The Oakland Roots rose to the occasion with one of their best performances of the season, clinching a playoff berth with a 3-2 road win over the Las Vegas Lights on Saturday night.
Las Vegas entered the match as the second seed in the upcoming USL Western Conference playoffs, having not lost at home since May 25th, while the Roots hadn’t won at all since August 31st.
Oakland’s lethal counterattack enabled them to create better chances, even though the hosts had 78 percent of the possession. A brace by leading scorer Johnny Rodriguez and the first goal by recent signing José Luis Sinisterra were enough to earn the three points.
Plenty of Chances in the First Half
In contrast to some of their recent lackluster performances, the Roots made a statement in the third minute of the match. Justin Rasmussen chased down a long pass out of the back from Rafael Baca. Las Vegas goalkeeper George Marks made a diving save, but left the rebound for the tap-in by Rodriguez.
Oakland goalkeeper Paul Blanchette made a pair of brilliant saves in the first half to keep his team on track. The first came in the 11th minute, as Valentin Noël’s shot from the just outside of the box was on its way toward the far post, but Blanchette fully extended himself to direct the ball over the end line.
A minute later, disaster struck, as Christian Pinzon’s cross deflected off of Oakland defender Neveal Hackshaw’s foot for an own goal.
Las Vegas came close again in the 15th minute, as a curving shot from the edge of the box by Jean-Claude Ngando deflected off the post.
Oakland created a chance out of very little in the 31st minute, when Baca’s one-timer from distance glanced off of the crossbar.
Blanchette stopped Noël with another brilliant save in the 41st minute. Noël found an opening and got off a quick, on-target strike, but Blanchette launched his body into the air and fully extended his arms to deflect the ball over the endline.
The Roots nearly grabbed the lead in the third minute of first half stoppage time. Baboucarr Njie’s blast from distance was easily saved by Marks, who couldn’t hold on to the rebound. Las Vegas defender Maliek Howell drove to the turf to get in the way of his shot and prevent Rodriguez from scoring. Howell was visibly shaken up, and was substituted out of the match at halftime.
Cautious Start to the Second Half
As the second half began, at first it seemed as if the match might end in a standoff. But a seemingly innocuous play by Sinisterra in the 61st minute changed everything. Sinisterra was 25 yards from goal when he received a pass from Daniel Gomez. He took a couple of steps and fired a shot that took a single bounce off the turf and eluded Marks at the near post.
Oakland seemingly put the match away on a breakaway in the 72nd minute. Irakoze Donasiyano and Rodriguez were pursued by three Las Vegas defenders. Donasiyano’s cross was perfectly placed for Rodriguez to redirect it into the net.
The Roots seemed to have the match in hand, but they still had to survive a pair of dangerous moments. The first came in the 88th minute, when Charlie Adams’ blast from distance went just wide.
Noël was finally rewarded with a goal on a blast from 25 yards out that went in at the far post in the third minute of stoppage time. But the home side soon ran out of time to search for an equalizer.
Next Week’s Game
For the first time in the past four seasons, the Roots’ final match of the season won’t be a winner take all affair. But the Roots’ final seeding will be determined next Saturday.
The Roots are currently the the sixth seed in the Western Conference, and they will finish in either the sixth, seventh, or eighth seed depending on the result of Saturday’s matches.
Oakland’s opponent, Birmingham Legion FC, has already been eliminated from playoff contention.
