Bruno Lapa enters the starting lineup, while Michael Edwards returns to the CB spot in place of Neveal Hackshaw. Bobosi Byaruhanga also gets the nod. Tommy McCabe is unavailable; I’m told he’s fine. Aside from that, no changes. I’m curious to see how Florian Valot and Bruno Lapa, while wingers like Bertin Jacquesson and Wolfgang Prentice start. That must mean one takes the CAM spot and the other takes a midfield spot with McCabe out. This must mean Mark Fisher moves to the RB spot instead of Julian Bravo.
- Indy Eleven
Timeline
Free kick about 7 yards above the box – 4′
De Vicente shot trails just wide
Indy shot blocked in the box – 7′
Indy another shot blocked in the box – 8′
Wolfy sends a shot narrowly high – 12′
Near the 6 yard box, gotta finish
Indy corner – 16′
Roots getting caught committing turnovers near their own box, dangerous game – 19
Gibson entered for Valot – 26′
Corner – 30′
Header by JAcquesson loops high
Wolfy shot on the box goes 50 yards high – 32′
Peter Wilson targeted in front of the net, but defended away for a corner – 33′
Corner – 34′
Indy corner – 40′
McIntosh punched away
Indy free kick – 43′
Right side outside of the box. McIntosh punches, but it falls in the box. Blake takes a shot on the volley that is blocked away by De Vicente, big chance.
Indy corner -44′
Indy free kick on the edge of the box – 45+2′
Shot saved by McIntosh with a dive to his left.
First half notes:
Roots probably lucky to not concede a goal, but it remains scoreless. Oakland has got in good areas a couple of times, but couldn’t find the finishing touch. Roots with 55% possession, 5 shots with none on target, and nine touches in the box. Indy with 8 shots, 3 on target, and 20 touches in the box.
McIntosh with another big diving save – 47′
Shot from close distance a yard above the 6-yard box.
Lapa with a shot on target at the top of the box – 48′
Good work to free himself up.
Lapa sends another shot, this time wide – 52′
Indy corner – 58′
Punched away again by McIntosh
ROOTS GOAL – 59′
WOLFY TO WILSON. Wolfgang with a couple of nice dribbles before feeding Peter Wilson into the box, takes a shot on his first touch and BURIES IT. Oakland leads 1-nil after 60 minutes.
McIntosh a huge save moments later – 60′
Jacquesson dangerous ball toward goal but goes straight to GK – 63′
De Vicente shot blocked – 71′
Then Wolfy has a shot blocked – 71′
Corner – 71′
Ball falls to Fisher about 5 yards , his shot sails high
Indy with a shot blocked in the box – 72′
Indy free kick in a good area – 73
Another huge save from McIntosh
Bravo and Trejo coming on for De Vicente and Lapa – 76′
Indy header on target – 78′
McIntosh pointing to his hip – 78′
Probably a cramp.
Wilson shot blocked out for a corner – 83′
Corner – 83′
Leads to an Indy counter
Another big save from McIntosh, this time in close distance. Does great to close out the ball – 86′
Indy sends a shot from distance high – 89′
Lepley and Tingey coming on = 90′
Wolfy and Jacquesson coming off
Near Roots own goal – 90+3′
Ensuing Indy corner leads to nothing but they retain possession
ROOTS WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!