CARSON, Calif. – Jeremy Bokila scored the winner in second-half stoppage time as Oakland Roots SC earned its first victory in the USL Championship, rallying twice to take a 3-2 win against the LA Galaxy II on Sunday night at Dignity Health Sports Park.

Neither side clicked into gear in attack early on as a tame effort by Los Dos’ Kai Koreniuk that dragged wide of the left post in the 10th minute served as the only real chance in the first half-hour. That changed in the 31st minute, though, as the Galaxy II took advantage when Axel Picazo broke forward after winning a 50-50 ball in midfield and found Augustine Williams as he peeled left for a first-time shot that was saved by Oakland goalkeeper Zeus De La Paz. Picazo followed up to score his first goal for Los Dos on the rebound.

Roots SC almost found an equalizer nine minutes before halftime as a corner from the left fell to Max Ornstil for a shot that was blocked and rebounded to Danny Flores in the left side of the penalty area, but Flores’ shot from a narrow angle only found the outside of the net. Koreniuk had a better chance for the Galaxy II five minutes before halftime as he pushed into the penalty area before shooting wide of the left post, but the hosts went to the break on top.

After going close in the first half, Flores made Roots SC history in the 47th minute as he recorded the club’s first goal in the Championship to level the score. After a turnover by the Galaxy II came to Yohannes Harish 35 yards from goal on the right, the Eritrean delivered a perfect ball to the left side of the penalty area for a first-time finish by Flores that found the left side of the net.

Los Dos regained the lead in the 61st minute, though, as Preston Judd battled past a defender to retain possession in the right side of the penalty area, and as he tried to cut the ball back centrally a challenge by Oakland’s Ariel Mbumba deflected the ball into the net from a narrow angle.

Oakland looked to get back into the game again, and Tarek Morad sent a free kick just wide of the right post from 25 yards in the 73rd minute. Three minutes later the visitors equalized, however, as Jesus Enriquez sent Akeem Ward into the left side of the penalty and Ward fired a curling shot to the far post that was saved by Galaxy II goalkeeper Eric Lopez, only for Memo Diaz to tuck away the rebound from just outside the six-yard area.

The visitors almost grabbed the lead as Ward was again involved with a minute to go as the left back got in behind the Galaxy II defense and cut back a cross for Enriquez, but Lopez made an outstanding reaction save to direct the shot wide of the left post. Roots SC wouldn’t be denied, however, as Bokila broke onto a pass by Enriquez and roofed a finish from the left side of the penalty area as the game entered stoppage time to deliver victory for Oakland.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Jesus Enriquez, Oakland Roots SC – Enriquez set up the game-winning goal for the visitors, had three shots and five key passes overall and completed 26 of 33 passes.

Scoring Summary
LA – Axel Picazo 31’
OAK – Danny Flores (Yohanes Harish) 47’
LA – Ariel Mbumba (Own Goal) 61’
OAK – Memo Diaz 76’
OAK – Jeremy Bokila (Jesus Enriquez) 90+1’

Full Box Score