The Tulsa Roughnecks FC closed out its preseason slate of matches Saturday afternoon in Texas with a 5-1 loss to San Antonio FC behind closed doors at Toyota Field. The Roughnecks gave up four second-half goals before getting their only goal of the match in the final seconds of the defeat.
It was the preseason finale for both sides and the match was played in San Antonio under sunny skies with a game-time temperature of 83 degrees. Despite the unusually warm day, both teams were active to begin the match. Each side had good periods of possession in the first half with threatening buildups.
The first goal did not come until the 40th minute, when Roughnecks nemesis Kris Tyrpak struck. Tyrpak found space in the box and beat TRFC goalkeeper Fabian Cerda to allow San Antonio to carry a 1-0 lead into the halftime break.
The match got away from the Roughnecks during a 60-second span midway through the second half. In the 64th minute, Ever Guzman took advantage of a giveaway from the Roughnecks in midfield to make it 2-0.
Seconds later, another misplay allowed Jose Escalante to blast a shot past Cerda to up the margin to three goals.
Escalante struck again in the 72nd minute when he curved a low free kick into the far corner of the net.
San Antonio capped its big second half in the 85th minute when Owayne Gordon converted on a counter attack to make it 5-0.
TRFC picked up a consolation goal late in the match when Joaquin Rivas picked up his second of the preseason. Rivas had missed the last two matches with an injury and had entered the game in the 70th minute on Saturday.
It was the second loss of the preseason for the Roughnecks. Last Saturday, TRFC was beaten 2-1 by Chicago Fire, its MLS affiliate.
The Roughnecks will now begin preparations for their USL regular season opener. It will take place next Saturday, March 17, when they travel down the turnpike to face the Oklahoma City Energy in the first of three rounds this season of the Black Gold Derby. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at OKC’s Taft Stadium, and the match will be shown live through the USL Match Center on YouTube.
TRFC’s home opener will take place the following Saturday, March 24, when the Roughnecks host Real Monarchs at ONEOK Field. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. with a large, Fireworks Spectacular planned for after the match. Individual tickets are now available for purchase by clicking HERE.