Two Clubs Riding Momentum Clash on Wednesday Night
TULSA – FC Tulsa will go for two in a row at ONEOK Field on Wednesday night, coming off a convincing 3-1 home-opening victory on Saturday. Against one of the league’s best in Birmingham Legion FC, Tulsa showed it belongs in the same conversation, vaulting to 5th in the Eastern Conference table.
Tomorrow, FC Tulsa will have to prove it again – this time against a team from the top of the Western Conference in San Diego Loyal SC. A perfect 2-0-0 so far in the young season, San Diego is projected as a playoff lock under third-year head coach Landon Donovan, a man who knows plenty about winning soccer matches.
It will be the first matchup between the two sides, but the coaches won’t be unfamiliar with each other. Donovan and FC Tulsa head coach Michael Nsien were once teammates, members of a 2005 LA Galaxy team that won MLS Cup – Donovan, the star goalscorer, Nsien a reserve player as a 24-year-old.
The two will share a sideline again on Wednesday night, albeit on different benches, competing for three points.
SCOUTING SAN DIEGO LOYAL SC
Since its start in 2020, San Diego Loyal SC has been on a similar trajectory to Tulsa, getting better each season. Missing the USL Championship Playoffs in its inaugural season, San Diego made its first appearance in 2021 with a 14-12-6 record. Now, expectations are high for Loyal to bring a home playoff match to its fans in San Diego and with wins in its first two matches, the club appears on track to take the next step.
A solid and experienced core of players, led by captain Charlie Adams, were supplemented with several offensive additions in the offseason including Englishman Kyle Vassell, a seasoned striker who has spent the first 12 years of his professional career at various levels of English soccer. Nick Moon, previously of Indy Eleven and Thomas Amang, from Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, were added to provide pace up top, supplementing an attack headed by Vassell.
The biggest offseason addition for San Diego, and possibly the entire league, could be goalkeeper Koke Vegas, a former La Liga player who has shined in his first two appearances for Loyal. Allowing just one goal from 10 shots on target over two San Diego victories, Vegas has displayed his elite Spanish pedigree while spearheading a solid Loyal defense.
THREE THINGS TO KNOW
1) FC Tulsa’s Depth Tested
While FC Tulsa forward Joaquín Rivas and center-back Ronald Rodríguez, both starters, compete in World Cup qualifiers for El Salvador over the next 10 days, Tulsa will need to rely on depth to fill the holes. Two of Adrián Diz Pe, Johnny Fenwick and Matheus Silva are likely to start as the center-back duo while Saturday goalscorer Machuca could step into Rivas’ boots on Tulsa’s right wing. With the exception of Fenwick, the other three were all added to the roster this offseason as head coach Michael Nsien and his staff aimed to build out the depth with an eye on international windows when players could be absent. San Diego will also be missing a man to international duty as center-back Nikko Boxall competes for New Zealand in its World Cup qualifiers.
2) Keepers Shining
It will be a battle of keepers on Wednesday night as Tulsa’s Sean Lewis and San Diego’s Koke Vegas, each enter the match after stellar starts to the campaign. Both are in the league’s top 10 in saves and could each be difference makers on Wednesday night. Lewis will be familiar with the oddities of ONEOK Field, while Vegas and Loyal SC will be making their first road trip of the season. Needless to say, goals will be at a premium on Wednesday.
3) Youth Soccer Night
With U.S. National Team legend Landon Donovan in town, what better night to invite youth soccer players in Tulsa to enjoy the match? FC Tulsa is offering FREE tickets to all youth soccer players with the purchase of an adult ticket. To take advantage of this promotion, parents can send an email to tickets@fctulsa.com or by calling a ticket representative at (918) 297-6808.
HOW TO FOLLOW
Tickets are still available for the match and start at only $12. Throw in the Youth Soccer Night Promo, and Wednesday night is an affordable and fun midweek option for the whole family.
For those unable to make the match, FC Tulsa has renewed its broadcast partnership with FOX23 to show all regular season matches on My41 Tulsa in 2022. The broadcast is also available nationally through ESPN+.
As always, fans can follow @FC Tulsa on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for in-game updates, stats, highlights and more.
