Oakland Roots Postgame Presser: Full quotes from Jordan Ferrell after 3-1 win vs. Tacoma

The Oakland Roots triumphantly reeled in three points in a mighty 3-1 win over Tacoma Defiance under the lights of Las Positas' soccer stadium, bringing them three points shy of a potential playoff berth. 

The victory catapults Roots above Sacramento Republic in the standings to fifth with a 7-6-9 record with six of its wins over the last 10 matches, going 6-3-1 during that span. 

It was a strong performance from Oakland and they could've put four or five across the line if all had skipped and flicked correctly. Lindo Mfeka earned Man of the Match with the team's season-high rating of a 9.2 off of two goals and an assist, while Wal Fall is solidifying his reputation for scoring bangers. 

Roots SC now looks ahead to LA Galaxy on Saturday night at Laney, putting themselves in the driver's seat and momentum ramping high around Oakland. 

Here is a full transcript of Jordan Ferrell's post-match press conference: 

Big win, your initial reactions?

Ferrell: "It was good. Tacoma is obviously a very talented team, and for us to be in a game like tonight--that's really a six-point game--I mentioned before that we had six games against teams that are in second-, third-, and fourth-place. For us to climb the table with those games, it really matters. 

"We took the foot off the gas a little bit in the first half but got the second before half. We didn't play our football down the stretch but we defended well and that's really what matters when it comes to three points. Now we prepare for Saturday." 

Describe the gameplan:

Ferrell: "We learned a big lesson the first time we played them. If you give them a little time and space to build a rhythm, they can kill you, which happened in the first game. In the second game, we came out and pressed them and created some good chances. 

"Tonight, the first goal comes and our entire team was in a 40x30 stretch and that made the spaces really tight, which benefits us. They tried to play out of it and Lindo pulled up for the finish." 

Tacoma makes it 1-1, go from there: 

Ferrell: "When we played them at Laney, they scored one right before half. We're not used to being up 1-nothing, across the season that's not a situation we're in all the time but we'd like to be more. The lessons that we learn from it like tonight is really a lot about the attacking transition where we do really well getting out of the initial space. 

"We were a little casual and tried to do something that wasn't us in that 15 minutes, and that's what their goal comes from. After that, the character of the group shined through. I've said we have very, very strong character individually as people, players, and as a team. That showed up at the end of the first half to get up 2-1 and also in the second half to get the third and just seal it defensively. 

"Tacoma threw the kitchen sink at us in the latter stages and they are not easy players to deal with. Samuel Adeniran is a handful, we knew we'd have to cover him one-on-one and two-on-one, and the guys did a really good job." 

The mentality in the SD draw compared to Tacoma:

Ferrell: "They are two different teams; Tacoma, the way they play versus how San Diego does. They are both passing teams and can break you down. I think the difference between the two is that San Diego plays that game a notch slower, so much of the game is played in the midfield. Whereas this game, Tacoma is okay stretching the field, pressing, and creating chances with their pressing, so that's something we had to be ready for. 

"I thought we did really well, we broke their pressure early and they had to set their line a little deeper and made them question how they could press us. That allowed us to get the rhythm we had in the first half." 

Wal Fall and Lindo Mfeka were involved in all three goals, talk about them:

Ferrell: "It was great to see both of them. Tonight we saw three of our top attacking midfielders in Wal, Jose Hernandez, and Lindo in the starting lineup for the first time. It made a big difference in our ability to control the ball in tight space, you see Lindo's sharp running like in the third goal--it was absolutely incredible, but that's also made by the fact that Wal can pause the game, be one versus two and still find his way out. Not just by way of a foul, which he does quite often, but also where he's able to break their press and find the pass with good running from his teammates. 

"Their combination-play had some moments in the first half that were really, really good. But also finding the decisive moment, which we got in the second half." 

Elaborate on Lindo Mfeka's impact:

Ferrell: "I'll mention the trio again [Wal Fall, Jose Hernandez, Mfeka], they are all three good in tight space but play very differently in tight space as well. What Lindo brings tonight in the #9, and most people would say he's the shortest #9 in the league, which is totally fine. 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.

"He's built low to the ground, can get around people, and is a very good defenders; no ifs, ands, or buts about it. To have three guys like that who are super intelligent footballers, it really makes a difference in how we control the match." 

The energy and focus around the team now three points back of the playoffs?

Ferrell: "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 in the second half, I yelled at the team to take the lesson from the first half [when conceding a goal]. 

"We don't have time to train and improve ourselves that way, so we have to learn on the fly and I think 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've got to take care of that business. They are a really good team with Preston Judd and some of their midfielders like Jorge Hernandez, they are a really good team. 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,"