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
2027
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.