Oakland Roots were minutes away from a perfect 3-0 start to the USL Championship season. Instead, a late Phoenix Rising surge forced a 2-2 draw Saturday night, ending Oakland’s 100% record but keeping the Roots undefeated at 2-0-1 through three matches.
For most of the night, Oakland looked in control after finally breaking through late in the first half. In the 43rd minute, Wolfgang Prentice finished from close range after Bobosi Byaruhanga drove through the box and delivered the cross to make it 1-0. Oakland doubled the lead right before halftime in 45+2’, with Prentice delivering another dangerous ball from the left that found Julian Bravo, who rose for a bouncing header to put Roots up 2-0.
The second half stayed tilted toward Oakland for long stretches, but Phoenix’s urgency ramped up late and the match flipped fast. In the 85th minute, Rising midfielder Diego Gómez cut the deficit with a strike from near the top of the box after a counter opened space in the final third. Then deep into stoppage time, Phoenix completed the comeback in 90+6’ when Gunnar Studenhofft headed home the equalizer, rescuing a point at Phoenix Rising Stadium.
Stat-wise, it was a busy night at both ends. ESPN listed Oakland with 16 shot attempts to Phoenix’s 11, while Rising put 6 shots on goal to Oakland’s 5. The match was played in 94°F heat under clear skies, and ESPN reported an attendance of 4,310.
Oakland leaves Arizona with a point that feels like a missed win, but the bigger picture is still strong: the Roots remain unbeaten after three matches and continue stacking results early in the Ryan Martin era.
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