Dom Dwyer lifted the Roots late in the game, and Oakland stayed locked in defensively, shutting out visiting New Mexico United, earning a 1-0 victory Saturday, August 31, at CSU East Bay Pioneer Stadium in Hayward.
While the match on the field was intense from the outset, with both sides earning scoring chances in quick succession throughout the first frame, the stat sheet wouldn’t reflect it. Neither team could find an answer to the other’s backline and the match remained deadlocked at 0-0 heading into the half.
Neither team made halftime changes, and the evenly contested match continued until the 75th minute, when Memo Diaz sent in a corner kick from the left side that found a leaping Dom Dwyer who headed it home for his first goal in an Oakland Roots kit.
New Mexico pressed the Roots backline for the remainder of the match, desperate to find an equalizer that would never come, as the home side held on to the final whistle to earn a tight 1-0 victory.
The Roots will now head out on the road for their next USL Championship action when they face North Carolina FC at WakeMed Soccer Park on September 7. The Roots will return to the East Bay for their next home game versus San Antonio FC on Saturday, September 14 at Pioneer Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Talking with the Head Coach
After the game, Head Coach Gavin Clinton was asked if this victory showed that the Roots are ready for the playoffs.
“We’re not there yet, but I thought it was a fantastic performance on both sides of the ball for us, and that we were much better with the ball than we’ve been in the last few games,” Coach Clinton said. “We were able to buy ourselves time. We know how good of a team New Mexico is — and you know you’re not going to be able to get through the match without having to defend it and hold on for a bit. But I thought it was as complete of a performance as we have put in in the last two months or so. So for us, a great three points to build off.”
What does seven weeks without a loss say about this team?
“It says that we are very, very capable, and we know we can play with anybody,” the coach said. “It’s going to be about continuing to put things together. You’ve seen their ability to defend, their ability to bounce back and come through some tough results and regroup. So I think we’re getting there.”
Summary
Scoring:
- OAK: Dom Dwyer 75’
Discipline:
- NM: Jacobo Reyes 3’ (yellow)
- NM: Avionne Flanagan 44’ (yellow)
- OAK: Daniel Gomez 51’ (yellow)
- NM: Chris Gloster 56’ (yellow)
- OAK: Johnny Rodriguez 57’ (yellow)
- OAK: Neveal Hackshaw 63’ (yellow)
- OAK: Trayvone Reid 73’ (yellow)
- NM: Harry Swartz 86’ (yellow)
Oakland Roots SC
Lineup: Paul Blanchette, Niall Logue, Neveal Hackshaw, Gagi Margvelashvili, Justin Rasmussen, Daniel Gomez (Irakoze Donasiyano), Camden Riley (Napo Matsoso), Memo Diaz, Trayvone Reid (Miche-Naider Chéry), Johnny Rodriguez (Ilya Alekseev), Baboucarr Njie (Dominic Dwyer)
Unused subs: Etsgar Cruz, Ali Elmasnaouy, Thomas Camier, Tim Syrel
Line: Shots: 7 | Shots On Goal: 1 | Corner Kicks: 3 | Fouls: 12 | Offside: 1
New Mexico United
Lineup: Alex Tambakis, Chris Gloster (Abu Danladi), Talen Maples, Will Seymore, Abdi Mohamed, Marco Micaletto, Avionne Flanagan (Harry Swartz), Nana Houssou, Jacobo Reyes (Dominick Hernandez), Mukwelle Akale, Greg Hurst
Unused subs: Kristopher Shakes, Anthony Herbert, Arturo Astorga, Jackson Dubois
Line: Shots: 10 | Shots On Goal: 2 | Corner Kicks: 8 | Fouls: 13 | Offside: 2
