It didn’t take long for New Mexico United to get on the board Saturday night, May 24, at the Oakland Coliseum. And despite a push from Roots in the second half, the home squad couldn’t find a goal of their own, eventually falling 3-0 to the visiting team.
New Mexico found their first goal of the contest just three minutes after the opening whistle, when United earned a corner that was sent into the box by Mukwelle Akale and landed just in front of Oakland keeper Raphael Spiegel. Spiegel made poor contact on a direct clearance attempt and Christopher Gloster was there to clean up the rebound to make it 1-0.
Just moments later, in the sixth minute, New Mexico struck again. After a Roots turnover at midfield and some sloppy defending in their defensive third, United’s Zico Bailey was able to work into a free space behind the defense and sent a low strike that beat Spiegel to give New Mexico a quick 2-0 lead in the match.
Oakland looked defeated for the remainder of the first half as New Mexico continued to dominate time of possession and scoring opportunities. The Roots’ first real threat on goal came in the 31st minute, when a perfect cross from Baboucarr Njie was bent into the New Mexico box and laid perfectly at the feet of Peter Wilson who put his subsequent shot straight into the keeper.
The second half presented a completely re-energized Roots squad. Oakland began to dominate time of possession and created a number of premium scoring opportunities, including a 67th-minute chance that saw E.J. Johnson break through the back line for a one-on-one with the keeper. Johnson couldn’t outpace the final United defender, however, and a great tackle prevented a shot attempt.
The Roots continued to push for a late goal to narrow the two-goal deficit, but it was New Mexico that would find twine again in the 89th minute, when Daniel Bruce played a pass across the Oakland penalty area to a wide open Akale who beat Spiegel to ice the contest and gave United a 3-0 advantage as time expired.
For their next action, Oakland will return to USL Jägermeister Cup play as they head to Lancaster, California, to face USL League One club AV Alta FC in their second Group Stage fixture of the tournament on Saturday, May 31 at 7:30 p.m.
Talking with the Head Coach
After the game, Head Coach Gavin Glinton was asked to give his initial thoughts on the game. He didn’t mince words.
“We can’t start matches like that,” Coach Glinton said. “Some individual errors again cost us. I think a lack of being locked in early, and we’re down two goals in six minutes against a good team that’s now able to sit back, draw out the game, slow it down, and we’re chasing the game again.”
The loss wasn’t for lack of effort, though. “We created enough chances to definitely be in it, for sure,” Glinton said. “We still could have come back in the first half and had some good chances in the second half to get ourselves back in the game.”
So what happened?
“We got a little bit sloppy with our shape in the second half, trying to go and extend and create some pressure and turnovers, which we did, we just didn’t turn them into goals,” Glinton explained. “And then, of course, getting extended late, we give up a late goal.”
The late goal wasn’t the story, though, Glinton said.
“You just can’t start matches like that. And that’s disappointing and frustrating. Because I thought we came in with a real clarity. I didn’t think we were tough enough again until we’re two goals down. So tired of repeating that.”
When assessing the offensive performance, how much did Glinton factor in the performance of Alexander Tambakis in the New Mexico goal, and his saves?
“I mean, he came up with some big saves on the night, for sure. You give credit where credit’s due,” Glinton noted. “But you know, some of those chances we definitely need to put away. We were in some very, very good positions to finish. There’s a little bit on the keeper and a little bit on us that we need to do better in that moment.”
Summary
Scoring:
- NM: Christopher Gloster 3’
- NM: Zico Bailey 6’
- NM: Mukwelle Akale 89′
Discipline:
- NM: Gedion Zelalem 15’ (yellow card)
- OAK: Neveal Hackshaw 41’ (yellow card)
- NM: Zico Bailey 68’ (yellow card)
- NM: Kalen Ryden 72’ (yellow card)
- OAK: Bobosi Byaruhanga 77’ (yellow card)
- NM: Talen Maples 84’ (yellow card)
Oakland Roots SC
Lineup: Baboucarr Njie (Panos Armenakas), Julian Bravo, Wolfgang Prentice, Peter Wilson, José Luis Sinisterra (EJ Johnson), Tyler Gibson (Luis Saldaña), Neveal Hackshaw, Bobosi Byaruhanga, Jürgen Damm, Kai Greene, Raphael Spiegel
Unused subs: Gagi Margvelashvili, Camden Riley, Timothy Syrel, Ali Elmasnaouy, Ilya Alekseev
Line: Shots: 9 | Shots On Goal: 4 | Corner Kicks: 3 | Fouls: 18 | Offside: 5
New Mexico United
Lineup: Alexander Tambakis, Christopher Gloster, Gedion Zelalem (Marlon Vargas), Luiz Nascimento (Tomas Pondeca), Mukwelle Akale, Talen Maples, Ousman Jabang (Ricks Ford), Zico Bailey (William Seymore), Kalen Ryden, Thomas Amang (Daniel Bruce), Jaylin Lindsey
Unused subs: McKinze Gaines, Kristopher Shakes
Line: Shots: 10 | Shots On Goal: 5 | Corner Kicks: 3 | Fouls: 16 | Offside: 4
