It was a two win weekend for Oakland, as Project 51O dispatched Elk Grove Blues by a score of 6 to 1 at the Oakland Roots Training Facility, hours before their parent club would shut out San Diego Loyal. Clear blue skies over The Town provided a picturesque backdrop for football, and the Project did not disappoint.
After a foul near the 18-yard box was awarded to the visitors 5 minutes into the match, the resulting set piece snuck into the bottom corner, giving the one-win Blues a shock lead against the top team in the division.
As has been the case after every setback this season, 51O roared back with a vengeance. The equalizer came courtesy of the effervescent Javi Mariona, making his return to the 51O setup after an extended period with the Roots first team. After Etsgar Cruz forced a giveaway just outside the box, Mariona pounced, jinking to the left with a scissor, and powering a finish over the right hand of the goalkeeper at the near post.
It was Estgar Cruz’s turn 15 minutes later, as the 17-year-old found himself on the end of a searching ball from the back line. After collecting himself, Cruz fired a right-footed finish across his body into the far left corner of the net, giving 51O the lead. Carlos Cruz would get in on the action just before the half-time whistle, capitalizing on yet another Blues mistake, and slotting in to give the Project a comfortable 3 to 1 advantage heading into the half.
As the second half commenced, Mariona doubled his output for the match with a bar-down finish off a feed from Javi Bedolla Vera, before the game transitioned into a possession training exercise for 51O. After a lull in the action, a clumsy foul in the box gave Mariona the opportunity to grab his hat-trick. Although his initial effort was saved, the rebound fell to the feet of the Salvadoran, and he tapped in to make it 5-1.
Aiden Vangelatos rounded off the scoring for the home side with a composed left-footed finish into the bottom corner, securing yet another win for the Project, who now own a 9-match unbeaten streak.
51O will conclude their regular season next Saturday away against Vallejo Omega FC, in the last match before the UPSL Playoffs begin.
