Match Notes: Roots on a roll; 2 match win streak, 5 matches unbeaten

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Photo courtesy of Oakland Roots SC

It is coming together; the talent is coming through, and boy does winning feel sweet. 

Oakland Roots SC is now on its first win streak in the USL and on a five-match unbeaten run after defeating the defending champions, Phoenix Rising, 3-1.

"They’re the leaders in the conference and a really strong team. Maybe they took us a little lightly with the starting lineup they rolled out against us, but good for us right? We wanted to keep everything rolling returning home. This was one of the rescheduled games from earlier in the season so it’s good to take three points," said technical director and interim head coach Jordan Ferrell. 

Oakland is officially out of last place with a 4-5-8 record, now ahead of Las Vegas Lights by goal differential. With three matches in hand on San Diego Loyal in fourth with 27 points, the Roots are playing their best and in clear striking distance of a playoff spot with continued results during a busy stretch in the schedule. 

"The schedule is very challenging, for sure. But at the beginning of the season, we were struggling in not being able to establish a rhythm by not even playing one game a week. The benefit of the schedule and the way it's worked out is having a rhythm of playing games.  That's what players want to do, what coaches want, and fans as well," said Ferrell, via Douglas Zimmerman. 

"With the 15 games that we have left, the majority of those are at home. The rhythm is one of the big difference-makers in this run."

It's taken some focus from Oakland to respond from being in last place. Ferrell said he's reiterated to his players to shift attention on themselves instead of the table, while Phoenix came in sleeping on them.

"I said this in the pre-game, I told the guys don't look at the table and focus on the game ahead of you. I really think Phoenix looked at the table and thought, 'We're in first, they are in last; we can rotate some guys.' That was a big mistake. We just need to take it one game at a time," explained Ferrell, via Zimmerman. 

The Roots got the scoring started in the  43rd minute when Ariel Mbumba sent a cross to Chuy Enriquez, who fed Wal Fall charging in the box for a rocket to the top right bin. 

One minute earlier, Bokila had a shot saved by Rising keeper Benjamin Lundt's right foot which led to a corner. 

Oakland's next goal came in the 51st minute when Bokila had a shot saved by Lundt, then a blocked follow-up shot trickled to Jose Hernandez--launching in another laser for the Town over the fallen keeper. 

Ferrell was glad to see the attacking combination of Bokila, Chuy, and Hernandez shine against Phoenix.

"Yeah it took us a little bit to get going, after about 15 minutes after we settled in, we started getting some good balls across the goal and that started getting the juices flowing. Getting that goal to close the half made a big difference psychologically for the team," said Ferrell. 

Rising was able to get on the board with Darnell King a couple of minutes later to make it 2-1. But after eight minutes, it was more cleanup work from the Roots for the third goal. 

In the 61st, Diaz played a ball into Chuy, who was able to gather the skipping ball in the box for a shot on target which was saved back into the field of play. The ball was parried straight to Ariel Mbumba for the open goal. 

The 19-year old midfielder opened his body for the easy left-footed goal--breaking out the Fumba alongside Bokila and Enriquez. 

The goal marked Mbumba's second goal of the season and as many in a Roots' kit. 

"It was huge for Mbumba, I was barking at him all game. It’s a tough match playing against Phoenix and how strong they are in all aspects of their game. For him to get the reward of the goal, that’s really big. Big credit to the guys to really snap in and say hey, we’re not giving this up," said Ferrell. 

Roots finished with 48 percent possession, 14 shots, seven on target, and were credited with two critical opportunities. Passing-wise, they finished with 247 accurate passes at 69 percent success with 27 of 76 successful long balls and landed five of 15 crosses. 

Oakland's defense allowed 19 shots but only three Rising attempts were on target. 

FotMob.com's best five ratings:

Wal Fall earns FotMob's Man of the Match with an overall rating of 8.4 in 90 minutes with two shots, one on target, 30 accurate passes at 79 percent success, six duels won and five interceptions. 

    1.    Wal Fall, 8.4 

    2.    Jose Hernandez, 7.8

    3.    Memo Diaz, 7.7

    4.    Marias Fissore, 7.5

    5.    Akeem Ward, 7.4


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