TACOMA, Wash. – Sam Adeniran scored a pair of first-half goals as Tacoma Defiance took a 3-1 victory against Oakland Roots SC on Sunday afternoon at Cheney Stadium to remain undefeated on home turf this season and move back into the playoff places in the USL Championship’s Pacific Division to wrap up the week.

Tacoma found the net in the 11th minute as Adeniran controlled a long ball upfield beautifully at the top of the penalty area before slotting a finish into the right corner of the net, but the offside flag was raised to deny the early goal. Issa Rayyan also had a curling shot saved by Oakland’s Zeus de la Paz in the 22nd minute, but three minutes later the hosts took the lead as an attempted clearance upfield by Roots SC’s goalkeeper hit Adeniran in the leg and looped into the open net.

Tacoma almost doubled its lead quickly as Danny Robles fired a shot from 25 yards to the top-right corner that had De la Paz at full stretch to turn wide of the post. Oakland’s Akeem Ward then produced a key block in the right side of the penalty area to deny Ray Serrano’s shot for the hosts, but late in the first half the Defiance took complete control of the game.

First the side was awarded a penalty kick as the game ticked into stoppage time when Oakland’s Jose Hernandez brought down Danny Robles as he moved into the left side of the penalty area, allowing Adeniran to convert from the spot with a low shot to the right corner for his second goal of the game. Then in the fourth minute of stoppage time a cross from the left was flicked high in the penalty area, and while Jackson Ragen’s header appeared to be heading wide, Serrano kept the ball in play with an overhead flick that sent it back into the six-yard area where Juan Alvarez was first to react to put home his first professional goal.

After recording only one blocked shot in the first half, Oakland came out far more sharply to start the second and its high pressure almost paid an immediate dividend as Ragen was caught in possession by Jesus Enriquez, setting up a shot for Danny Flores that was saved by Tacoma’s Andy Thomas. Moments later Wal Fall fired wide of the near post from the left side of the penalty area, but in the 55th minute the German midfielder fired home a brilliant free kick from just outside the top-right edge of the penalty area to try and spark a comeback.

Enriquez also had an effort from distance for the visitors go narrowly wide of the left post just past the hour-mark, but then Tacoma started to regain their footing. In the 66th minute the Defiance threatened twice, first through Randy Mendoza on a shot from the left side of the penalty area that rattled the near post before Adeniran claimed the rebound but had his shot charged down. Adeniran had another chance to complete his hat trick with 17 minutes to go after Issa Rayyan played him into the penalty area, but De la Paz made a good save after coming off his line to narrow the angle and directed the ball behind for a corner.

Roots SC had a late chance to pull within a goal with four minutes to go after Thomas was ruled to have handled outside his penalty area as he came to claim a cross at the top of the box, but the Defiance goalkeeper made a big save to parry the ball to safety as Flores’ tried to pick out the bottom-left corner of the net. That proved the last big chance for the visitors, though, as Tacoma saw out the remaining minutes to complete their homestand with the club’s fifth home win of the season.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Sam Adeniran, Tacoma Defiance – Adeniran scored twice and proved a handful for Oakland’s defense much of the game, finishing with four shots and recording two key passes while leading the attacking line impressively.

Scoring Summary
TAC – Sam Adeniran 25’
TAC – Sam Adeniran (Penalty Kick) 45+1’
TAC – Juan Alvarez (Ray Serrano) 45+4’
OAK – Wal Fall 55’

Full Box Score