Game Notes & Player Ratings: Oakland Roots Keep Playoff Hopes Alive With 4-3 Win Over San Diego Loyal

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Source: Oakland Roots SC

What a roller coaster that was. 

The Oakland Roots, while down a man, defeated the San Diego Loyal 4-3 at Torero Stadium to keep its playoff chances alive after Tacoma Defiance got the job done in a 3-2 win against fourth-ranked LA Galaxy II. 

After relinquishing a 3-1 lead, Roots' technical director and interim head coach Jordan Ferrell believes the team made it harder on themselves in the end. 

"We made it emotional, more than anything. The two goals we conceded in the second half were highly unnecessary. At minimum, I’m proud of the guys for fighting all the way through and getting the three points. That’s huge," said Ferrell, via the team. 

It sets up a monumental regular-season finale at Laney College on Saturday, October 30 against Sporting KC II at 7:00 p.m. KC II, notably, holds a last-place 4-8-19 record in the Central Division. Los Dos, meanwhile, faces second-seeded Orange County at 7:30 p.m. 

Back on the roller coaster. 

"People have been asking me about the playoff race for the last month. I think we’ve maintained that we always focus on the game ahead of us, and also we’ve had a feeling that it would come down to the last game of the season," said Ferrell.  

"A big advantage there is that we’re going to be at home and we know that the Laney crowd is going to be rocking. It’s important that we come in and focus so that we get those last three points." 

Ferrell's message to the fans back in the Town was clear, the team needs you at Saturday's finale.

"We need them to be rockin’, we need them to be energetic, we need them to be positive, and we need them to be the wind underneath our wings. The guys will feel that energy and come out flying," said Ferrell. 

Source: Oakland Roots SC

Match Notes 

Things got started slowly for Oakland Roots with San Diego's Augie Williams scoring in the 17th minute after Corey Hertzog sent a nice ball across the face of the goal for a tap-in. 

But from there, Roots began to build momentum by drawing four straight corners between the 27th and 31st minutes. Jose Hernandez, back from a red card suspension, had a shot on target in the 34th. 

Oakland's goal in the 35th minute came when Callum Montgomery played a pass back to Austin Guerrero while Chuy Enriquez pressed the action. The gift made it 1-1. 

Roots went into the half with 49 percent possession, six shots with one on target, five chances created, and six corners generated, eventually finishing the full 90 minutes with 43 percent possession, 13 shots with six on target, 13 chances created, and two big changes produced. 

While at halftime, Tacoma pulled ahead of Los Dos 2-0.

Momentum swung to Oakland with a pair of Worldy-esque goals in a span of six minutes.

It started with Chuy Enriquez arcing a wicked curling left-footed shot in the 52nd minute. In the buildup, Memo Diaz headed a bouncing ball to the feet of Matias Fissore, who instinctively played to Enriquez in a close range. 

Enriquez took one dribble to the inside with his right foot, uncorking with the left foot for the goal past Guerrero's dive. 

Then in the 58th minute, Akeem O'Connor-Ward took a pass from Quincy Amarikwa and flicked the ball overhead past two Loyal defenders, then followed through with a left-footed shot off the volley. 

The play lands at No. 7 on Sportscenter's Top 10, per Nicholas Murray of the USL. 

From there, Roots appeared to turn off the intensity after Paul Blanchette recorded two big saves from hard line-drive shots in the 61st and 66th. It led to Williams bagging his brace with a goal in the 77th. 

Tacoma Defiance finalized its 3-2 win over Los Dos around the 82nd minute of Roots' affair, but things started to unravel shortly thereafter. 

Corey Hertzog scored after corralling a ball in the penalty area, tying the match 3-3 in the 85th minute. Then in the 87th, Tarek Morad was red-carded for dissent, which our sources indicate was "B.S." 

Morad took to Twitter to address the matter, describing that he called the referee a "fucking cheater." 

But down a man, the Roots never quit. 

At 90+1', Oakland gained a set-piece around midfield. O'Connor-Ward sent a long ball into Kai Greene, who instrumentally headed a ball in the path of Johnny Rodriguez charging towards the net. Rodriguez, after skipping the ball to the left, was taken out at the feet by Guerrero--an arguable red card.

A penalty was awarded, and Jeremy Bokila stepped to the line. At this point, Oakland had converted just one penalty kick this season in four attempts. 

Big Bokila slotted his left-footed shot with aim and power to the top-left. Oakland wins 4-3, the biggest win of the franchise's history, thus far. 

Source: Oakland Roots SC

Player Ratings via FotMob.com

    1.    Matias Fissore, 8.4

In 90 minutes, Fissore recorded one assist, one shot, and completed 37 passes (84 percent), 1/1 cross, 4/4 long balls, three key passes, 3/3 duels won, four clearances, 1/1 successful dribbles, 2/2 successful tackles, two interceptions, and nine recoveries. He finished with 61 total touches. 
    
    2.    Chuy Enriquez, 7.9

In 74 minutes, Enriquez scored one goal on three shots and two on target, completing 15 passes (79 percent), 3/6 crosses, three key passes, attempted three corners, 3/5 duels won, drew three fouls, and two recoveries. He finished with 40 total touches. 

    3.    Jose Hernandez, 7.8

In 83 minutes, Hernandez recorded one assist, one shot on target and completed 22 passes (92 percent), created one chance, 2/7 crosses, 2/2 long balls, three key passes, attempted four corners, drew one foul, and two recoveries. He finished with 42 total touches. 

    4.    Akeem Ward, 7.5

In 90 minutes, Ward recorded one goal with one shot on target and completed 21 passes (70 percent), created one chance, 1/3 crosses, 2/6 long balls, one key pass, six duels won, two clearances, 2/5 successful dribbles, drew one foul, and eight recoveries. He finished with 65 total touches. 

    5.    Memo Diaz, 7.3

In 83 minutes, Diaz completed 25 passes (71 percent), 4/9 long balls, five duels won, two clearances, 1/1 successful dribbles, 3/4 successful tackles, two interceptions, and six recoveries. He finished with 59 total touches. 

    6.    Wal Fall, 7.2

In 90 minutes, Fall recorded three shots and completed 34 passes (74 percent), 3/6 long balls, four duels won, 3/3 successful tackles, one aerial won, and 10 recoveries. He finished with 56 total touches. 

    7.    Emrah Klimenta, 7.0

In 90 minutes, Klimenta completed 22 passes (85 percent), 1/3 long balls, five duels won, seven clearances with two by header, 1/1 successful dribble, 2/2 successful tackles, two aerials won, three interceptions, and five recoveries. He finished with 41 total touches. 

    8.    Jeremy Bokila, 7.0

In 26 minutes, Bokila scored once goal in his only shot attempt and completed four passes (57 percent), created one chance, four duels won, drew two fouls, and 2/2 successful tackles. He finished with 17 total touches. 

    9.    Joseph Nane, 6.8

In 64 minutes, Nane completed 24 passes (86 percent), five duels won, drew one foul, 1/3 successful tackles, one aerial won, and two recoveries. He finished with 34 total touches. 

    10.    Johnny Rodriguez, 6.8

In 16 minutes, Rodriguez recorded one shot on target and completed five passes (83 percent), one duel won, drew one foul, and one recovery. He finished with 10 total touches.  

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