Another offensive outburst on the road earned the Oakland Roots their second win in a row, a 3-1 victory over El Paso Locomotive, to move into fourth place in the Western Conference standings.
El Paso had an early chance to take the lead in the fifth minute when El Paso’s Josué Gómez was able to get behind the Roots’ defense, but his shot hit off the left post.
In the 22nd minute, El Paso’s Petar Petrovic again found himself alone on goal, but Roots keeper Paul Blanchette was up for the save.
The Roots’ first good chance came in the 39th minute when Oakland’s Napo Matsoso’s ball hit the post.
In the second half, El Paso took the lead in the 48th minute thanks to an own goal from Emrah Klimenta off a deflection.
Then the Roots struck back.
In the 65th minute, Bryan Tamacas got free out right and passed to Lindo Mfeka, who performed a cheeky loft shot over the onrushing El Paso goalkeeper and just inside the far post.
Four minutes later, Johnny Rodriguez connected on a header from Memo Diaz on a corner to take a 2-1 lead.
Brimming with confidence, the Roots got their insurance goal in the 85th minute. After a nice buildup, Wolfgang Prentice crossed a ball to the far post that Anuar Peláez finished for his first goal for Oakland.
With two wins in a row, the Roots rocketed up the Western Conference standings and now sit in fourth place. Coming up are two games at home this week against the Las Vegas Lights on Wednesday and then Detroit FC on Saturday.
