In a familiar pattern, the Oakland Roots scored first, but their defense withered under a late first half onslaught, enabling San Diego Loyal SC to claim a 4-2 victory on Saturday night in the home side’s final regular season home match before going out of business after this season.
Previously, the Roots had dominated the Loyal in San Diego, with 5 wins and 2 draws in their previous 7 matches, including a 3-0 victory in the first round of the playoffs last season.
But on Saturday San Diego played with reckless abandon, peppering shots at Oakland goalkeeper Paul Blanchette, but also enabling Oakland a number of chances of their own.
9 Minutes of Agony Wipe Out the Roots’ First Half Lead
For the third consecutive match, the Roots got on the board first, thanks Bryan Tamacas’s first goal of the season in the 14th minute. Babacour Njie’s throw-in went to straight to Danny Barbir, who headed it back to an unmarked Tamacas for a right-footed volley that sailed past several San Diego defenders and into the back of the net.
But once again, the overworked Oakland defense had no answer as San Diego increased the intensity and put the match away with 3 goals in a 9-minute period.
It began in the 17th minute, when Blake Bodily sent in a cross to Joe Corona who scored on a header from the edge of the six-yard box. Goalkeeper Paul Blanchette got a hand on the ball, but couldn’t keep it out.
Bodily also set up San Diego’s second goal on another quick counterattack two minutes later. He beat Tamacas in chasing down a long ball on the left side, then dished the ball off to Ronaldo Damus at the edge of the six-yard box for the easy finish.
Tamacas had a chance for a second goal in the 22nd minute, but San Diego goalkeeper Koke Vegas reached out his hand and escorted the ball to safety. Neveal Hackshaw also had a shot on the subsequent corner kick, but his shot deflected off of a defender and sailed over the bar.
Damus struck again in the 25th minute, from a prone position. Camden Riley chipped the ball into the box, in between Oakland defenders Hackshaw and Emrah Klimenta. Damus had fallen to the turf, but he still managed to redirect the ball past Blanchette.
Tamacas had a third chance in the 40th minute, blasting a shot from well beyond the penalty area that took Vegas by surprise, forcing him to stretch out his arm and redirect it over the bar.
Adrien Perez capped off the first half with San Diego’s fourth goal, dribbling the ball from just over midfield to the edge of the penalty area and firing a left footed shot from outside the box that was perfectly placed in the top left corner of the net.
A Relaxing Second Half for San Diego
There were scattered chances in the second half, but San Diego seemed contented to rest on their achievements, while the Roots were seemingly resigned to their eighth consecutive match without a win.
Corona had another chance in the 47th minute with a free kick that sailed over the wall and went just over the crossbar.
Damus had two more opportunities to earn a hat trick. In the 71st minute he took a shot from the penalty arc that required a diving save from Blanchette. In the 80th minute, he was in a one-on-one situation with Blanchette, but Oakland keeper slid to deflect the ball way.
But Oakland made a last ditch effort to get back into the game in the final 10 minutes.
In the 83rd minute, the Roots made it 4-2. An Oakland free kick from near the endline went to Barbir, who nodded the ball down, enabling Klimenta to head the ball into the net from very close range.
In stoppage time, Trayvone Reid nearly made it 4-3, dribbling around several defenders and taking a shot that was deflected away by a San Diego defender.
Playoff Implications
For the third consecutive season, Oakland’s playoff hopes for playoff qualification will come down to the final match of the regular season, next Saturday vs. El Paso Locomotive. The Roots and El Paso are part of a group of five teams competing for the final two playoff spots in the Western Conference.
While a win on Saturday will likely get the Roots into the playoffs, for the first time this season, Oakland does not control its playoff destiny. New Mexico United took over the eighth and final playoff spot on Saturday night with a 2-1 win over Phoenix Rising. They now have 43 points, while Oakland has 42. Monterey Bay could have 44 points if they beat Birmingham tomorrow afternoon. Oakland has the tiebreaker advantage over both teams.
