INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Clinched.
For the second straight season, FC Tulsa has locked in a USL Championship Playoffs spot thanks to a 1-1 draw on Saturday night against Indy Eleven in Indianapolis. It's the first time in the seven-year franchise history that the club has made the playoffs in back-to-back seasons, as the FC Tulsa era of the franchise is now 2-for-2 in postseason trips.
While FC Tulsa's playoff seed remains up in the air heading into the final two matches of the 2021 season, the club now knows it will be playing postseason soccer for the third time as a USL Championship club.
Saturday's draw didn't come easy as FC Tulsa fell behind midway through the second half, but forward Jason Johnson was quick to equalize as his goal, the second in two matches for the Jamaican, sent FC Tulsa to the postseason.
The first half was full of almosts for FC Tulsa with three chances that could have resulted in the opening tally. A long-range chip by Joaquín Rivas in the 28' minute that caught Indy keeper Jordan Farr outside the box took a high bounce on the turf in front of the goal and hit the post and then the crossbar before being cleared by the Eleven defense.
Only two minutes later it was Farr again at the center of the action as he saved Bradley Bourgeois's header off a set piece. Finally, FC Tulsa put the ball in the back of the net in the 38' minute as Rivas beat Farr, but a close offside call ruled the goal out as the team's went into the locker room 0-0.
With the match still scoreless in the 71' minute, Indy Eleven made the most of a half-chance from outside the box. Indy's Peter-Lee Vassell blasted a rocket from 25 yards out that beat Austin Wormell and slammed into the top corner of the net.
The lead was short-lived as FC Tulsa bounced back immediately. A free kick from the boot of Lebo Moloto ping-ponged around in the box, eventually coming off the body of Marlon Santos to Jason Johnson. The striker was quick to react, immediately sending the ball into the net for the decisive tally.
FC Tulsa hung on for the final 10 minutes and stoppage time to seal the result and clinch the Playoffs berth.
Here are three quick takeaways from the clinching result.
1) JJ ON THE DOUBLE
Jason Johnson picked a good week to break out. The August acquisition had scored just one goal for FC Tulsa prior to this week, but a tally in both Wednesday's win and the equalizer on Saturday ensured Tulsa got the needed four points to lock in a playoff berth. JJ is the fifth player to score at least three goals this season for Tulsa.
2) I GUESS WE'LL NEVER KNOW
FC Tulsa captain Bradley Bourgeois still doesn't know what it's like to miss the USL Championship Playoffs. The defender has reached the postseason in all six professional seasons and has been the only player to be a part of all three FC Tulsa playoff teams (2017, 2020, 2021). He reached the postseason in 2016 with Rio Grande Valley FC and in 2018 and 2019 with Nashville SC.
3) PLAYOFF SEEDING ON THE LINE
They're in, but FC Tulsa still doesn't know who it will be playing in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals the first weekend of November. A large matchup on Wednesday at Memphis 901 FC looms for Tulsa that will go a very long way to determining if it will be the Central Division's No. 3 or 4 seed. Memphis and Tulsa are tied for third currently, with Memphis holding the head-to-head tiebreaker.
UP NEXT
FC Tulsa has two very important matches in the final week of the 2021 regular season. First, a Wednesday road match at Memphis 901 FC will likely decide who earns the coveted third spot in the Central Division and avoids a first round Playoffs matchup against the top-seeded Tampa Bay Rowdies.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Clinched.
For the second straight season, FC Tulsa has locked in a USL Championship Playoffs spot thanks to a 1-1 draw on Saturday night against Indy Eleven in Indianapolis. It’s the first time in the seven-year franchise history that the club has made the playoffs in back-to-back seasons, as the FC Tulsa era of the franchise is now 2-for-2 in postseason trips.
While FC Tulsa’s playoff seed remains up in the air heading into the final two matches of the 2021 season, the club now knows it will be playing postseason soccer for the third time as a USL Championship club.
Saturday’s draw didn’t come easy as FC Tulsa fell behind midway through the second half, but forward Jason Johnson was quick to equalize as his goal, the second in two matches for the Jamaican, sent FC Tulsa to the postseason.
The first half was full of almosts for FC Tulsa with three chances that could have resulted in the opening tally. A long-range chip by Joaquín Rivas in the 28′ minute that caught Indy keeper Jordan Farr outside the box took a high bounce on the turf in front of the goal and hit the post and then the crossbar before being cleared by the Eleven defense.
Only two minutes later it was Farr again at the center of the action as he saved Bradley Bourgeois’s header off a set piece. Finally, FC Tulsa put the ball in the back of the net in the 38′ minute as Rivas beat Farr, but a close offside call ruled the goal out as the team’s went into the locker room 0-0.
With the match still scoreless in the 71′ minute, Indy Eleven made the most of a half-chance from outside the box. Indy’s Peter-Lee Vassell blasted a rocket from 25 yards out that beat Austin Wormell and slammed into the top corner of the net.
The lead was short-lived as FC Tulsa bounced back immediately. A free kick from the boot of Lebo Moloto ping-ponged around in the box, eventually coming off the body of Marlon Santos to Jason Johnson. The striker was quick to react, immediately sending the ball into the net for the decisive tally.
FC Tulsa hung on for the final 10 minutes and stoppage time to seal the result and clinch the Playoffs berth.
Here are three quick takeaways from the clinching result.
1) JJ ON THE DOUBLE
Jason Johnson picked a good week to break out. The August acquisition had scored just one goal for FC Tulsa prior to this week, but a tally in both Wednesday’s win and the equalizer on Saturday ensured Tulsa got the needed four points to lock in a playoff berth. JJ is the fifth player to score at least three goals this season for Tulsa.
2) I GUESS WE’LL NEVER KNOW
FC Tulsa captain Bradley Bourgeois still doesn’t know what it’s like to miss the USL Championship Playoffs. The defender has reached the postseason in all six professional seasons and has been the only player to be a part of all three FC Tulsa playoff teams (2017, 2020, 2021). He reached the postseason in 2016 with Rio Grande Valley FC and in 2018 and 2019 with Nashville SC.
3) PLAYOFF SEEDING ON THE LINE
They’re in, but FC Tulsa still doesn’t know who it will be playing in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals the first weekend of November. A large matchup on Wednesday at Memphis 901 FC looms for Tulsa that will go a very long way to determining if it will be the Central Division’s No. 3 or 4 seed. Memphis and Tulsa are tied for third currently, with Memphis holding the head-to-head tiebreaker.
UP NEXT
FC Tulsa has two very important matches in the final week of the 2021 regular season. First, a Wednesday road match at Memphis 901 FC will likely decide who earns the coveted third spot in the Central Division and avoids a first round Playoffs matchup against the top-seeded Tampa Bay Rowdies.
