The Tulsa Roughnecks put up a strong fight Saturday night in the final edition of the 2016 Black Gold Derby, but the end result was a 1-0 loss to the Oklahoma City Energy at Taft Stadium. The lone goal of the match came on a controversial sequence in first-half injury time.
Match Photos courtesy of Lori Scholl
The win allowed the Energy to sweep the season series between the Oklahoma rivals. The loss for the Roughnecks dropped their season record to 5-17-3.
Tulsa got a strong performance in goal from Jake Feener. Making his first appearance since June 17, Feener was officially credited with only two saves in the match, but he made a number of outstanding plays in the first 45 minutes of play to deny OKC a first goal.
The first good chance of the match came from the Roughnecks. In the 16th minute, Bryce Taylor dribbled past a pair of defenders on a run down the left wing, but his rolling shot was saved by Energy goalkeeper Cody Laurendi.
Seconds later at the other end, Feener was called into service for the first time with a diving save to deny Michael Thomas.
Feener was at it again just three minutes later, making another big save to keep the match scoreless.
In the 30th minute, Fenner benefited from the woodwork as a header from the Energy’s Kalen Ryden caromed off the post.
The Tulsa Roughnecks put up a strong fight Saturday night in the final edition of the 2016 Black Gold Derby, but the end result was a 1-0 loss to the Oklahoma City Energy at Taft Stadium. The lone goal of the match came on a controversial sequence in first-half injury time.
Match Photos courtesy of Lori Scholl
The win allowed the Energy to sweep the season series between the Oklahoma rivals. The loss for the Roughnecks dropped their season record to 5-17-3.
Tulsa got a strong performance in goal from Jake Feener. Making his first appearance since June 17, Feener was officially credited with only two saves in the match, but he made a number of outstanding plays in the first 45 minutes of play to deny OKC a first goal.
The first good chance of the match came from the Roughnecks. In the 16th minute, Bryce Taylor dribbled past a pair of defenders on a run down the left wing, but his rolling shot was saved by Energy goalkeeper Cody Laurendi.
Seconds later at the other end, Feener was called into service for the first time with a diving save to deny Michael Thomas.
Feener was at it again just three minutes later, making another big save to keep the match scoreless.
In the 30th minute, Fenner benefited from the woodwork as a header from the Energy’s Kalen Ryden caromed off the post.
The entertaining play continued as the Roughnecks threatened again two minutes later. Sammy Ochoa was free to head a cross into the goal mouth, but Cyprian Hedrick cleared the danger.
When Feener denied another header off an Energy corner kick in the 41st minute, it looked as if the match would head to the break scoreless.
The entertaining play continued as the Roughnecks threatened again two minutes later. Sammy Ochoa was free to head a cross into the goal mouth, but Cyprian Hedrick cleared the danger.
When Feener denied another header off an Energy corner kick in the 41st minute, it looked as if the match would head to the break scoreless.
After 2 minutes 15 seconds of an expected 2 minutes of added time, the referee elected to not blow the halftime whistle. The decision proved costly for the Roughnecks as seconds later a chip over the TRFC backline found a wide open Danni Konig. Tulsa defenders appealed for an offside call, but the assistant’s flag stayed down. Konig’s chip shot was cleared off the line by a sliding Devin Morgan, but the clearance went directly to Wojciech Wojcik who converted the easy finish with basically the final kick of the half to give OKC the important 1-0 lead.
The second half continued a frustrating goalless run for the Roughnecks as they failed to find an equalizer. Kaleem looked a constant threat down the right wing, and Cristian Mata caused concern for the OKC defense when he came on as a substitute in the 76th minute.
In the dying seconds, defender Iarfhlaith Davoren found himself in space just inside the penalty area, but his left-footed blast caromed off a defender.
When the final whistle sounded, it marked the fourth straight match without a goal for Tulsa.
The Roughnecks will look to end that streak when they return to action next Saturday night, September 3, to face the Real Monarchs in Salt Lake City. The Monarchs defeated TRFC 1-0 at ONEOK Field back on April 9 when Ochoa was given a straight red card in the first half. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:00pm CDT at Rio Tinto Stadium.
After 2 minutes 15 seconds of an expected 2 minutes of added time, the referee elected to not blow the halftime whistle. The decision proved costly for the Roughnecks as seconds later a chip over the TRFC backline found a wide open Danni Konig. Tulsa defenders appealed for an offside call, but the assistant’s flag stayed down. Konig’s chip shot was cleared off the line by a sliding Devin Morgan, but the clearance went directly to Wojciech Wojcik who converted the easy finish with basically the final kick of the half to give OKC the important 1-0 lead.
The second half continued a frustrating goalless run for the Roughnecks as they failed to find an equalizer. Kaleem looked a constant threat down the right wing, and Cristian Mata caused concern for the OKC defense when he came on as a substitute in the 76th minute.
In the dying seconds, defender Iarfhlaith Davoren found himself in space just inside the penalty area, but his left-footed blast caromed off a defender.
When the final whistle sounded, it marked the fourth straight match without a goal for Tulsa.
The Roughnecks will look to end that streak when they return to action next Saturday night, September 3, to face the Real Monarchs in Salt Lake City. The Monarchs defeated TRFC 1-0 at ONEOK Field back on April 9 when Ochoa was given a straight red card in the first half. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:00pm CDT at Rio Tinto Stadium.
