Well, RootsFam, that was painful.
Oakland fell 3-2 on the road to Sacramento Republic FC after holding a 2-1 lead as the game entered its final 10 minutes. Lexington just tied Phoenix Rising 3-3, solidifying Roots’ need for a win to earn the USL Championship’s Western Conference eighth seed. But, like an epic body blow, Sacramento equalized in the 81st minute before landing the haymaker finish in the 90th minute to put Oakland behind.
From supreme hope to supreme dread. Roots’ season is officially over, finishing 10th place in the West.
Sacramento opened the scoring account almost immediately after a short-played corner kick led to a shot from the right side of the box by Alfredo Midence, which took a deflection off a Roots defender before beating Kendall McIntosh on the far side in the 2nd minute. Republic looked as if they doubled their lead just minutes later, but the goal was disallowed for offside.
Roots nearly leveled in the 20th minute when Peter Wilson worked behind the Sacramento defense on a run through the middle, but his cross came too late as the opportunity was cleared from danger.
Roots leveled in the 45th minute when a free kick was given to Oakland in the attacking third. Jesus De Vicente sent a pass into the penalty area before the ball deflected to Danny Trejo, who deposited it into the twine to make it 1-1.
Just five minutes later in first-half stoppage time, Roots took the lead when De Vicente made a furious run up the left side before putting an inch-perfect cross to a full-speed Peter Wilson behind the backline. Wilson, with a great finish, put his shot away to give Oakland a 2-1 lead.
Around the 60th minute in Roots’ match, Lexington tied Phoenix 3-3 to put Oakland’s traveling fans into a frenzy. All Roots needed to do was hang on to finish with a win. But it was all for nothing.
As Phoenix and Lexington ended, Sacramento secured the free kick that led to its goal. In the 81st minute, a pass from Memo Rodriguez by way of a free kick led to a header by Lee Desmong to knot it up at 2-2.
Then in the 90th minute, Republic put the dagger into the game. With Oakland committing numbers forward on a corner, Sacramento burst on a counterattack the other direction, leading to Kyle Edwards ending Roots’ playoff dreams.
Here are our talking points from Saturday night.
[Updates coming Sunday, when I have the brainpower to process what happened]
Pure pain
It’s difficult to remember a more heartbreaking loss, given the magnitude of Saturday’s match with Oakland’s season on the line. They were just 10 minutes away from securing a playoff spot, and it crumbled away in moments.
The stars looked like they were aligning perfectly. Oakland was leading 2-1 at the half and playing terrifically. Lexington had just closed its comeback 3-3 tie with Phoenix, and all Roots needed to do was hold on. But as Phoenix and Lexington struck full time, Sacramento struck the back of the net, and I fell to my seat in disbelief.
Many times this season has felt like 2021, with Roots pushing for a final playoff spot all the way until the last moment of the regular season. Perhaps the 2021 Western Conference Semifinal loss is among the other most painful losses in Oakland Roots’ history, where Orange County defeated Roots in penalty kicks. Paul Blanchette saved Ronaldo Damus’ initial PK attempt, but was called off his line, allowing Damus to bury his second try.
But in 2021, there was still that sense of accomplishment having gotten to the postseason on the season’s final day. Taking the eventual champions, OC, to penalty kicks also brought optimism about the heights the club could reach.
Oakland reached the Western Conference semifinals again in 2022, and they’ve been trying to break that mark ever since.
Finishing with 38 points puts them just two points behind Phoenix in eighth.
One can’t help but wonder how things could’ve changed if officials made the correct call by ruling San Antonio keeper Joey Batrouni was yards off his line when he saved Peter Wilson’s penalty kick on October 10 in the home finale.
But it didn’t have to come down that far, with the Roots failing to capitalize in four games where they held a lead.
Roots led 2-nil on Phoenix back on March 21, but it ended in a 2-2 tie. On April 18 against Tulsa, Oakland led 1-0 but went down a man and conceded the equalizer later on. They led Monterey Bay 1-nil at halftime on August 15, but MB scored in the 77th. Two weeks later, they similarly led Orange County 1-0 at halftime, but allowed a second-half goal.
All that considered, Saturday’s loss to their bitter rivals may have been the most heartbreaking loss in the club’s history. With just 10 minutes left, there was a belief among Roots fans that they would get one more week to gather with friends to watch their team, but *poof* it went up in smoke.
It was a fun season, RootsFam. Here’s to brighter days at their new house on Bay Farm Island; I’ll see you there.
2027
Another year is done, RootsFam. As it goes, names come off the board, some stay, and new arrivals go up.
Ryan Martin and co. will have many difficult decisions on their hands. Martin certainly got a better sense of what he needs for his squad to be successful, and changes could be on the horizon.
The book could be open at every position for possible changes. When Martin was asked about Kendall McIntosh’s terrific run to end the season after his penalty save on San Antonio, the coach said that no decisions have been made.
“When you look at the group, the focus is how we can continue to improve the group. We need to get the right people on the bus and get people in the right spots. I think we’re making progress, but we have one more big offseason ahead of us in terms of where we think we can take this group,” Martin said.
Returning players from 2025 include McIntosh, GK Raphael Spiegel, ST Peter Wilson, CM Bobosi Byaruhanga, CM Tyler Gibson, FW Danny Trejo, FW Wolfgang Prentice, CB/FB Julian Bravo, CB Neveal Hackshaw, while CM Ali Elmasnaouy will be back from his loan.
Which of those will be back? Will someone like Wolfgang, who has surged in 2026 at 26 years old, be sold to the highest bidder?
Newly signed players include CM Tommy McCabe, FW Bertin Jacquesson, CAM Bruno Lapa, CAM/FW Florian Valot, CB David Garcia, CB Michael Edwards, ST Jackson Kiil, FB Jesus de Vicente, FB Keegan Tingey, and FB/CM Mark Fisher.
Recent signees typically have a club option for the second year of their contract, while Oakland has shown to give some established players two-year contracts plus a club-option third year. With that, it will be interesting to see how that shakes out with people like McCabe, Jacquesson, Valot, Garcia, Edwards, Tingey, Fisher, and De Vicente.
Does someone like Garcia get sold to the highest bidder? How solid is McCabe’s grasp on a starting CM role? Time will tell.
Let the silly season roll!
Starting Lineups
- Oakland Roots
One change for Ryan Martin’s side from last week. Mark Fisher agets the nod at right back in place of Keegan Tingey. Aside from that, no changes. Danny Trejo returns to the attack alongside Peter Wilson and Wolfgang Prentice. Tyler Gibson and Tommy McCabe are the CM pairing, Bobosi Byaruhamga in the CAM spot, while the rest of the back line goes Michael Edwards, David Garcia, and Jesus De Vicente from right to left.
- Sacramento Republic
Timeline
Phoenix leads 1-nil through 11 minutes
Sac corner – 2′
They play short and score on a shot from the elbow area in the box on the right side. Bad, bad start. – 3′
McIntosh big diving save – 7′
Leads to another shit clipping outside of post and out
Quick turnover in own box, another diving save by McIntosh – 8′
Sac corner – 9′
Sac goal called offside – 12′
Great interplay for Republic but its called off
Bobosi shot trails narrowly wide – 22′
Great individual work by Wilson down the field
Gibson misses a golden chance- 23′
Ball spilled by Vitiello and Gibson’s shot saved by Vitiello
Corner – 28′
Lexington trails 2-1
Sac corner – 37′
Trejo shot deflected for a corner- 39′
Corner – 40′
Goes through the box. McCabe retrieves and puts a very bad cross on
De Vicente runs down the left, sends a pass to Wolf on the right side. His shot blocked – 44′
Free kick – 45′
About 20 yards outside thr box.
Long ball targets Fisher, it deflects to the middle of the box to Trejo. He buries it for a goal. Its tied 1-1.
HOLY SHIT. PETER WILSON PUTS ROOTS AHEAD. Wolfgang gets fed in behind and sends a PERFECT low cross to put Wilson through to goal. Wilson with the finish, Oakland lead 2-1 at half
Lexington gives away a sloppy own goal. Phoenix leads 3-1 through 54
Lexington pulls 1 back. Its 3-2 at 65′
Lapa and Jacquesson on for Trejo and Gibson – 58′
HOLY SHIT. LEXINGTON TIED 3-3 WITH NEAR 10 MINUTES LEFT
De Vicente just misses Wilson. 64′
Tingey for De Vicente – 72′
Sac barely misses a header – 80′
Sac free kick in a good area on left sideline – 81′
Header goal, as Phoenix and Lexington end tied.
Hackshaw and Bravo coming on – 85′
Bobosi and Wolfy off
Hackshaw is in as a striker
Corner – 90′
Sacramento scores on a counter. Thats the season.