After a two-week layoff, the Oakland Roots suffered through their worst defensive performance at home this season on Saturday night, falling to the Colorado Springs Switchbacks by a score of 3-2.
With the loss, the Roots fell from third place to a tie for fourth in the crowded Western Conference playoff race, only 3 points ahead of sixth place Colorado Springs.
Coming into the match, the Roots had given up three goals only three times this season, in road losses to three of the best teams in the USL Championship: San Antonio, Sacramento, and Tampa Bay.
“Coming out after a break, we just weren’t as sharp as we normally are defensively,” Head Coach Noah Delgado said after the match. “I think overall we’re just catching our rhythm after a long stretch of time off, but we gave them some goals, obviously we could defend a bit better but let’s go back to it, watch some film and move on to the next one.”
Two Goals for Each Team in the First Half
Maalique Foster shocked the Oakland crowd by getting the visitors on the board in the fifth minute. A short cross from Devon Williams found Foster open in the box. The Roots’ defense was slow to react and Foster took advantage with a lethal finish from 8 yards out.
But Memo Diaz answered in the 25th minute. A long ball from out of the back by Neveal Hackshaw found Diaz streaking down the left side. Colorado Springs goalkeeper Joe Kuzminsky came out to challenge him, but Diaz’s shot bounced off of the turf and into the net.
The Roots had a couple of chances when Emrah Klimenta’s shot in the 36th minute required Kuzminsky to dive to the left to make the stop. Danny Barbir also found an opening in the 38th minute, but his shot sailed just wide.
But it was the visitors who were able to string together 11 consecutive passes to regain the lead in the 40th minute. At the end of the chain was Tyreek Magee, who played a give and go with Juan Tejada, then blasted a shot from just inside the penalty area that left goalkeeper Paul Blanchette no time to react.
Oakland had a great chance to tie the match in the 45th minute. Jeciel Cedeño was in a one-on-one with Kuzminsky, but was unable to get his shot on target.
The host side was finally able to even up the match in the 5th minute of first half stoppage time, when Cedeño was pulled down hard by Williams in the box. Anuar Peláez converted the subsequent penalty kick.
Defenses Reassert Themselves in the Second Half
Oakland struggled to create chances in the second half, while Colorado Springs continued its offensive surge.
Magee earned the brace and scored the only goal of the second half with a powerful blast from beyond the penalty area.
Drew Skundrich’s chip nearly took Oakland by surprise in the 69th minute, but a quick jump was all Blanchette needed to catch it.
Williams’ free kick from distance in the 87th minute took a difficult hop for Blanchette, but he was quickly able to grab the rebound before any damage could be done.
Oakland’s best chance to equalize came when Diaz sent a long ball into a crowd of players in the 89th minute. Bryan Tamacas’ header was on target, but Kuzminsky made the save at the near post.
Saldaña Makes His Debut
Project 51O’s Luis Saldaña made his debut for the Roots after signing USL Academy Contract earlier this week. Saldaña replaced Peláez in the 88th minute and had a shot on goal in the third minute of stoppage time.
