TACOMA, Wash. – Tacoma Defiance and Oakland Roots SC played to a 0-0 draw on Wednesday night at Cheney Stadium as both sides had opportunities but neither could take advantage, leaving a four-point gap for both to the LA Galaxy II in fourth place in the Pacific Division standings at the end of the night.

The visitors had the better of the early exchanges and created the first good chance in the 18th minute when Kai Greene delivered a long ball over the top that found the run of Johnny Rodriguez into the left side of the penalty area, where he delivered a first-time finish with the outside of his right boot which went just wide of the right post. Oakland almost took advantage of a defensive error a few minutes later as a pass into the penalty area by Tacoma’s Taylor Mueller was almost tucked home by Jesus Enriquez, only for goalkeeper Stefan Cleveland to make a big save to deny him.

Roots SC threatened again nine minutes before halftime as Wal Fall found Akeem Ward in space in the left side of the penalty area and the full back cut back onto his right foot to shoot just wide of the right post as the game went to the break scoreless. Tacoma then tried to find more incisiveness to start the second half as Juan Alvarez cut past a defender on the right side of the penalty area and delivered a curling shot to the far post that Oakland goalkeeper Paul Blanchette had to punch away before Samuel Adeniran flicked a header toward goal off a long throw-in from the right by Cody Baker, only for the goalkeeper to gather safely.

Enriquez tried to break the deadlock again with 16 minutes to go as he received a return pass looping around Ariel Mbumba after taking a short corner on the left before curling a shot on target that Cleveland held, while three minutes later Adeniran was unable to control his header as he sent the ball high over the crossbar off a cross from the left by Alvarez for the Defiance. The hosts had another opportunity in the 83rd minute as Baker cut centrally in the penalty area to hit a pass by Adeniran from the left with a first time shot, only to spoon the finish high over the crossbar.

Oakland had one final chance to grab victory in stoppage time as a counterattack made its way to Mbumba in the left side of the penalty area where his low shot was parried by Cleveland and cleared by the defense. The game ended scoreless, however, putting the postseason a little further away from both clubs as they head to their final two games of the regular season.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Memo Diaz, Oakland Roots SC – Diaz was solid on the right side for the visitors as he recorded three key passes and completed 50 of 67 passes overall while winning 8 of 8 duels and 3 of 3 tackles and made three interceptions defensively.

Scoring Summary
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