KANSAS CITY, Kan. – For the first time in over three months, FC Tulsa will take on Sporting KC II tomorrow night.
The two clubs met three times over the first seven matches of the season but have not met on the pitch since June 16. All three matches were high-scoring affairs with 14 total goals being scored over the three meetings, the most combined goals between FC Tulsa and any opponent this season. FC Tulsa won the first and third matchups while Sporting KC II claimed the three points in the second meeting.
FC Tulsa is coming off a tough loss to Austin Bold FC last weekend, a result that broke its six-match unbeaten streak. However, Sporting KC II appears to be the opponent you want to play in order to start a new one. Sporting KC II has won only once in its last 11 matches, earning only six points in that span and falling to last place in the Central Division by a 10-point margin.
The announcement of Avionne Flanagan joining FC Tulsa on loan from FC Cincinnati in MLS will prove interesting for head coach Michael Nsien as the club now has another option at full-back, a position at which FC Tulsa has lacked the luxury of depth. The two primary full-backs for FC Tulsa, Jorge Corrales and Matt Sheldon, have logged 1,816 minutes and 1,957 minutes respectively, and Flanagan will allow for those two to catch their breath.
Kickoff from Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City is set for 7:00 p.m. CT.
SCOUTING SPORTING KC II
Sporting KC II is a club that, although one of the best pipeline clubs in the USL Championship, has struggled mightily in the standings this season. The club is 4W-14L-7D, the third-most losses from any club in the Eastern Conference.
Over the previously mentioned 11 matches in which it has won just one time, the club has conceded 17 goals, including three straight matches in which it conceded four times each between August 4 and August 14. Sporting KC II is one of only three clubs this season that has allowed four goals or more in a match at least three times.
That being said, the attack for Sporting KC II has proven to be explosive at times, led by forward Enoch Mushagalusa. Mushagalusa leads the club with seven goals in 2021 while Jacob Davis leading the charge with five assists. Keeper Kendall McIntosh has recorded 31 saves en route to posting a 64.6% save pct. with three clean sheets along the way.
THREE THINGS TO KNOW
1) Playoff Position
Despite a tough loss last weekend to a great defensive Austin Bold FC club, FC Tulsa is still in great shape as the season reaches the home stretch. Tulsa is in third place in the Central, leading fourth-place OKC Energy FC by seven points. A home playoff match is still very much a reality for FC Tulsa who needs to finish in the top two to bring a November night to ONEOK Field. The club no longer has any matches remaining against LouCity or Birmingham Legion FC this season, the two clubs above FC Tulsa in the standings.
2) Battle of the Halves
When FC Tulsa is leading on the scoreboard when the halftime whistle blows, good results follow. The club is 9W-0L-1D when up at halftime this season, the only draw coming two weeks ago vs Birmingham. However, Sporting KC II sees most of its action in the second half. The club has scored 68% of its goals in the second half, and on average, concedes for the first time in the 48’.
3) Flanagan Flies to Tulsa
On Tuesday, FC Tulsa announced the acquisition of Avionne Flanagan via loan from FC Cincinnati. Flanagan was selected with the No. 29 overall pick in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft out of the University of Southern Florida. The full-back was loaned to Orange County SC this season where he made six appearances and logged an assist before being loaned to FC Tulsa. In his six appearances with Orange County SC, the club went 4W-0L-2D.
HOW TO WATCH
TV: MY41
Stream: ESPN+ (US), YouTube (International)
Follow: You can follow FC Tulsa @FCTulsa on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
KANSAS CITY, Kan. – For the first time in over three months, FC Tulsa will take on Sporting KC II tomorrow night.
The two clubs met three times over the first seven matches of the season but have not met on the pitch since June 16. All three matches were high-scoring affairs with 14 total goals being scored over the three meetings, the most combined goals between FC Tulsa and any opponent this season. FC Tulsa won the first and third matchups while Sporting KC II claimed the three points in the second meeting.
FC Tulsa is coming off a tough loss to Austin Bold FC last weekend, a result that broke its six-match unbeaten streak. However, Sporting KC II appears to be the opponent you want to play in order to start a new one. Sporting KC II has won only once in its last 11 matches, earning only six points in that span and falling to last place in the Central Division by a 10-point margin.
The announcement of Avionne Flanagan joining FC Tulsa on loan from FC Cincinnati in MLS will prove interesting for head coach Michael Nsien as the club now has another option at full-back, a position at which FC Tulsa has lacked the luxury of depth. The two primary full-backs for FC Tulsa, Jorge Corrales and Matt Sheldon, have logged 1,816 minutes and 1,957 minutes respectively, and Flanagan will allow for those two to catch their breath.
Kickoff from Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City is set for 7:00 p.m. CT.
SCOUTING SPORTING KC II
Sporting KC II is a club that, although one of the best pipeline clubs in the USL Championship, has struggled mightily in the standings this season. The club is 4W-14L-7D, the third-most losses from any club in the Eastern Conference.
Over the previously mentioned 11 matches in which it has won just one time, the club has conceded 17 goals, including three straight matches in which it conceded four times each between August 4 and August 14. Sporting KC II is one of only three clubs this season that has allowed four goals or more in a match at least three times.
That being said, the attack for Sporting KC II has proven to be explosive at times, led by forward Enoch Mushagalusa. Mushagalusa leads the club with seven goals in 2021 while Jacob Davis leading the charge with five assists. Keeper Kendall McIntosh has recorded 31 saves en route to posting a 64.6% save pct. with three clean sheets along the way.
THREE THINGS TO KNOW
1) Playoff Position
Despite a tough loss last weekend to a great defensive Austin Bold FC club, FC Tulsa is still in great shape as the season reaches the home stretch. Tulsa is in third place in the Central, leading fourth-place OKC Energy FC by seven points. A home playoff match is still very much a reality for FC Tulsa who needs to finish in the top two to bring a November night to ONEOK Field. The club no longer has any matches remaining against LouCity or Birmingham Legion FC this season, the two clubs above FC Tulsa in the standings.
2) Battle of the Halves
When FC Tulsa is leading on the scoreboard when the halftime whistle blows, good results follow. The club is 9W-0L-1D when up at halftime this season, the only draw coming two weeks ago vs Birmingham. However, Sporting KC II sees most of its action in the second half. The club has scored 68% of its goals in the second half, and on average, concedes for the first time in the 48’.
3) Flanagan Flies to Tulsa
On Tuesday, FC Tulsa announced the acquisition of Avionne Flanagan via loan from FC Cincinnati. Flanagan was selected with the No. 29 overall pick in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft out of the University of Southern Florida. The full-back was loaned to Orange County SC this season where he made six appearances and logged an assist before being loaned to FC Tulsa. In his six appearances with Orange County SC, the club went 4W-0L-2D.
HOW TO WATCH
TV: MY41
Stream: ESPN+ (US), YouTube (International)
Follow: You can follow FC Tulsa @FCTulsa on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
