Johnny Rodriguez beating his opponent off the dribble Photo from Oakland Roots Instagram
By Tony Ewers
In the rivalry game between Oakland and Phoenix, it was a game that was a battle all the way to the final minute where both teams scored their goals in the final ten minutes. It started with both teams having scoring attempts in the first ten minutes, but neither seeing the back of the net as the Roots and Rising Sun play to a 1-1 draw.
Possession was equal 50% as they traded shot attempts through 30 minutes of action. At that point the game saw nothing, but fouls for 10 minutes and from there the back and forth was like that for the remainder of the half with no actual moment where it looked either team had the upper hand.
The second half went more in a defensive direction for the Roots, but in the 82nd minute Dariusz Formella would hit a shot off the right foot in the goal, 1-0 Oakland! The defensive direction of the Roots was working, the Phoenix Rising missed six shots except one.
In the 93rd minute, a header from Manuel Arteaga in the box went past Paul Blanchett and it was the equalizer that sealed this draw for Oakland. This would be the Roots third draw in a row and Coach Delgado says “We’ve been leading in two of those games. Moments of the game, especially when we begin to close out the season – learning how to close out games, starting out well, that’s important.”
This Formella’s sixth goal of the season and second against Phoenix this season and he’s the top goal scorer for the Roots at the moment. The next game for Oakland is next week against Rio Grande Valley Toros and this their second time facing each other.
That game was also a draw, but Oakland needs a win, because the season is moving fast and each team has to kick it in higher gear to secure top spots in the table.
Sports Radio Service 