Match Recap Presented by Williams: FC Tulsa Scores Three to Get Revenge on Louisville City FC

TULSA – Script, flipped. 

FC Tulsa played a reverse card on Louisville City FC, securing a massive 3-2 victory, just three weeks after suffering a loss by the same scoreline. The win edges FC Tulsa within just one point of Louisville for second place in the USL Championship's Central Division. 

FC Tulsa started on a mirror image of its last match against Louisville early in the first half. After conceding three early first half goals to Louisville just three weeks ago, Tulsa took control with two goals in the first 16 minutes, both headers. 

In the 6' minute, it was the Brazilians, Rodrigo da Costa and Marlon Santos, hooking up on a set piece to put Tulsa in front. Da Costa's free kick found the head of Santos who flicked it into the net for his third goal of the season. Ten minutes later, it was Matt Sheldon sending in a short cross onto the head of Kembo Kibato, who flicked in his first goal in Tulsa colors. 

Goals by each side late in the first half continued the similarities from June 16 as Rodrigo da Costa stayed hot and widened the margin to 3-0 before Louisville City FC got on the board just before halftime. It was da Costa's sixth of the season, to go along with his fourth assist of the season he recorded earlier in the match. 

On the other side of half, Louisville narrowed the margin even further as Cameron Lancaster struck to close the gap to 3-2. That was as tight as Louisville would get with FC Tulsa salting away the final 30 minutes to secure the three points. 

Here are three talking points from the win…

1) Da Costa Owns ONEOK Field
It may be July, but Rodrigo da Costa hasn't stopped scoring or assisting. The USL Championship Player of the Month finalist for June scored his sixth of the season, the fifth goal since the start of the summer, and also snagged his fourth assist. He leads all FC Tulsa goalscorers in 2021 with his six goals, one ahead of Joaquín Rivas who has five, and with his four helpers. The Brazilian has scored a goal in all four home matches this season and has an assist in three of the four at ONEOK Field.

2) Wormell Makes First Hometown Start
Austin Wormell earned his third consecutive start on Saturday afternoon, but the first in front of his friends and family in his hometown. The Tulsa native made four saves in the match, recording his first career home victory. He has helped FC Tulsa to a result in all three of his career starts, with FC Tulsa earning seven points.

3) First Win over Louisville City FC
FC Tulsa's win over Louisville was its first in franchise history over four meetings against the most successful club in USL Championship history. Previously FC Tulsa had suffered two losses and one draw to Louisville, with one loss and one draw coming back in 2015 as Tulsa Roughnecks FC. FC Tulsa is now just one point behind Louisville for second in the Central Division and three points behind Birmingham Legion FC, who sits in first.

TULSA – Script, flipped. 

FC Tulsa played a reverse card on Louisville City FC, securing a massive 3-2 victory, just three weeks after suffering a loss by the same scoreline. The win edges FC Tulsa within just one point of Louisville for second place in the USL Championship’s Central Division. 

FC Tulsa started on a mirror image of its last match against Louisville early in the first half. After conceding three early first half goals to Louisville just three weeks ago, Tulsa took control with two goals in the first 16 minutes, both headers. 

In the 6′ minute, it was the Brazilians, Rodrigo da Costa and Marlon Santos, hooking up on a set piece to put Tulsa in front. Da Costa’s free kick found the head of Santos who flicked it into the net for his third goal of the season. Ten minutes later, it was Matt Sheldon sending in a short cross onto the head of Kembo Kibato, who flicked in his first goal in Tulsa colors. 

Goals by each side late in the first half continued the similarities from June 16 as Rodrigo da Costa stayed hot and widened the margin to 3-0 before Louisville City FC got on the board just before halftime. It was da Costa’s sixth of the season, to go along with his fourth assist of the season he recorded earlier in the match. 

On the other side of half, Louisville narrowed the margin even further as Cameron Lancaster struck to close the gap to 3-2. That was as tight as Louisville would get with FC Tulsa salting away the final 30 minutes to secure the three points. 

Here are three talking points from the win…

1) Da Costa Owns ONEOK Field
It may be July, but Rodrigo da Costa hasn’t stopped scoring or assisting. The USL Championship Player of the Month finalist for June scored his sixth of the season, the fifth goal since the start of the summer, and also snagged his fourth assist. He leads all FC Tulsa goalscorers in 2021 with his six goals, one ahead of Joaquín Rivas who has five, and with his four helpers. The Brazilian has scored a goal in all four home matches this season and has an assist in three of the four at ONEOK Field.

2) Wormell Makes First Hometown Start
Austin Wormell earned his third consecutive start on Saturday afternoon, but the first in front of his friends and family in his hometown. The Tulsa native made four saves in the match, recording his first career home victory. He has helped FC Tulsa to a result in all three of his career starts, with FC Tulsa earning seven points.

3) First Win over Louisville City FC
FC Tulsa’s win over Louisville was its first in franchise history over four meetings against the most successful club in USL Championship history. Previously FC Tulsa had suffered two losses and one draw to Louisville, with one loss and one draw coming back in 2015 as Tulsa Roughnecks FC. FC Tulsa is now just one point behind Louisville for second in the Central Division and three points behind Birmingham Legion FC, who sits in first.