An untimely penalty put a severe dent in the Oakland Roots’ postseason hopes Saturday evening at Laney College.
In the 73rd minute Roots center back Emrah Klimenta fouled LA Galaxy II forward Jonathan Perez in the box. Taylor Davila stepped up to the spot and converted for the 1-0 victory.
“It’s a tough one to swallow,” conceded Roots head coach Jordan Ferrell after the game. “I just don’t think we were sharp enough in front of goal tonight, and one decision gives them a goal.”
It was a night of frustration after a lineup that featured two new signings could not jell together in a game the Roots desperately wanted to win.
Recent signings forward Brian Brown and left-back Joseph Nane made their first appearances with the Roots, and it looked like they had never played a competitive game with their teammates.
Although Oakland controlled sixty-six percent of the possession for the game, they produced little offensively to show for it. For the majority of the game, the action was confined to the middle of the field.
“The communication of the midfield in the first half was really poor,” Farrell said. “It was disjointed on the ball, and they were closing down spaces off the ball; they felt like they were overloaded, it was very frustrating for them.”
In the first half, Los Dos had the best chance when Perez got free out on the right side and rushed in on goal from a tight angle. He tried to force his shot through Roots goalkeeper Paul Blanchette who quickly stifled the attempt.
Oakland’s best chance of the first has was a Lindo Mfeka shot that went over the crossbar.
The Roots looked more destined to score in the second half, especially after inserting Chuy Enriquez, Matias Fissore, and Jeremy Bokila until Klimenta’s penalty.
After the goal, Oakland put the Galaxy II under sustained pressure, but their best chance was a Kai Green header in extra time that LA’s keeper, Justin vom Steeg, smothered.
Oakland remains three points behind the Tacoma Defiance with the loss, but they have two games in hand over the Roots. The win moved Los Angeles into a tie, with Sacramento only one point behind Oakland.
The loss makes the Roots home game on Wednesday against San Diego Loyal another must-win for the team who have nine games left on the schedule. “We’re going to get everyone’s best game down the stretch which means we just have to focus on the one in front of us,” said Ferrell.
