TULSA, OK– The Tulsa Roughnecks travel to take on rivals, OKC Energy FC in OKC, Oklahoma on Saturday, August 3rd at Taft Stadium in USL Championship Western Conference play. The two sides were competing for the coveted Wrench trophy for the winner of the Black Gold Derby.
The Black Gold Derby started off with the Tulsa Roughnecks controlling and pressing for a goal to hush the rival supporters of OKC. In the 17th minute, OKC Energy forward, Christian Eissele, found himself on the end of a Kyle Hyland cross and connected with a header into the bottom corner. The Roughnecks responded quickly, in the 23rd minute, as Rodrigo Da Costa found himself behind the OKC Energy backline and goalkeeper after miscommunication left the ball at Da Costa’s feet. Da Costa then passed it into the open net to level the score. In the 30th minute, Matt Sheldon made a goal line clearance as Omar Gordon’s chip looked to be a sure goal. The half ended with the Roughnecks controlling possession in the OKC Energy half, but were unable to capitalize.
The second half began with opportunities for both sides, but neither were able to find a quick second half goal. In the 64th minute, OKC Energy midfielder Je-Vaughn Watson was attempting to stop a Roughnecks counter attack with a foul on Janu Silva that earned him his second yellow card and was ejected from the match. In the 90th minute, Christhian Altamirano made a run in behind the back line an received the ball inside the penalty area, but Laurendi was quick off his line to poke the ball out of his control. In the third minute of stoppage time, Janu Silva got on the end of a Brayan Reyes cross in the six-yard box, but Laurendi was up for the save. The match ended in a 1-1 draw.
The Tulsa Roughnecks head to Salt Lake City, Utah to take on Real Monarchs on Saturday, August 10th in their second match of a three match road trip.
LINEUPS:
Tulsa Roughnecks- Sean Lewis, Matt Sheldon (85’ Zephirin), Cyprian Hedrick, Luca Lobo, Brayan Reyes, Calvin Rezende, Manny Gonzalez (78’ Uzo), Christhian Altamirano, Rodrigo Da Costa, Matt Rogers (73’ Dean), Janu Silva.
Substitutes not used- Jeff Addai, AJ Ajeakwa, Mason Stajduhar, Walid Yacoubou.
OKC Energy FC- Cody Laurendi, Kyle Hyland, Christian Ibeagha, Rafael Garcia, Christian Eissele, Atiba Harris, Cordell Cato (66’ Ross), Je-Vaughn Watson, Jon Brown, Alvin Jones, Omar Gordon (68’ Brown).
Substitutes not used- Bryan Byars, Alexy Bosetti, Kal Okot, Amer Sasivarevic, Mekeil Williams.
SCORING SUMMARY
Tulsa Roughnecks- 23’ Da Costa
OKC Energy- 17’ Eissele
Weather: Sunny, 79
