A dramatic strike by Jeremy Bokila one minute into extra time earned the Oakland Roots their first win ever in the USL Championship Sunday afternoon in Los Angeles.
Oakland twice fought back from one-goal deficits during the game before Bokila’s blast earned the Roots a full three points for the visitors.
“It means absolutely everything,” Roots head coach Jordan Ferrell said after the win. “I told these guys the process is what matters. This is a really important step in that process.”
After losing their first USL game against Phoenix Rising, Ferrell made several changes to the starting eleven, including the additions of Danny Flores and Yohannes Harish. Both proved instrumental in Oakland’s win.
“They did the job today and showed the depth of our squad,” added Ferrell. “Young guys stepping in a game like this early on in the season is really huge for experience.”
Despite some bright attacking play from Harish, it was a rather sleepy first half-hour of action in front of few fans at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.
Then, LA Galaxy II 19-year-old midfielder Axel Picazo open up the scoring in the 31st minute for the home side.
Roots defenders Soya Takahashi and Max Ornstil overcommitted at midfield playing Picazo. The Galaxy midfielder was able to collect the ball and get a head of steam running on goal.
Picazo passed the ball to Los Dos teammate Augustine Williams whose shot on target was saved well by Roots keeper Zeus Delapaz. However, Picazo was first to the rebound and slotted the ball into the goal for the 1-0 lead.
Oakland then put Galaxy II under some sustained pressure, including a corner kick in the 35th minute. The Roots had two shot attempts on the ensuing play that ended with midfielder Danny Flores shot into the side netting.
LA’s Kai Koreniuk almost doubled the Galaxy lead in the 40th minute but was not able to put his shot on target.
Unlike their first USL game against Phoenix, Oakland was able to quickly equalize just after the break.
Harish was able to collect the ball and deliver a wonderful cross to the far post. Roots teammate Danny Flores was able to one time his shot past Galaxy keeper Eric Lopez to equalize 1-1.
BANG! First @USLChampionship goal in club history goes to Danny Flores off a dime by Yohannes Harish.
Game is tied 1-1 | #OAKvLA pic.twitter.com/uTBtmzSkUK
— Oakland Roots (@oaklandrootssc) May 24, 2021
“The coincidence is that I was thinking about the first goal in Roots history last night and that it would be remembered forever,” said Flores. “Luckily it was me. I’m proud to represent my hometown and the Bay Area and my family.
Los Angeles struck back and was able to reclaim the lead in the 61st minute.
Galaxy II’s Preston Judd was able to collect the ball out wide on the right sideline. He was able to overwhelm Roots defender Akeem Ward and have a clean shot on target from the near post. His shot was deflected by Oakland’s Ariel Mbumba into the Roots net for an owngoal a 2-1 deficit.
The Roots continue to fight and Tarek Morad almost pulled his team level with his free-kick attempt from just outside the box in the 72nd minute. However, it sailed just over the right corner post of the Galaxy goal.
Four minutes later Oakland found their equalizer.
Oakland defender Ward was able to fire a fierce shot from out left that was saved by the Galaxy keeper. Fortunately for the Roots, the ball fell to Memo Diaz who booted the ball into the back of the net tying the game at 2-2.
.@md23__ has them doing flips in Oakland#LAvOAK | @oaklandrootssc pic.twitter.com/OANZNjoQXg
— USL Championship (@USLChampionship) May 24, 2021
Then in the 91st minute, Bokila was able to fight through the Galaxy defense thanks to a fantastic first touch and delivered the dramatic game-winner blasting his shot above Lopez for final 3-2 final scoreline.
OH MY GOODNESS @bokila88 like that?!?
Roots win it in extra time! | #OAKvLA pic.twitter.com/Sz6sIj0qcl
— Oakland Roots (@oaklandrootssc) May 24, 2021
“The thing is from the beginning I knew every one of my teammates has the fight, the hunger, the belief in themselves that we can go far in the USL,” explained Flores celebrating Oakland’s first victory of the season. “We are here to prove everyone wrong and compete with the best teams in the league.”
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