“It is an eye-opener, but sometimes those things [losses] are necessary,” said head coach Michael Nsien. “You would always rather grow and get points, but sometimes it takes you to stop, analyze and reflect a little bit more closely about how to improve and keep executing. We have had quite a few discussions, and I feel like we have learned a lot in those moments. San Antonio pushed us far and it is up to us now to go to the next level.”
Tulsa is still in the hunt for its first home win of the season following two back-to-back home draws with San Antonio FC and Austin Bold FC, but Nsien knows what this SKC II side can bring to the table.
“I expect Sporting Kansas City II to be aggressive. They have been on the road basically the whole season, except for one home game,” said Nsien. “They understand what it is like to try to dig out results and they have been okay so far at what they are doing on the road. We do not expect them to come here and lay down for us. It will be pretty well contested and the onus will be on us to drive the game and get all three points.”
But the biggest aspect that has plagued the young Kansas City team this season has been inconsistency. Sporting has grabbed wins off of Group E leaders, Indy Eleven as well as Louisville City, while dropping points against Saint Louis on multiple occasions.
“First and foremost they are a young team and they have quality players,” said Nsien. “They can go and get results but at the same time they are going to be inconsistent, that is part of their growing pains in their development. With us being an experienced team we expect to be able to control and manage the game and make it difficult for them to get a result against us at home.”
Tulsa area native, Ciaran Winters, spent two years with Kansas City’s Developmental Academy and has a solid relationship with many of the players, including their leading goal scorer, Wilson Harris.
“It’s a lot of familiar faces,” said Winters. “Wilson [Harris] is a good friend of mine. He works really hard in training and he’s clinical when he gets in and around the box. He knows his abilities and what he can do and he punishes teams.”
Tulsa sits third in Group D with a game in hand on second-place Austin who play on the road against OKC Energy FC on Sunday night. With the second playoff spot still easily in reach for Tulsa, stealing three more points from Group E could be crucial as the club crests the halfway point of the season.
“We know our responsibilities,” said Winters. “We know what we need to do and I think that we can execute on Saturday."
“It is an eye-opener, but sometimes those things [losses] are necessary,” said head coach Michael Nsien. “You would always rather grow and get points, but sometimes it takes you to stop, analyze and reflect a little bit more closely about how to improve and keep executing. We have had quite a few discussions, and I feel like we have learned a lot in those moments. San Antonio pushed us far and it is up to us now to go to the next level.”
Tulsa is still in the hunt for its first home win of the season following two back-to-back home draws with San Antonio FC and Austin Bold FC, but Nsien knows what this SKC II side can bring to the table.
“I expect Sporting Kansas City II to be aggressive. They have been on the road basically the whole season, except for one home game,” said Nsien. “They understand what it is like to try to dig out results and they have been okay so far at what they are doing on the road. We do not expect them to come here and lay down for us. It will be pretty well contested and the onus will be on us to drive the game and get all three points.”
But the biggest aspect that has plagued the young Kansas City team this season has been inconsistency. Sporting has grabbed wins off of Group E leaders, Indy Eleven as well as Louisville City, while dropping points against Saint Louis on multiple occasions.
“First and foremost they are a young team and they have quality players,” said Nsien. “They can go and get results but at the same time they are going to be inconsistent, that is part of their growing pains in their development. With us being an experienced team we expect to be able to control and manage the game and make it difficult for them to get a result against us at home.”
Tulsa area native, Ciaran Winters, spent two years with Kansas City’s Developmental Academy and has a solid relationship with many of the players, including their leading goal scorer, Wilson Harris.
“It’s a lot of familiar faces,” said Winters. “Wilson [Harris] is a good friend of mine. He works really hard in training and he’s clinical when he gets in and around the box. He knows his abilities and what he can do and he punishes teams.”
Tulsa sits third in Group D with a game in hand on second-place Austin who play on the road against OKC Energy FC on Sunday night. With the second playoff spot still easily in reach for Tulsa, stealing three more points from Group E could be crucial as the club crests the halfway point of the season.
“We know our responsibilities,” said Winters. “We know what we need to do and I think that we can execute on Saturday.”
FC Tulsa season and single-match tickets are on sale now! You can still buy season tickets for our seven remaining home matches and save up to $5 a ticket by emailing tickets@https://www.fctulsa.com or calling 918-297-6808.
FC Tulsa season and single-match tickets are on sale now! You can still buy season tickets for our seven remaining home matches and save up to $5 a ticket by emailing tickets@https://www.fctulsa.com or calling 918-297-6808.
