The San Diego Loyal became the third local team to be eliminated from playoff competition Sunday as the Oakland Roots won 3-0 in a USL Championship league quarterfinal at Torero Stadium.
Oakland’s Charlie Dennis scored the first goal in the 36th minute, Lindo Mfeka struck in the 52nd minute, and Matias Fissore scored in the 91st minute.
Trailing by two goals in the second half, Loyal player Thomas Amang was tossed from the match for arguing, and Alejandro Guido was sent to the bench for a foul.
In the 87th minute, the Landon Donovan-coached Loyal were down to eight players when Grant Stoneman received a red card after a foul was called.
A couple of fans joined in the downfall as a few water bottles were thrown on to the field. The crowd was warned about launching objects onto the pitch.
The club had a franchise-best 18-10-6 record and 60 points.
That was good enough for a second-place finish in the Western Conference standings behind San Antonio, which ended the season with a league-leading 24-5-5 record and 77 points.
Oakland (11-10-13, 46 points) finished in seventh place. For the second year, the Roots won their first playoff games.
Sunday night’s attendance was announced as the third consecutive sellout crowd.
The Roots will next face San Antonio in semifinal play Friday, Oct. 28.
