The visiting Las Vegas Lights took full advantage of an untimely red card to Roots goalkeeper Paul Blanchette to claim a 2-0 victory over Oakland on Saturday night.
Looking to build off their impressive victory against El Paso last weekend, the Roots started the game brightly with a handful of scoring opportunities in the first half.
The best attempt was in the 24th minute off a corner kick when Dariusz Formella shot hit off the framework.
The game turned on its head just two minutes before the halftime whistle.
Defensive mistakes, Red Card puts Roots in a hole
Oakland was pressing for a goal, and the ball squirted to midfield. Roots center back Alejandro Fuenmayor gambled and pushed up to control a loose ball. Unfortunately, he could not corral the ball, and it ended up at the feet of La Vegas’ Daniel Trejo.
Alertly seeing the Roots’ central defender out of the play, Trejo lofted a ball down the center of the field to his fellow forward Cal Jennings, who split Oakland’s two wide defensive backs, Danny Barbir and Emrah Klimentah, to get a touch on the ball.
Sensing the danger, keeper Paul Blanchette raced out to try and cut off Jennings. However, he reached out with his leg and tripped the Vegas forward, sending him to the turf.
After checking with the line judge, referee Thomas Snyder correctly pulled out the red card and sent off Blanchette.
Shortly after, Roots head coach Juan Guerra also received a red card for arguing the call.
Blanchette and Guerra will miss Oakland’s next home game on Wednesday against Phoenix Rising.
“Yeah, it was another good game from the team when it was 11 vs. 11,” said Roots assistant coach Marcos Reina Torres after the game.” But the red card changed everything — we had to defend, and we didn’t defend until they scored one. At 0-0, you can still be alive, and then you can try and fight for at least a tie or a goal.”
Vegas quickly took advantage of the extra man and scored when Trejo flicked in a shot in the 53rd minute.
The Lights continued to press for another goal and converted in the 73rd minute on a Tony Leone header.
Playoff hopes hit by home loss
Afterward the Roots had to realize that the loss was a blow to their postseason chances.
Oakland fell into ninth place, two points behind the Sacramento Republic, who also have four games in hand on the Roots. Also, Oakland faces the daunting task of having seven of their last ten games on the road after Wednesday’s home match against Phoenix.
“We will prepare for it as usual,” explained Reina Torres about Wednesday’s game. “Juan will be there at training, so he will train us well — at the game, he won’t be there, but we’ll prepare the way we normally do for an 11 vs. 11 game, and we’ll get a result.”
