Bryan Tamacas warming up before the game Photo from Oakland Roots Instagram
By Troy Ewers
In Phoenix, Arizona the Oakland Roots played Phoenix Rising FC and was trying to maintain momentum from their win against Colorado Springs and it looked like that would be the case early in this game. Darius Formella, the second highest scorer for Oakland scored with a left foot shot from the left side of the box, assisted by Joseph Nane. 1-0 Roots.
Yellow cards made the first half a stalemate and when the first half ended it looked like Oakland was riding the wave that carried them last game. When the second half started the pressure from Phoenix was amplified and in minute 58 Phoenix’s Federico Varela got the first touch from Danny Trejo and scored the equalizer from the center of the box. 1-1.
Ten minutes later, Oakland recovered from a Bryan Tamacas yellow card and the silent assassin, Lindo Mfeka scored a brilliant goal that was assisted by Napo Matasoso, who’s defined himself as the premiere set up man for Oakland. 2-1 Roots.
It looked like this game was in the bag, but Phoenix wasn’t going to go quietly as an unassisted goal by Manuel Arteaga found it’s way passed Paul Blanchette and tied everything up! 2-2. The rest of the game was both teams fighting for the upper hand, but the final whistle would blow with the score 2-2.
Next game for Oakland is back in CSU East Bay and the Roots are hoping for a home field advantage to put them on the north side of the table as they play a hungry Pittsburgh FC. This game will be one of the final games before the first half of the season comes to close and the Roots have the talent but, need to close out more games to reach the playoffs.
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