Match Recap: FC Tulsa 1 – 1 Sporting KC II – Presented by Williams

KANSAS CITY – FC Tulsa scored a match-winning goal against Sporting Kansas City II in the final 20 minutes on Friday night and then…it didn't. 

A collision outside the box from Darío Suárez and SKC II keeper John Pulskamp resulted in what would have been a winner for Marlon Santos, but after nearly five minutes of discussion, the referees decided to wipe the goal off the board and the match ended in a 1-1 draw. 

While it will go down as a result on the road, it is a missed opportunity for FC Tulsa, who thought it had all three points prior to the controversial call. On the play in question, Pulskamp came outside the box and collided with an on-rushing Suárez. The ball fell to Marlon who slotted it in the empty net. 

The collision resulted in injuries to both Suárez and Pulskamp, and while trainers were out on the pitch, the referee crew got together to talk through the goal, which was initially awarded. With no instant replay access, a decision was made after a lengthy discussion to reverse the call. 

Ultimately, that controversial decision cost FC Tulsa a victory against the last place side in the Central Division.

Here was the explanation from both head coach Michael Nsien and captain Bradley Bourgeois on what they heard from the referees about the call.

Michael Nsien
“They said the keeper got to the ball first and won the ball.”

Bradley Bourgeois
“The linesman on the near side – I asked her what they were trying to decide between what would make it a goal or a foul, and they were trying to decide who got there first. So essentially if Darío was the one who touched the ball first, it would have stood as a goal, maybe a possible red card. But if they felt like the defender, the goalkeeper, got a touch on it before Darío, then they would have called it as they did. It’s unfortunate because the near linesman had, at first, said that it stood as a goal. But then the main ref stated that the officials on the far side [of the pitch] had two looks at it and said it was a foul against us. They never said it was from video, all he said was that the two refs on the far side, away from the ball, had two good looks at it. Whatever that means.”

It was a bright start for Tulsa as Suárez himself got the scoring started for FC Tulsa with another clutch penalty inside the opening 10 minutes. His strike mate Marlon won the penalty, taking a foul just inside the box. After the goal, it was the Tulsa defense's turn to show out. Absorbing Sporting KC II pressure for much of the rest of the half, FC Tulsa and keeper Austin Wormell kept the hosts from finding an equalizer, turning away six corners and all six of the SKC II shots. 

It was Sporting KC II who found the equalizer in the second half as Kayden Pierre deflected a shot off the legs of Tulsa defender Mo Jadama and snuck the ball inside the far post, just outside the reach of Wormell. 

The draw puts FC Tulsa five points behind Birmingham Legion FC for second place in the Central and significantly lessens the likelihood of a home playoff match. FC Tulsa will now need plenty of help from Birmingham Legion FC's opponents down the stretch of the season, and not trip up again themselves, to leap into a top two spot. 

Here are three quick takeaways from the draw. 

UP NEXT
FC Tulsa is back at home for a two-match homestand starting next Saturday, October 2 as FC Tulsa hosts Memphis 901 FC, followed by an October 9 home match against El Paso Locomotive FC. Both matches will kickoff at 7 p.m. CT and tickets are available here. 

KANSAS CITY – FC Tulsa scored a match-winning goal against Sporting Kansas City II in the final 20 minutes on Friday night and then…it didn’t. 

A collision outside the box from Darío Suárez and SKC II keeper John Pulskamp resulted in what would have been a winner for Marlon Santos, but after nearly five minutes of discussion, the referees decided to wipe the goal off the board and the match ended in a 1-1 draw. 

While it will go down as a result on the road, it is a missed opportunity for FC Tulsa, who thought it had all three points prior to the controversial call. On the play in question, Pulskamp came outside the box and collided with an on-rushing Suárez. The ball fell to Marlon who slotted it in the empty net. 

The collision resulted in injuries to both Suárez and Pulskamp, and while trainers were out on the pitch, the referee crew got together to talk through the goal, which was initially awarded. With no instant replay access, a decision was made after a lengthy discussion to reverse the call. 

Ultimately, that controversial decision cost FC Tulsa a victory against the last place side in the Central Division.

Here was the explanation from both head coach Michael Nsien and captain Bradley Bourgeois on what they heard from the referees about the call.

Michael Nsien
“They said the keeper got to the ball first and won the ball.”

Bradley Bourgeois
“The linesman on the near side – I asked her what they were trying to decide between what would make it a goal or a foul, and they were trying to decide who got there first. So essentially if Darío was the one who touched the ball first, it would have stood as a goal, maybe a possible red card. But if they felt like the defender, the goalkeeper, got a touch on it before Darío, then they would have called it as they did. It’s unfortunate because the near linesman had, at first, said that it stood as a goal. But then the main ref stated that the officials on the far side [of the pitch] had two looks at it and said it was a foul against us. They never said it was from video, all he said was that the two refs on the far side, away from the ball, had two good looks at it. Whatever that means.”

It was a bright start for Tulsa as Suárez himself got the scoring started for FC Tulsa with another clutch penalty inside the opening 10 minutes. His strike mate Marlon won the penalty, taking a foul just inside the box. After the goal, it was the Tulsa defense’s turn to show out. Absorbing Sporting KC II pressure for much of the rest of the half, FC Tulsa and keeper Austin Wormell kept the hosts from finding an equalizer, turning away six corners and all six of the SKC II shots. 

It was Sporting KC II who found the equalizer in the second half as Kayden Pierre deflected a shot off the legs of Tulsa defender Mo Jadama and snuck the ball inside the far post, just outside the reach of Wormell. 

The draw puts FC Tulsa five points behind Birmingham Legion FC for second place in the Central and significantly lessens the likelihood of a home playoff match. FC Tulsa will now need plenty of help from Birmingham Legion FC’s opponents down the stretch of the season, and not trip up again themselves, to leap into a top two spot. 

Here are three quick takeaways from the draw. 

UP NEXT
FC Tulsa is back at home for a two-match homestand starting next Saturday, October 2 as FC Tulsa hosts Memphis 901 FC, followed by an October 9 home match against El Paso Locomotive FC. Both matches will kickoff at 7 p.m. CT and tickets are available here.