Tulsa Roughnecks FC was in need of three points from the opening game of a two-match set at ONEOK Field this week, and it got just that Thursday night with a 3-1 over Whitecaps FC 2. Juan Caffa opened the scoring with a beautiful free kick, and Ian Svantesson had a brace with a goal in each half to provide the victory.
The win gives the Roughnecks nine points on the season and evens their record at 3-3-0. TRFC will have little time to enjoy the victory as it will be back in action Saturday night when it hosts Orange County SC in the second match of the two-game set.
Strong thunderstorms moved through downtown Tulsa Thursday just a couple of hours before kickoff, and the cooler temperatures they brought set the stage for an open, offensive game.
Tulsa set the tone quickly, nearly opening the scoring in the first minute of play as Whitecaps FC 2 goalkeeper Spencer Richey was forced into a save on a left-footed shot from Joaquin Rivas. Within two minutes, Mo Jadama headed over the crossbar for the Roughnecks, while Gloire Amanda shot just wide for WFC2 at the other end.
In the 24th minute, Jorge Corrales hit the side netting for TRFC as the wide open game continued.
Two minutes later, the Roughnecks finally found the opening goal. Joey Calistri was brought down just outside the penalty area, and the foul set the stage for Caffa. The former La Liga forward left Richey with no chance as his curving left-footed shot settled into the top of the net to give TRFC the 1-0 lead.
Calistri nearly doubled the margin in the 38th minute, but Richey denied his low shot with a diving, one-handed save.
In the 40th minute, Caffa combined with Svantesson to make it 2-0. Svantesson rose above his defender to head home Caffa’s cross as Tulsa went to the halftime locker room with the two-goal lead.
If TRFC had thoughts of an easy victory, those quickly disappeared after the break. Less than three minutes after the restart, a giveaway from the Tulsa backline set Amanda free. The 18-year-old striker slipped by a defender and beat Tulsa goalkeeper Fabian Cerda with a strong right-footed finish that made it 2-1.
Tulsa Roughnecks FC was in need of three points from the opening game of a two-match set at ONEOK Field this week, and it got just that Thursday night with a 3-1 over Whitecaps FC 2. Juan Caffa opened the scoring with a beautiful free kick, and Ian Svantesson had a brace with a goal in each half to provide the victory.
The win gives the Roughnecks nine points on the season and evens their record at 3-3-0. TRFC will have little time to enjoy the victory as it will be back in action Saturday night when it hosts Orange County SC in the second match of the two-game set.
Strong thunderstorms moved through downtown Tulsa Thursday just a couple of hours before kickoff, and the cooler temperatures they brought set the stage for an open, offensive game.
Tulsa set the tone quickly, nearly opening the scoring in the first minute of play as Whitecaps FC 2 goalkeeper Spencer Richey was forced into a save on a left-footed shot from Joaquin Rivas. Within two minutes, Mo Jadama headed over the crossbar for the Roughnecks, while Gloire Amanda shot just wide for WFC2 at the other end.
In the 24th minute, Jorge Corrales hit the side netting for TRFC as the wide open game continued.
Two minutes later, the Roughnecks finally found the opening goal. Joey Calistri was brought down just outside the penalty area, and the foul set the stage for Caffa. The former La Liga forward left Richey with no chance as his curving left-footed shot settled into the top of the net to give TRFC the 1-0 lead.
Calistri nearly doubled the margin in the 38th minute, but Richey denied his low shot with a diving, one-handed save.
In the 40th minute, Caffa combined with Svantesson to make it 2-0. Svantesson rose above his defender to head home Caffa’s cross as Tulsa went to the halftime locker room with the two-goal lead.
If TRFC had thoughts of an easy victory, those quickly disappeared after the break. Less than three minutes after the restart, a giveaway from the Tulsa backline set Amanda free. The 18-year-old striker slipped by a defender and beat Tulsa goalkeeper Fabian Cerda with a strong right-footed finish that made it 2-1.
Svantesson struck again in the 53rd minute to complete scoring. Calistri got free down the right side, and on the run, delivered a perfect cross to the 6”6” striker. Svantesson full-volleyed the cross past Richey for his second goal of the night and restored Tulsa’s two-goal lead.
Amanda continued to look dangerous, but WFC2 could not beat Cerda a second time as the match finished 3-1.
The result pleased TRFC Head Coach David Vaudreuil who felt it was important that the Roughnecks pick up three points in the first of two matches in three days.
“I thought we did a great job of attacking their goal right away,” said Vaudreuil. “We had two or three really good early chances and set a good tone.”
The head coach was especially pleased with Svantesson’s two-goal outing.
“We keep telling Ian to get to the back post, and he scored two goals from the back post,” said Vaudreuil. “He is slowly but surely turning himself into a real striker.”
He was also impressed with the fight from the Whitecaps FC 2, the USL side for the Vancouver Whitecaps of Major League Soccer.
“To their credit, they stayed tall, and their goalkeeper played well. Amanda was quicker than he looks on tape, and their right side had a lot of speed. They didn’t give up and played hard.”
Vaudreuil will spend little time enjoying the three points with Orange County visiting ONEOK Field Saturday night.
“It was a great result tonight for us, as we got to rest a couple of guys for an extra 10-15 minutes. We came out healthy and set up well for Saturday with Orange County. We will have to make some decisions on who to rest and who to play with the quick turnaround.”
Caffa, the TRFC captain, was delighted with his free kick opportunity in the first half. He said that it was something he has been working on.
“I have been training the whole week with Fabian,” Caffa said. “I thought about shooting at the goalkeeper’s post, but I decided to go over the wall.”
He was also happy to play provider on Svantesson’s first goal. “I always tell Ian that he has to be there, that I want to cross to him,” he said. “I am happy for him and for the team, as we are getting better.”
It was not all positive news for TRFC with the win. Francisco Ugarte was issued his fourth yellow card of the season in the second half. The defender will be forced to miss a match with his next caution.
It will be Team Poster Night on Saturday for the match with Orange County SC. The first 1,000 fans will receive a full-color team poster compliments of TPSI of Tulsa, Tulsa’s Channel 8 and El Patron.
There will also be a McDonald’s Pre-Game Clinic for youth players with the Roughnecks players and staff.
Kickoff at ONEOK Field is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Tickets are available online by clicking HERE.
Svantesson struck again in the 53rd minute to complete scoring. Calistri got free down the right side, and on the run, delivered a perfect cross to the 6”6” striker. Svantesson full-volleyed the cross past Richey for his second goal of the night and restored Tulsa’s two-goal lead.
Amanda continued to look dangerous, but WFC2 could not beat Cerda a second time as the match finished 3-1.
The result pleased TRFC Head Coach David Vaudreuil who felt it was important that the Roughnecks pick up three points in the first of two matches in three days.
“I thought we did a great job of attacking their goal right away,” said Vaudreuil. “We had two or three really good early chances and set a good tone.”
The head coach was especially pleased with Svantesson’s two-goal outing.
“We keep telling Ian to get to the back post, and he scored two goals from the back post,” said Vaudreuil. “He is slowly but surely turning himself into a real striker.”
He was also impressed with the fight from the Whitecaps FC 2, the USL side for the Vancouver Whitecaps of Major League Soccer.
“To their credit, they stayed tall, and their goalkeeper played well. Amanda was quicker than he looks on tape, and their right side had a lot of speed. They didn’t give up and played hard.”
Vaudreuil will spend little time enjoying the three points with Orange County visiting ONEOK Field Saturday night.
“It was a great result tonight for us, as we got to rest a couple of guys for an extra 10-15 minutes. We came out healthy and set up well for Saturday with Orange County. We will have to make some decisions on who to rest and who to play with the quick turnaround.”
Caffa, the TRFC captain, was delighted with his free kick opportunity in the first half. He said that it was something he has been working on.
“I have been training the whole week with Fabian,” Caffa said. “I thought about shooting at the goalkeeper’s post, but I decided to go over the wall.”
He was also happy to play provider on Svantesson’s first goal. “I always tell Ian that he has to be there, that I want to cross to him,” he said. “I am happy for him and for the team, as we are getting better.”
It was not all positive news for TRFC with the win. Francisco Ugarte was issued his fourth yellow card of the season in the second half. The defender will be forced to miss a match with his next caution.
It will be Team Poster Night on Saturday for the match with Orange County SC. The first 1,000 fans will receive a full-color team poster compliments of TPSI of Tulsa, Tulsa’s Channel 8 and El Patron.
There will also be a McDonald’s Pre-Game Clinic for youth players with the Roughnecks players and staff.
Kickoff at ONEOK Field is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Tickets are available online by clicking HERE.
