For the second consecutive match, the Oakland Roots got off to a quick start but faded, resulting in a 3-1 loss to Orange County SC at Championship Soccer Stadium on Wednesday night.
At first, the Roots raised hopes that their seven-match winless streak was coming to an end. They took the lead in the 11th minute, when Anuar Peláez scored on a left-footed volley.
The runup to the goal began on an Oakland set piece. After a short corner kick, Memo Diaz made a sliding tackle to keep possession. The ball came out to Napo Matsoso, 35 yards from goal. Matsoso sent a long ball in toward the far post. Neveal Hackshaw headed the ball into Peláez’s path and Peláez redirected it through a crowd of Orange County players and into the net.
But Oakland struggled to create chances of similar quality. Meanwhile, their defense could not contain Thomas Amang and the Iloski Brothers.
There was a warning in the 36th minute. Orange County chipped the ball into the box and Brian Iloski nodded the ball into Amang’s path, but he wasn’t able to get a clean shot on goal.
Things really fell apart right before halftime. In the 45th minute, Mfeka awkwardly extended his leg and took down Brian Iloski in the box. Milan Iloski converted the penalty kick two minutes later for his 14th goal of the season.
Amang had another great chance in the fourth minute of first half stoppage time, when Brian Iloski drew a pair of Roots defenders, then dished the ball off to Amang at the edge of the six-yard box. But Amang’s shot sailed over the crossbar.
Orange County grabbed the lead for good in the sixth minute of stoppage time, right before the halftime whistle. The goal was caused by a rare defensive miscue by Oakland goalkeeper Paul Blanchette, who came off his line to punch away Owen Lambe’s corner kick but missed it completely, enabling Amang to nod the ball into the net.
The second half started out the same way the first half ended. Orange County extended their lead on a 50th minute counter attack, after a turnover from Emrah Klimenta near midfield. Klimenta backpedaled and tried to take the ball away from Milan Iloski. The Orange County striker dished the ball off to his brother, who blasted a shot from the edge of the penalty arc that left Blanchette flat footed.
The home side had another breakaway in the 52nd minute, before the smoke had even cleared from the previous goal celebration. Kyle Scott and Amang got behind the Oakland backline, but Blanchette made a diving stop to keep his team in the game.
Orange County had yet another breakaway in the 59th minute. A long ball out of the back found Amang, who laid the ball off for Milan Iloski, but Blanchette made another acrobatic stop.
The Roots seemed to regain their footing after a pair of key substitutions in the 60th minute, bringing in Jeciel Cedeño and Baboucarr Njie to replace Bryan Tamacas and Mfeka.
In the 63rd minute, Oakland nearly scored on a shot from distance by Matsoso that was headed for the near post, but Orange County goalkeeper Colin Shutler made an acrobatic save of his own.
There were few chances for either side in the remainder of the match, though Blanchette did make another excellent stop on Andrew Fox’s free kick in the fifth minute of second half stoppage time.
The Roots had a final chance in the 6th minute of second half stoppage time. Diaz crossed the ball to Peláez, who headed it toward goal. Second half substitute Luis Saldana made a run toward the far post, but was unable to get a touch on the ball before it went over the endline.
Gomez Returns
Daniel Gomez returned to the lineup for the first time after missing the last five matches with an injury, He came in as a substitute in the 77th minute.
