Roots Claw Back in 3-3 Road Thriller at New Mexico United
USL Oakland Roots

Roots Claw Back in 3-3 Road Thriller at New Mexico United

Published on October 19, 2025 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Oakland Roots News Release


Oakland Roots SC midfielder Tyler Gibson
Oakland Roots SC midfielder Tyler Gibson
(Oakland Roots)

Oakland delivered one of their gutsiest offensive performances of the season to close out their 2025 road schedule, as Roots fought back from a two-goal deficit to earn a 3-3 draw at New Mexico United on Sunday afternoon in Albuquerque.

Roots might have been eliminated from playoff contention prior to the opening kickoff, but from the way the players fired out of the gate, it looked more like a team protecting home-field advantage.

Within the first five minutes of the match, Oakland had rung the left post twice, and the offensive pressure kept coming from Roots through much of the first phase of play.

Against the run of play, however, Mukwelle Akale delivered New Mexico the first lead of the contest when a sloppy turnover from Roots near their own penalty area gave United space to work in the box, eventually leading to a gut punch goal that made it 0-1 in the 13th minute.

This lead was not to last though, as Oakland were awarded a penalty kick when Gagi Margvelashvili, who had committed the turnover leading to the New Mexico goal, worked into the box and was tripped from behind.

It was club scoring leader Peter Wilson who took his place at the spot, scoring his 16th of the season in the 16th minute to tie it up at 1-1 and draw level atop the race for the 2025 Golden Boot.

United earned one back just moments later when Neveal Hackshaw put an awkward touch on the ball in his own box, inadvertently sending it into the back of the net for an own goal to give United a 1-2 lead in the 19th.

New Mexico stretched their lead to 1-3 when they were awarded a penalty of their own after Ali Elmasnaouy was beaten in the box and tried to compensate with a challenge that caught a bit more of the attacker than the ref was willing to allow. Jon-Talen Maples converted from the dot in the 28th minute to give his side a two-goal cushion.

In the 39th minute Oakland earned their second penalty kick of the match after Wilson found space all alone in the back, and the United defender made a business decision to prevent the one on one with a hard foul from behind.

Wilson converted once again to take sole possession of the Golden Boot race lead with his 17th goal of the season, making it 2-3 in the 41st minute.

New Mexico looked rejuvenated in the second half, spending much of the final frame knocking on the door to extend their lead once again. But Roots were steadfast in their game, leaving everything out on the pitch despite playing only for pride.

Oakland leveled the match in the waning moments of regulation time after Peter Wilson settled the ball off his chest in the New Mexico box leaving it at the feet of Gagi Margvelashvili who sent the ball into the top twine in the 82nd minute to the groans of the home fans to bring the score to 3-3.

Roots scrapped until the final whistle desperately searching for a winner to spoil New Mexico's night completely, but the match ended without any further scoring.

Roots will now head home for their final contest of 2025 when they host Lexington SC next Saturday, October 25th at 7 PM PT at the Oakland Coliseum.

Oakland Roots SC at New Mexico United

USL Championship | October 19, 2025

Venue: Isotopes Park, Albuquerque, NM

Kickoff: 2:00 PM PT

Weather: 73 degrees, Clear Skies

SCORELINE:

OAK: 3

NM: 3

SCORING SUMMARY:

NM: Mukwelle Akale 13'

OAK: Peter Wilson 16' (PK)

NM: Neveal Hackshaw 19' (OG)

NM: Jon-Talen Maples 28' (PK)

OAK: Peter Wilson 41' (PK)

OAK: Gagi Margvelashvili 82'

DISCIPLINE SUMMARY:

NM: Gedion Zelalem 32' (yellow card)

NM: Kalen Ryden 39' (yellow card)

NM: Valentin Noël 53' (yellow card)

OAK: Daniel Gomez 55' (yellow card)

OAK: Jürgen Damm 83' (yellow card)

NM: Christopher Shakes 83' (yellow card)

NM: Ousman Jabang 85' (yellow card)

OAKLAND ROOTS LINEUP: Kendall McIntosh, Gagi Margvelashvili, Camden Riley (Morey Doner), Daniel Gomez, Peter Wilson, Tyler Gibson, Neveal Hackshaw, Kai Greene (Jürgen Damm), Ali Elmasnaouy (Bobosi Byaruhanga), Faysal Bettache, Danny Trejo (Wolfgang Prentice)

Unused subs: Julian Bravo, Raphael Spiegel, Ilya Alekseev

Shots: 15 | Shots On Goal: 8 | Corner Kicks: 8 | Fouls: 10 |

NEW MEXICO LINEUP: Kristopher Shakes, Kalen Ryden, Jon-Talen Maples, Chris Gloster (Jaylin Lindsey), Kipp Keller, Valentin Noël, Gedion Zelalem (Sergio Rivas), Zico Bailey (Ousman Jabang), Greg Hurst (Luther Archimede), Dayonn Harris (Marlon Vargas), Mukwelle Akale

Unused subs: Kyle Hofmann, Will Seymore, Alexandros Tabakis

Shots: 10 | Shots On Goal: 2 | Corner Kicks: 2 | Fouls: 11 |

Check out the Oakland Roots Statistics

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Oakland Roots SC midfielder Tyler Gibson
Oakland Roots SC midfielder Tyler Gibson
   



United Soccer League Championship Stories from October 19, 2025


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