The Oakland Roots have to feel fortunate to earn a point on the road after being controlled for most of their game against El Paso Locomotive in Texas. Here are three things we learned from the game.
Defensive lapses cost Roots
Looking to build off of their first win, Oakland could not have asked for a better start to the game after scoring in the 13th minute.
However, El Paso then took control of the game for long stretches. In the 31st minute, off a free-kick from near the middle of the pitch, the Roots players seemed to be caught off guard when Locomotive midfielder Richie Ryan lofted a ball into the box that his teammate Luis Solignac ran onto. Oakland defender Daniel Barbir attempted to catch up, but Solignac lofted a ball over the defender and onrushing keeper Benny Diaz, trickling into the net.
Just before the half, defender Alejandro Fuenmayor let El Paso’s Josué Gómez slip past him. Fuenmayor attempted to recover, but he clumsily fell into Gomez in the box to concede a penalty.
Fortunately for the Roots, Gómez’s pk hit the post, and Oakland escaped the scoring opportunity. However, both opportunities should’ve been better defended.
It is interesting that Fuenmayor and Barbir continue to start most matches despite several mistakes in the back. The time might come for Morad to return or for Hakeen Ward, who hasn’t even been on the bench the past several games, to take a turn in the back.
Taking advantage of free kicks
Oakland got the lead off a set-piece opportunity for the second game in a row.
In the 13th minute, the Roots had a free-kick that Juan Azocar sent into the box. An El Paso defender cleared the ball, but it fell right to Dariusz Formella, who one-timed his shot from the left side of the box over the head of Locomotive keeper Evan Newton.
It was a quality goal from Formella, but it was the only real decent chance Oakland had to score during the game, with them unable to create much offense in open play. El Paso outshot the Roots 14-6 in the game.
Ties keeps the Roots in the playoff race
Despite being outplayed, Oakland’s early goal stood up to earn them a point. And every point is valuable in the USL Championship.
Even though Oakland has only one win so far, they have four draws to claim seven points in their first eight games. Currently, they only stand two points behind Rio Grande Valley, which is in the seventh and final playoff spot.
So even though a win would’ve been nice, draws on the road help Oakland keep pace with the rest of the Western Conference.
The path doesn’t get any easier for Oakland. Next Saturday at home, they face a stern test against the Colorado Springs Switchbacks, who currently sit on top of the league standings.
