After stealing points all season, the Oakland Roots finally conceded two valuable points at the death against the Sacramento Republic, earning a 3-3 draw in the NorCal Derby.
It would’ve been the Roots’ most impressive victory of the season and would have drawn Oakland to within a point of the final USL Western Conference playoff position.
The game started poorly for the Roots eleven minutes into the game. Defender Tarek Morad coughed up a ball under pressure from Sacramento’s Douglas Martinez. The ball deflected to the Republic’s Maalique Foster just outside the box. He quickly passed the ball to teammate Rodrigo López who scored past a diving Paul Blanchette.
Fifteen minutes later, Oakland responded when some nice buildup found Juan Azócar alone in the box. The ball popped up above him, and he positioned his body to strike a spectacular bicycle kick into the bottom left corner of the goal.
Oakland continued their pressure, but a minute before the half ended, Sacramento’s Duke Lacroix intercepted a pass and deflected the ball behind the Roots defense. Republic’s Maalique Foster was first to the ball and ran in unmarked on goal to help the home side to a 2-1 lead.
In the second half, the Roots’ leading goalscorer Óttar Karlsson helped Oakland regain the lead with two opportunistic strikes in the 55th and 70th minutes for his 12th and 13th goals of the season.
In the first goal, Oakland’s Edgardo Rito floated a cross to the far post that defender Alejandro Fuenmayor headed back across the goal to Karlsson, who headed the ball in at close range.
For the second goal, Azocar whipped a cross from out wide towards goal, forcing Republic keeper Daniel Vitiello to make a reflex save. Fortunately for Oakland, the loose ball deflected straight to the feet of Karlsson, who made no mistake with the quick putback.
Sacramento then upped the pressure for the equalizer. In the 81st minute, Paul Blanchette made a double save to keep the Roots ahead.
It looked like Blanchette’s heroics would save the day, but Sacramento had one last chance in the game’s final minute.
Rodrigo López was able to outdance Tarek Morad out wide and run up the endline unmarked. He had time to pick up Luis Felipe at the far post, who headed the ball into the net and dramatically tied up the game 3-3.
If Oakland had picked up the win, they would’ve only been one point out of the playoffs. Instead, they fell four points behind Sacramento for 7th place.
Next up, the Roots start a three-game homestand which could determine their playoff chances. Next up is El Paso Locomotive on July 16 at 7 pm.
