Las Vegas Lights – Sports Radio Service

Wednesday, July 26 2023

By Troy Ewers

Hayward, California – The Oakland Roots played the Las Vegas Lights for weekday game as the Roots look to extend their winning streak to three games which would match their current longest winning streak of this season.

The match started and it was a sleepy first half as there were only two shots on goal between both teams and both shots were from Oakland. One of those shots came from Roots leading scorer Johnny Rodriguez when he tried to capitalize on a lackadaisical mistake from the Las Vegas center back Zali, who even though he made the mistake, Zali came back and got the save, preventing Rodriguez from getting his 9th league goal this season.

In the first 26 minutes Vegas earned three fouls and their sloppy play almost led to an early goal from Oakland as they missed a free kick and even claimed there was a hand ball, but a no call from the referee. After that missed call it looked like it was getting chippy out there from both teams, but with all that the first half ended scoreless.

In the second half the chances increased for both teams, one of the best chances for the Lights coming in the 50th minute, but the ball would miss wide. Another big chance for Las Vegas came from Andrew Carlton who took a risky shot from the mid line and it looked on par for a goal, but one of the league leader in saves, Paul Blanchette saved that ball from being the go ahead goal for Vegas.

After a Lights open field shot is missed, Oakland takes advantage of the missed opportunity when a deep pass from Bryan Tamacas finds Anuar Pelaez, who beats the back line and sinks a shot to the net for the advantage goal,1-0 Oakland.

A last minute equalizer opportunity for Vegas saw the back of the goal in a set piece, but an offside was called and no goal. The final whistle blew and Roots won, securing their third straight win and third place in the west.

This game not only saw another strong outing from Blanchette, but also the combo of Cireno and Tamacas on the seemed to lead the attack for Oakland as majority of their offense developed from their side.

Next game for the Roots is July 29th in CSU East Bay in Hayward against Detroit City FC as Oakland looks to continue this streak and with 13 games left, they hope to secure a home playoff game when the postseason arrives.

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.