Oakland Roots go into the season-finale with everything to play for following its 4-2 win over FC Tulsa on Saturday night. The result moves Roots into 10th place with 38 points, one point behind eighth-place Phoenix Rising and ninth-place Orange County.
It was a stunning win for Roots, answeing 1-0 and 2-1 deficits, scoring three straight goals for the win, including two in the final 10 minutes.
Tulsa opened up the scoring in just three minutes, when a run up the left side and a cross to the top of the Oakland box led to a shot from Logan Dorsey. His attempt took a deflection off David Garcia to redirect past Kendall McIntosh.
But Oakland equalized in the 21st minute after a great headed through ball at midfield from Peter Wilson gave Wolfgang Prentice room to run in the final third. The winger weaved into the box before tucking a low shot into the bottom left to bring the match level at 1-1.
Tulsa regained the lead four minutes into the second half when a string of passes led to a wide open first touch shot from Dorsey which beat McIntosh to the left side once again.
But in the 60th, Wolfgang equalized the match again when bagging his brace. This time, a through-ball by Garcia found Bertin Jaquesson, who sent a low cross to Prentice near the penalty spot for a first-touch finish.
Then in the 83rd minute, Oakland took their first lead of the night when Julian Bravo sent a rocket from near the top of the box to cause an initial save, rebounding perfectly to Wilson in good position to pounce. The striker put away his shot in close distance, putting Roots ahead 3-2.
Just four minutes later, Jacquesson put the game away on another rebound opportunity. This time, Wilson’s shot in close distance hit off the keeper’s hands to the Frenchman in front of the net. With an emphatic finish, Jacquesson put the dagger into the match.
RootsBlog Player of the Match – Wolfgang Prentice
We’re awarding Wolfgang Prentice our RootsBlog Player of the Match with his two-goal performance, but this could also easily go to Jacquesson and Wilson for logging a goal and assist apiece.
Both of Prentice’s goals were a product of stellar finishing. His first goal was after a great header-on by Wilson, leading to terrific individual work by Wolfy to dribble into the box and push a right-footed shot to the far post. His second goal was the go-ahead to make it 3-2, this time making the most of just one-touch for a perfect finish.
Onward to Sacramento
Here we go, RootsFam, a battle awaits in Sacramento.
OAkland travels to their bitter rival with everything to play for. A win, and they are potentially in and they secure the 2026 NorCal Hella Cup supporters’ trophy for its traveling fans.
With 38 points, Roots can finish with a max of 41 points with Phoenix Rising and Orange County their direct competition. Oakland needs both to drop points
Phoenix currently holds the final playoff spot following its 3-1 win over Orange County. They close the season against Lexington at 7:00 p.m., which is currently fourth and just three points back of El Paso Locomotive in first.
OCSC, meanwhile, faces San Antonio at 5:30 p.m. — meaning we will likely know the fait of Roots by kickoff in Sacramento. SAFC is now up to 42 points with its win over New Mexico and can climb up to fifth place in its finale.
Say Roots, Phoenix, and Orange County finish with 39 points. This year’s tiebreaker for the USL Championship is based on total wins against conference opponents.
As it stands, Roots go into the finale with eight wins, seven ties, and eight losses against Western Conference teams. Phoenix are 7-8-8 against conference teams, while OCSC had an identical conference record with Roots at 8-7-8.
So, if all three finish with 39 points, Phoenix is automatically eliminated based on having less wins than Oakland and Orange County. This means the tiebreaker for Roots and OC will come down to goal differential against conference opponents.
[Pause for suspense]
Roots go into the finale with a strong edge over Orange County based on conference goal differential. Oakland is currently even at zero, while OC trails heavily at -6.
So, the scenarios are as follows:
Roots win and they achieve a playoff spot with a Phoenix/Orange County loss or tie.
Roots tie and they achieve a playoff spot with a Phoenix/Orange County loss.
Peter Wilson & Bertin Jacquesson
Oakland’s attack was already hampered going into the match without Bruno Lapa. Veteran midfielder Florian Valot has also been missing in action.
To the rescue, along with Wolfgang, was striker Peter Wilson and winger Bertin Jacquesson.
After entering in the 56th minute, Jacquesson took just four minutes to get involved after landing his assist to Prentice. His low rolling cross couldn’t have been placed more perfectly, in between two defenders and with just enough speed for Wolfgang to hammer his shot.
Jacquesson came up big again to put the dagger into the match on the fourth goal.
Wilson’s assist to Prentice was also a thing of beauty. He made a great run and leap at midfield to get in front of a defender, pushing a header pass to put Wolfy on through to the net.
He was there to put Roots ahead after cleaning up the rebound off Bravo’s shot, and challenged Tulsa’s keeper with a shot that hit off his hands and back into play for Jacquesson’s score.
Starting Lineups
- Oakland Roots
Two changes for Oakland Roots from last weekend. Bobosi Byaruhanga and Keegan Tingey get the start in place of Bruno Lapa and Mark Fisher. Lapa isn’t in the lineup, while Fisher is on the subs list. Aside from that, no changes. Looks like Peter Wilson, Wolfgang Prentice and Danny Trejo make up the attackers. Tommy McCabe and Tyler Gibson are in the midfield, while Bobosi can man the CAM spot. Tingey moves into the RB spot opposite Jesus de Vicente, with David Garcia and Michael Edwards in the CB spots.
- FC Tulsa
Timeline
Tulsa goal – 3′
Long shot by Logan Dorsey, takes a deflection off Garcia’s backside and redirects into the net.
Tulsa long throw – 9′
Ball falls to Ian in front of the net, his shot on the volley sails.
Tulsa with 65% possession – 13′
WOLFY GOAL!!!!!!!!! – 21′
Gets fed into the final third with a great header on by Peter Wilson. Wolfy makes a long dribble into the box. Moves the ball onto his right foot to shoot it across the face of the keeper to the far post and into the net. It’s tied 1-1. NOT DEAD YET
Peter Wilson fed a long cross into the box by Trejo, gets a foot on it but can’t put it on frame – 28′
Tulsa header wide – 30′
Tulsa corner – 38′
Cleared away but they retain
Wolfy misses by a mile – 39′
Tulda dangerous pass across the face comes up empty – 45′
First Half Notes:
Roots took a bit to build into the match, but they’ve looked progressively better and it’s tied 1-1. Oakland with 3 shots, 1 on target, 4 touches in the box on 47% possession. Tulsa with 7 shots, also 1 shot on target, 16 touches in the box. Roots going to need more sustained pressure, but had moments breaking in behind. Will they keep on the counter in the second half?
Tulsa goal – 49′
Nice build down the right wing, centers it to Dorsey for the first touch goal. Roots trail 2-1.
Roots free kick – 52′
leads to nothing
Tingey dangerous cross cleared away – 52′
Jacquesson and Fisher in – 56′
Gibson and McCabe out
No shots in the second half for Roots – 59′
WOLFY GOAL – 60!
WE’RE NOT DEAD YET! Build down the wing from Garcia to JAcquesson, squares it to PEter Wilson who flicks it on the Wolfgang. He scores on a first-touch goal!
Corner – 62′
Tulsa free kick on edge of the box on the left side – 75′
cleared for a corner
Tulsa corner – 76′
Bobosi shoots very wide from distance – 77′
Hate that decision with the game on the line
Lepley, Hackshaw, and Bravo coming on – 81′
Bobosi, McCabe, and Prentice off
Kitchen sink time – 82′
ROOTS GOAL – 83′
OH MY GOD!!!!!!!! JULIAN BRAVO SENDS A SHOT AND IT REBOUNDS TO PETER WILSON IN FRONT OF THE NET. WILSON SCORES. WE’RE ALIIIIIIIIIIVE
DAGGER – 88′
Peter Wilson with a shot in front of the net and it rebounds to Bertin Jacquesson in the middle of the box. He scores. OAKLAND OFF TO SACRAMENTO WITH THE SEASON ON THE LINE
Corner – 90+3′
Phoenix up 2-nil on Orange County. San Antonio leads 1-nil on New Mexico, both teams down a man