In a long 32-match USL Championship season full of peaks and valleys, FC Tulsa is climbing again, riding a winning streak and pushing towards the top of the Central Division.
Over just seven days, FC Tulsa has turned its season around with three massive divisional wins over clubs in the Central, coming away with nine points from a road match at Birmingham Legion FC, then home tilts against Memphis 901 FC and Atlanta United 2. After dropping out of a USL Championship Playoffs spot for the first time all season following a loss on August 14, FC Tulsa has stormed back into a top-three position, opening up a five-point lead over fourth and the playoff line.
The current three-match winning streak is already the club’s second three-match winning streak of the season, the first taking place to kick off the 2021 campaign. FC Tulsa finished the 2020 season on a three-match winning streak as well, bringing FC Tulsa to three total three-match winning streaks over its past 23 matches, something only Louisville City FC has accomplished over the same span.
Just how hard is it to win three matches in a row? Over the first 170 matches of FC Tulsa’s USL Championship history, from 2015 until most of the way through the 2020 season, the club had never had a three-match winning streak.
Now, the 2021 season has a new feeling to it as FC Tulsa has come away with four wins out of its last five matches and has seen its offense come alive after being dormant throughout the month of July. Scoring just five goals in five July matches, FC Tulsa head coach Michael Nsien brought in striker Jason Johnson to transform the offense. The move has paid significant dividends with FC Tulsa scoring 11 goals in its last five matches.
It’s not just one player carrying the scoring load either. Seven different players have scored those last 11 goals for Tulsa. Marlon bagged three goals all beyond the 80’ mark and Matt Sheldon scored twice after not scoring in his first 76 professional career appearances. Bradley Bourgeois and Jason Johnson both netted their first as members of FC Tulsa, while Darío Suárez banged one home after not finding the back of the net in his previous 11 matches. Even as a frequent substitute, Kembo Kibato slotted home a stoppage-time goal to ensure three points.
Despite all the contributions made by the players above, the key to FC Tulsa’s turn of the corner has been the dominance of midfielder Lebo Moloto. After missing the start of the season due to injury, Moloto has found his stride atop the midfield. As FC Tulsa has earned 12 points in its last five matches, Moloto has netted a brace by scoring his first two goals of the season on Saturday night vs. Atlanta United 2, registered his first two assists of the season, and created at least two chances for his teammates in each of the five matches.
It’s nothing new for the South African midfielder who is just one goal and one assist shy from totaling 30 goals and 30 assists in his prolific USL Championship career, an exclusive club that includes just four other players over the league’s history.
Moloto and FC Tulsa’s offense will need to stay red-hot as the club travels to Louisville on Friday night to take on Central Division-leading Louisville City FC. If FC Tulsa can leave Kentucky with three points, the winning streak would run to four – the longest single season streak in club history.
FC Tulsa and Louisville kick off Friday night at 6:30 p.m. CT.
In a long 32-match USL Championship season full of peaks and valleys, FC Tulsa is climbing again, riding a winning streak and pushing towards the top of the Central Division.
Over just seven days, FC Tulsa has turned its season around with three massive divisional wins over clubs in the Central, coming away with nine points from a road match at Birmingham Legion FC, then home tilts against Memphis 901 FC and Atlanta United 2. After dropping out of a USL Championship Playoffs spot for the first time all season following a loss on August 14, FC Tulsa has stormed back into a top-three position, opening up a five-point lead over fourth and the playoff line.
The current three-match winning streak is already the club’s second three-match winning streak of the season, the first taking place to kick off the 2021 campaign. FC Tulsa finished the 2020 season on a three-match winning streak as well, bringing FC Tulsa to three total three-match winning streaks over its past 23 matches, something only Louisville City FC has accomplished over the same span.
Just how hard is it to win three matches in a row? Over the first 170 matches of FC Tulsa’s USL Championship history, from 2015 until most of the way through the 2020 season, the club had never had a three-match winning streak.
Now, the 2021 season has a new feeling to it as FC Tulsa has come away with four wins out of its last five matches and has seen its offense come alive after being dormant throughout the month of July. Scoring just five goals in five July matches, FC Tulsa head coach Michael Nsien brought in striker Jason Johnson to transform the offense. The move has paid significant dividends with FC Tulsa scoring 11 goals in its last five matches.
It’s not just one player carrying the scoring load either. Seven different players have scored those last 11 goals for Tulsa. Marlon bagged three goals all beyond the 80’ mark and Matt Sheldon scored twice after not scoring in his first 76 professional career appearances. Bradley Bourgeois and Jason Johnson both netted their first as members of FC Tulsa, while Darío Suárez banged one home after not finding the back of the net in his previous 11 matches. Even as a frequent substitute, Kembo Kibato slotted home a stoppage-time goal to ensure three points.
Despite all the contributions made by the players above, the key to FC Tulsa’s turn of the corner has been the dominance of midfielder Lebo Moloto. After missing the start of the season due to injury, Moloto has found his stride atop the midfield. As FC Tulsa has earned 12 points in its last five matches, Moloto has netted a brace by scoring his first two goals of the season on Saturday night vs. Atlanta United 2, registered his first two assists of the season, and created at least two chances for his teammates in each of the five matches.
It’s nothing new for the South African midfielder who is just one goal and one assist shy from totaling 30 goals and 30 assists in his prolific USL Championship career, an exclusive club that includes just four other players over the league’s history.
Moloto and FC Tulsa’s offense will need to stay red-hot as the club travels to Louisville on Friday night to take on Central Division-leading Louisville City FC. If FC Tulsa can leave Kentucky with three points, the winning streak would run to four – the longest single season streak in club history.
FC Tulsa and Louisville kick off Friday night at 6:30 p.m. CT.
