OAKLAND, Calif. – Oakland Roots SC and the Tampa Bay Rowdies exchanged late chances in an exciting conclusion to their second meeting all-time, but neither side was able to find the net in a 0-0 draw at Laney Stadium on Saturday night that saw Tampa Bay’s CJ Cochran record a four-save shutout to preserve a point for the visitors.

Coming off a late equalizer on Wednesday night, Oakland began brightly and almost took the lead in the eighth minute when a cross from the left by Óttar Karlsson found Charlie Dennis at the back post for a header that Cochran clawed off the line. Roots SC continued to have the better of the chances as Tampa Bay recorded only one shot in the first half, and Karlsson went close four minutes before the break after Edgardo Rito got around his defender on the right and cut back a cross for the Icelandic forward for a first-time shot that Cochran turned wide with a fine reaction save.

The second half saw fewer chances as Roots SC’s Karlsson headed over the crossbar off a corner kick by Dennis from the right nine minutes after the break. The Rowdies’ first shot on target didn’t arrive until eight minutes remained, though, as Sebastian Guenzatti gained possession and fired a snap-shot from 25 yards that was comfortably held by Oakland’s Benny Diaz. The chance for the visitors sparked a late flurry of chances that began with Juan Tejada’s shot to the right side being parried wide by Diaz, and from the ensuing corner kick Oakland’s goalkeeper made an even better save to keep out a flicked near-post header by Kyle Greig after a delivery by Lewis Hilton.

Oakland almost grabbed all three points soon after as the hosts worked a three-on-two counterattack well to set up Rito, only for Cochran to come off his line to smother the chance. Roots SC then believed it had grabbed a winner in stoppage time, only for Juan Azocar to be denied by the offside flag as he headed home at close range. That proved the final opportunity for either side as the late thrills failed to produce a winner.

USLChampionship.com Player of the Match

CJ Cochran, Tampa Bay Rowdies – Cochran recorded a four-save shutout, including a pair of outstanding first-half saves, to earn the Rowdies a point and keep the visitors undefeated so far this season.

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