TAMPA – After a record-setting 2019 USL Championship regular season, the league rewarded Tulsa Roughnecks FC forward Rodrigo da Costa with a spot on the All-League Second Team, announced on Tuesday afternoon. Tulsa’s dynamic midfielder is just the second-ever Roughneck to be honored on an All-League team and the first since 2017.
Da Costa earned the honor after a 2019 campaign in which he finished second in the league with 13 assists to accompany nine goals in 33 appearances. The baker’s dozen of helpers are tied for the fourth-most assists in a single season in league history and are the most by a Tulsa player in the team’s USL Championship history. The 25-year-old was one of just three players in the USL Championship to record at least 9+ goals and 9+ assists this season.
“You will typically find someone who prefers goals or someone who prefers creating goals for others,” said Roughnecks FC head coach Michael Nsien. “He seems to enjoy both. I’m not quite sure his preference, but he shows the quality to do both. He always has a sense of where the goal is. When you can score, you attract defenders, which lead to space for assists.”
It’s the second honor for da Costa already this offseason, following his inclusion on the 2019 USL Championship All-Opta Second Team for his impressive statistical season. In addition to his offensive prowess, da Costa also won two-thirds of his tackles, consistently winning possession back for Tulsa throughout the season.
“Rodrigo is decisive in the attacking third of the field,” said Nsien. “Good players in that position have that characteristic, and Rodrigo’s numbers speak for themselves. To think he’s only in his first year and will continue to improve should place him towards the top for his position.”
The true all around game of da Costa comes into focus when looking at the amount of chances da Costa created in 2019. His 78 chances created were good for seventh-most in the league and third-most in the Western Conference.
With new ownership and exciting offseason changes ahead, be among the first to know by signing up to be a member of the Tulsa Roughnecks FC Fan Club here.
TAMPA – After a record-setting 2019 USL Championship regular season, the league rewarded Tulsa Roughnecks FC forward Rodrigo da Costa with a spot on the All-League Second Team, announced on Tuesday afternoon. Tulsa’s dynamic midfielder is just the second-ever Roughneck to be honored on an All-League team and the first since 2017.
Da Costa earned the honor after a 2019 campaign in which he finished second in the league with 13 assists to accompany nine goals in 33 appearances. The baker’s dozen of helpers are tied for the fourth-most assists in a single season in league history and are the most by a Tulsa player in the team’s USL Championship history. The 25-year-old was one of just three players in the USL Championship to record at least 9+ goals and 9+ assists this season.
“You will typically find someone who prefers goals or someone who prefers creating goals for others,” said Roughnecks FC head coach Michael Nsien. “He seems to enjoy both. I’m not quite sure his preference, but he shows the quality to do both. He always has a sense of where the goal is. When you can score, you attract defenders, which lead to space for assists.”
It’s the second honor for da Costa already this offseason, following his inclusion on the 2019 USL Championship All-Opta Second Team for his impressive statistical season. In addition to his offensive prowess, da Costa also won two-thirds of his tackles, consistently winning possession back for Tulsa throughout the season.
“Rodrigo is decisive in the attacking third of the field,” said Nsien. “Good players in that position have that characteristic, and Rodrigo’s numbers speak for themselves. To think he’s only in his first year and will continue to improve should place him towards the top for his position.”
The true all around game of da Costa comes into focus when looking at the amount of chances da Costa created in 2019. His 78 chances created were good for seventh-most in the league and third-most in the Western Conference.
With new ownership and exciting offseason changes ahead, be among the first to know by signing up to be a member of the Tulsa Roughnecks FC Fan Club here.
