USL-Championship: Roots Say Goodbye to The Coli

In the midst of an unbeaten streak, and after a season of uncertainty in their home field situation, Oakland Roots say goodbye to soccer in The Coli. Photographer Leonardo del Toro made it to the Oakland Coliseum for the final event.

OAKLAND, CA - The Oakland Roots have lost just one game since August 15th; amassing 16 points in an eight match run. If not for this horrible stretch from July to early August, when Ryan Martin and co lost 6 out of seven games, earning a lone point on the road to Las Vegas Lights, this could be a more hopeful playoff scenario. It didn’t have to be this way - they have the players in the squad to be dangerous and they have a coach who could organize a defense.

Case in point - Roots pitched 363 minutes of shutout soccer until giving up a goal in the 3rd minute, away to Tulsa last weekend. In the 20th minute, Wolfgang Prentice pulled one back after receiving a ball on the far side and making a 50-yard run with just one defender to beat. He could have played it across the middle to Trejo, who was criminally open, but his low shot got past Jacomen with no fuss.

On the far side of the half, Logan Dorsey found the goal after some fine combination play in the attacking half of the field for Tulsa. The home side looked like they might create a similar opportunity around the hour mark, with quick interchanges and sharp one-touch passes, but the ball was intercepted by the Roots, who quickly managed the turnover into a goal. Wolfgang Prentice with a slick finish in front of goal for his brace.

In the 83rd, Peter Wilson got on the board, with a poacher’s goal after Jacomen spilled Julian Bravo’s hard shot. Roots made the comeback complete with another forced turnover, this time off a throw in, and Bertin Jacquesson slammed the ball home after another Jacomen mistake in front of goal.

This comes a week after Roots SC finished off their multi-season run at the Oakland Coliseum. High operating costs, a back rent of roughly $1.4 million, and “restrictive limitations” on event scheduling have forced Oakland Roots to leave the Coli. There are multiple configurations for the venue; 46,867 for Baseball, 56,057 for Football, and up to 63,132 for special events. The Roots simply aren’t drawing the types of numbers needed to keep the lights on in such a large old building.

They signed off with a draw against Western Conference foes, San Antonio FC. And although the result is positive, two more points would see them in the final playoff spot in the West instead of on the outside looking in. But there is a chance…

Credit to Leonardo Del Toro, who was at the San Antonio FC match to take the photos for Protagonist Soccer - please follow him on Instagram at bullseye_mediaa and if you’re looking for work in the Bay Area, check out his portfolio HERE

Next Match: Roots SC at NorCal rivals, Sacramento Republic FC on Saturday, October 24th at Heart Health Park in Sacramento, CA - Kickoff is 7:00pm PST

The Roots and Republic close out the 2026 USL Championship regular season. By the time they play most of the playoff pole positioning will be done or at least in the late stages of their respective fixtures.

Western Conference Matchups and Playoff Permutations

El Paso Locomotive vs New Mexico United: Winner takes all out West… as it should be. Both clubs have had amazing seasons and whoever claims all three points wins the shootout in the Southwest… unless they draw. If neither can claim the dub after 90 minutes and Sacramento wins their home game against NorCal rivals Oakland, then all was for naught.

Phoenix Rising vs Lexington SC: Phoenix are holding down the final playoff spot in the West and host 4th place Lexington SC. Lexington could steal the West with a win, an El Paso loss, and draws or losses by both Sacramento and New Mexico - they will be highly motivated to play well. Phoenix can guarantee their playoff spot with a win. A draw gets them to 40 points and guarantees Oakland is out, but a loss opens up all new permutations.

San Antonio FC vs OCSC: Orange County are also on the outside, looking in, but are one point closer to the promised land. A Phoenix loss and a draw for OCSC could see them leapfrog Rising into the final spot. A 10-goal shutout could see OCSC into 7th… unlikely as that may be. But a win of any sort for Orange County knocks Phoenix out of the playoffs. A loss might be fine for San Antonio, with the Goal Differential as it is, they are safe.

Monterey Bay vs Las Vegas Lights: Its been a long old road for both of these teams. Lights have said their goodbyes to Cashman Field and Monterey just want to go out with their heads held high. But if LV Lights win 6-0 or better and all three teams above them lose… the odds are not with them, but they’re Vegas baby!

Sacramento Republic vs Oakland Roost SC: Despite all of the good they’ve done in the last month, their fate is out of their control. The Roots need to go into NorCal enemy territory then smash and grab all three points from a highly motivated Republic - should Sacramento win, and El Paso vs New Mexico end in a draw, Republic will win the West and the number 1 seed. That’s a lot for Oakland to overcome, but basically, this match IS their playoffs. If Roots win, with both Phoenix and OCSC losing or drawing - then Oakland takes the final playoff spot.

Colorado Springs Switchbacks vs FC Tulsa: There’s a little jockying for the 5 seed here, but essentially, this is the least dramatic matchup with far less in the balance than the rest. Both, former Champions Switchbacks, and FC Tulsa, are in the playoffs and the drama for them starts in the first round…

written by Josh Duder
photos by Leonardo Del Toro