If the Oakland Roots have any more free-kicks just outside the penalty box this season, there’s no doubt who will take it.
A Wal Fall goal in the 34th minute off another brilliantly taken set-piece and some dogged defending helped the Roots earn a 1-1 tie with New Mexico United in Alberquerque.
“Yeah, he’s our captain, and obviously, it’s taken a while this season for us to get him there, but the goals are one thing. You see the leadership on the field which makes a big difference for us,” explained Roots head coach Jordan Ferrell.
Despite being out possessed 60 to 40 percent by New Mexico, Oakland earned a valuable point on the road.
FIRST HALF
United came out looking to get the full three points and had several chances in the first half.
In the 6th minute, a United corner kick was cleared to New Mexico’s David Najem. He crossed it back into the box to ex-San Francisco Deltas forward Devon Sandoval, whose header inside the six-yard box was unstoppable.
However, United was only able to convert only once, thanks to the goalkeeping of Paul Blanchette. For the game New Mexico outshot Oakland 16-6.
“Paul has been really solid for us. He’s just steady,” noted Ferrell. ” He made a lot of really good decisions that helped the team and in those moments made some really big saves that helped us get out of that period and settle into the game.
The game settled into an affair about as choppy as the ball bouncing around on the New Mexico turf.
Then the Roots leveled the game thanks to Wal Fall’s right foot.
FALL’s MAGIC
After Chuy Enriquez was fouled just outside the box Fall lined up his shot. Like his set-piece goal against Tacoma, he had to get his shot again over the wall and under the bar. And once again, he succeeded.
New Mexico goalkeeper Alex Tambakias got a hand to the ball, but he could not stop it from falling into the net.
Both teams had their chances in the second half, but the minutes clicked off, and the Roots earned another important draw.
This is Oakland’s first unbeaten streak in USL play, with one win and two draws in their last three games.
“This is a difficult place to play with the elevation, and this is a very good team that doesn’t concede many goals,” explained Ferrell. “I think we want to keep building. The momentum we have right now is very important with where we’re at this season.”
Next up for the Roots is the Lights on Saturday night in Las Vegas.
