El Paso Locomotive FC – Sports Radio Service

Oakland Roots as much as they tuned up and practiced before the game couldn’t wrap up the regular season with a win against the visiting El Paso Locomotive at Cal State Hayward East Bay on Sat Oct 14, 2023 (@oaklandrootssc photo)

Saturday, October 14th, 2023

By Troy Ewers

Hayward, CA – It’s the final game of the regular season for the Oakland Roots and it’s been a wild ride. This game against the El Paso Locomotive FC is a win and in scenario for Oakland and it’s exactly the scenario that encapsulates this season for the Roots. The last time Oakland faced El Paso it was a 3-1 victory for Oakland and this outcome is what Coach Delgado wants his Roots team to repeat.

It wasn’t long until someone scored in the first half and unfortunately for Oakland it wasn’t in their favor. Eight minutes into the first half and Emmanuel Sonupe of El Paso scored one through the legs of Paul Blanchette in an effortless attack and just like that it was 1-0 and the packed Pioneer Stadium went from hype to crushed in seconds, because it felt like it was over before it even started at that point.

That became even more evident after a set piece resulted in a header from Noah Dollenmayer scored in the 14th minute, making this game 2-0 El Paso and from here frustration set in as Roots leading scorer Johnny Rodriguez was awarded a yellow card for tripping Dollenmayer a minute after he just scored.

For 30 minutes into the first half, one thing was for sure for Oakland and that was their attack wasn’t breaking the seal of El Paso’s defense and that carried on through the half, even being stopped on a penalty shot in the 41st minute.

The air was deflated in Pioneer Stadium. The whistle blew to signal the end of the first half and it was 2-0 El Paso, and the Oakland fans were stunned as the thought of the playoffs was fading away.

The Roots weren’t going down lightly, they had heart coming out of halftime as two minutes into the second half Anuar Pelaez scored an amazing butterfly kick for a goal for the Roots and this was the shot of adrenaline to the arm for Oakland that they needed.

It was 2-1 with a lot of time on the clock and the fans were back in. El Paso was fighting for playoff hopes as well if there was a draw, El Paso would be in the playoffs, if El Paso wins they’re in the playoffs, it was up to Oakland to determine the fate of the playoff picture.

As substitutions started to come in, the fear of time came into play for Oakland. Five minutes left in the game before stoppage time and the fans were on the edge of their feet, it felt like it could go either way. The Roots had attempt after attempt, but with four minutes of stoppage time the mountain was too high to climb.

The two goals in the first half for El Paso were all that was needed to stop Oakland in their tracks and in stoppage time, a red card for the Roots was the nail in the coffin, there was no comeback story. El Paso slowed everything down and wasted time all the way until the final whistle sounded. 2-1 El Paso 2-1 and the Roots were eliminated from a chance at the playoffs.

It was a fun season for the Oakland Roots, but it wasn’t enough to make it to the dance. The Roots had players like Johnny Rodriguez and Paul Blanchette who were league leaders in their respective categories and fought every single game, but not being able to close it out when it mattered resulted in Oakland missing a run in the postseason.

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.