Game Notes: Oakland Roots win 3-1 over Tacoma, three points back of playoffs

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Oakland Roots fans, we're in a playoff race. 

In a must-win match to keep itself in the hunt, the Roots powered to a 3-1 finish against Tacoma Defiance under the lights at Las Positas on Wednesday with goals from Lindo Mfeka in the 10th minute, Wal Fall with another golazo in the 40th, and Mfeka again in the 53rd. 

The win improves Oakland's record to 7-6-9 with 27 points, overtaking Sacramento Republic for fifth place on the table, and creeping three points back of Tacoma in the final playoff qualification spot. 

It was the biggest game of the season and they delivered. Roots' technical director and interim head coach Jordan Ferrell and the squad knows just how big this was. 

"The group is in a good run of form. We got taught a big lesson down in Tampa Bay, but each one of these games is still teaching important lessons to take into the next game. When we scored, I yelled at the team to take the lesson from the first half [when conceding a goal]," said Ferrell. 

Ferrell continued that despite the win, it's onto the next. Beating Galaxy is now the most important task to accomplish. 

"The energy of the group is incredible. The guys believe in themselves, which is the most important thing. Galaxy is where our sights are now, we're got to take care of that business. They are a really good team with Preston Judd and Jorge Hernandez, we're going to have to be out our best. That's the challenge that the guys keep stepping up to, so let's keep it going," said Ferrell. 

Mfeka finishes as FotMob.com's Man of the Match with a 9.2 player rating in 74 minutes of action, recording two goals, one assist, three shots, 14 accurate passes (74 percent), one accurate cross, two key passes. He also won six duels, had two tackles, and gained three recoveries. 

His rating was the highest for the organization this season, featuring in the #9 role to lead the attack. 

"We played Lindo tonight in the #9 and most people would say he's the shortest #9 in the league, which is totally fine," said Ferrell with a smile. "What Lindo did was provide a high work-rate defensively, and that's as important as the offensive side of things. He made it really tough for their centerbacks to have time on the ball."

The Roots' first goal from Mfeka in the 10th minute came after Alex Villanueva tried to clear a ball off of Johnny Rodriguez's face, but the ball trickled perfectly to Mfeka thanks to the press. Rodriguez was credited for the assist. 


Defiance tied the match in the 31st minute when Ray Serrano broke past a missed tackle by Soya Takahashi for the hard shot and goal. 

But nine minutes later in the 40th, Wal Fall scored his fourth goal of the year on a total banger from atop the area. On the play, Mfeka whipped a pass from the left side of the penalty area to Fall. The pass hit off Fall's right thigh, took two bounce before unloading on the volley--launching to the left bin past Christian Herrera. 


Mfeka's next goal came in the 53rd after Fall received a perfect pass out of the back by Emrah Klimenta. Fall, after holding off two defenders, sent a ball into the area to Lindo charging toward net--his left-footed shot on the first touch rocketed past Herrera. 

 And he could've put in the hat trick in the 71st minute when Memo Diaz sent a low pass across the face of goal, but his shot ricocheted high over the crossbar. 

Oakland finished the night with 53 percent possession time, eight shots with four on target, and eight chances created to go along with 354 accurate passes (74 percent), 29 accurate long balls, and three corners earned. Defensively, Roots had 43 duels won, nine successful tackles, and 14 interceptions. 

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