ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Gagi Margvelashvili scored a late equalizer after Peter Wilson had struck twice from the penalty spot to earn Oakland Roots SC a 3-3 draw against New Mexico United at Isotopes Park as the visitors rallied from a two-goal deficit to earn a point.

Oakland began the game on the front foot, forcing a pair of early saves by United’s Kris Shakes on efforts by Wilson and Danny Trejo, but United took the lead against the run of play in the 13th minute when Mukwelle Akale juked past his defender in the right side of the penalty area and shot low into the left corner. Roots pulled level from the penalty spot through Wilson three minutes later after Margvelashvili was brought down in the box, but New Mexico regained the lead in the 19th minute when Roots’ Neveal Hackshaw turned a low cross by Dayonn Harris into his own goal.

New Mexico added to its lead from the penalty spot in the 28th minute when Talen Maples converted after a foul on Akale, but Oakland hit back again as Wilson converted from the spot for a second time for his league-leading 17th goal of the regular season four minutes before the halftime break.

The second half began more quietly, but with 19 minutes to play Akale spurned a golden opportunity to record his second goal of the game, shooting over from close range off a cross by Valentin Noël. The hosts also went close through Luther Archimede as his close-range finish went over the bar 10 minutes later, and they were made to pay moments later as Margvelashvili roofed home a finish after Wilson kept play alive after a corner kick to level the game.

Takeaways

New Mexico United: The hosts missed out on a chance to move into second place in the Western Conference with a win and now could be set for the No. 3 seed should Sacramento Republic FC win its game-in-hand on Wednesday night at home to Charleston.

Oakland Roots SC: Peter Wilson continued his tremendous run of form for Roots, moving to 10 goals in his past seven appearances to move into the lead in the race for the USL Championship Golden Boot.

Key moment

Gagi Margvelashvili’s precise finish with eight minutes to go gave Oakland its reward for an enterprising performance in which they recorded eight shots on target to New Mexico United’s two.

Key stat

Oakland Roots won possession a club season-high 10 times in the attacking third and turned that into 31 touches in the opposing penalty area.

USLChampionship.com Player of the Match

Peter Wilson, Oakland Roots SC – Wilson scored twice from the penalty spot and assisted Gagi Margvelashvili’s equalizer as he finished the contest with five shots while winning one of the penalties he converted.

Scoring Summary
NM – Mukwelle Akale (Dayonn Harris) 13’
OAK – Peter Wilson (penalty kick) 16’
NM – Nevel Hackshaw (own goal) 19’
NM – Talen Maples (penalty kick) 28’
OAK – Peter Wilson (penalty kick) 41’
OAK – Gagi Margvelashvili (Peter Wilson) 82’