Two early Roots goals and the heroics of goalkeeper Kendall McIntosh in the second half earned Oakland a 2-0 victory over Loudoun United FC, moving the team just outside a USL playoff position.
Oakland came out on the attack, pinning Loundon into their own box and were rewarded in the 22nd minute when a Loundon defender cleared a ball out to above the box. Roots defender Neveal Hackshaw was able to run onto the loose ball and blast a shot from distance past Loudoun keeper Hugo Faurox and into the net.
Unlike last week, when the Roots were unable to build upon their early lead against Phoenix, Oakland was able to get that all-important second goal five minutes later.
After a shot outside the box by the Roots’ Tyler Gibson was blocked, the ball bounced out wide to Panos Armenakas, who circled the ball to Ali Elmasnaouy, who passed it to Danny Gomez just outside the top of the box.
Gomez then was able to deliver a pinpoint pass to forward Peter Wilson, who had been able to drift into an onside position inside the box completely unmarked. Wilson calmly finished the play with a goal and a 2-0 lead.
A few minutes later, Oakland almost got a third goal when Morey Doner’s shot out wide hit the side of the net.
In the second half, Loudoun regained its composure and put a lot of pressure on the Oakland goal, attempting to get back into the game. However, Roots goalkeeper Kendall McIntosh was up to the task again and again.
McIntosh made a number of spectacular point-blank saves, including a double save in the 64th minute, to keep Loundon off the scoreboard.
The Roots keeper also came up big again with saves in the 75th, 90th, and 95th minutes to secure the three points for Oakland.
Oakland has achieved a 4-2-1 record (3-2-1 in the league) since the arrival of Benny Feilhaber as the Roots’ coach and has earned as many points (10) in Feilhaber’s six games in charge as their previous 11 games. The Roots now sit on 20 points, tied with Orange County, but out of a playoff spot due to their inferior goal differential to OC. They are also only 3 points behind fifth-place Phoenix Rising.
Next up for Oakland is their final USL Jeigermeister Cup game against Orange County on July 26th at the Coliseum. Their next league game is August 9th against the Colorado Switchbacks.
