The Oakland Roots got through to the El Paso Locomotive SC at Southwest University Park in El Paso on Sat Jul 22, 2023 (@oaklandrootssc photo)

The Oakland Roots took on the El Paso Locomotive FC in El Paso TX. The Roots came into this game in sixth place and needed a victory to move them up the table and that’s exactly what they did with a 3-1 road victory.

The first half saw even possession amongst both teams with big scoring opportunities each way. One major scoring chance came when Matsoso for the Roots missed a shot of the crossbar that was scooped up by El Paso’s goalkeeper in the 38th minute.

Two minutes later Petrovic of El Paso took a shot that look like the shot to put El Paso over but Roots goalie Paul Blanchette stopped it in its tracks. The first half ended in a scoreless stalemate but the second half would move in a very different direction.

Two minutes into the second half Petrovic shot the ball and it deflected off Roots defender Klimenta in the goal and 1-0 El Paso. Oakland would get the equalizer when Lindo Mfeka would hit a gorgeous chip in the goal to make score 1-1 in minute 65.

In the 68th minute Roots leading scorer Johnny Rodriguez would hit his eighth league goal off a header that was assisted by El Paso raised Memo Diaz on a corner set piece, 2-1 Oakland. The game looked in the Roots grasp, but they still got an insurance goal in the 85th minute with an easy shot by Pelaez and ten minutes later the final whistle blew and Oakland locked in their second win in a row after what seemed like a grueling losing streak.

Next game for the Roots will be on Wed July 26th against the Las Vegas Lights SC and the Roots will be back in the Bay Area looking for their third straight victory. Kick off is 7:00pm PT.