Oakland Roots Grab Vital Home Win Over El Paso Locomotive

Oakland, CA – May 10, 2026 – Oakland Roots returned to winning ways in the USL Championship on Saturday afternoon, overcoming El Paso Locomotive FC 2-1 in a hard-fought contest at Pioneer Stadium. The result lifted the Roots further up the Western Conference table, while the visitors slipped to a third consecutive defeat on the road.

The match started at a frantic pace, with both sides creating early chances. Oakland struck first in the 23rd minute when midfielder Johnny Rodriguez curled a free kick over the El Paso wall and into the top corner, giving goalkeeper Jordi Farrés no chance. The Roots doubled their advantage just before half-time through Luis Torres, who latched onto a through ball and slotted calmly past the onrushing Farrés.

Tactical Battle and Second‑Half Fightback

El Paso Locomotive came out with renewed energy after the break, pressing high and forcing Oakland into defensive errors. They pulled one back in the 67th minute when substitute David Moreno headed home from a corner, setting up a tense final quarter of an hour. Despite sustained pressure from the visitors, including a goal-line clearance by Oakland defender Jake Morrison, the Roots held firm to secure all three points.

The win was particularly significant for Oakland head coach Noah Crutchfield, who had urged his team to improve their home record. “We knew El Paso would come at us, but the lads showed tremendous character to see the game out,” he said after the match.

What It Means for the Standings

The victory moves Oakland Roots up into fifth place in the Western Conference, just three points off the playoff spots with a game in hand. El Paso Locomotive remains in the lower half, now seven points adrift of the top eight. The two sides will meet again later in the season at Southwest University Park in El Paso.