Kickoff Slated for 6:30 p.m. CT
LEESBURG, VA. – Although the 4th of July is on Monday, FC Tulsa is primed to get the fireworks started a day early as it travels to The Old Dominion State to take on Loudoun United FC for the first time in franchise history.
FC Tulsa is coming off a heartbreaking loss to San Antonio FC on Tuesday, a 2-1 finish against the top point-earning club in the USL Championship. Tulsa matched San Antonio stride-for-stride and likely deserved a better result, but two goals conceded within 90 seconds sealed Tulsa’s fate, leaving yet another road match with zero points.
The club’s lack of success on the road have been well documented in 2022, but perhaps Donovan Ricketts’ group is poised for its first road win of the season against a Loudoun side that sits in 11th place in the Eastern Conference, four points behind FC Tulsa entering play. Loudoun is 3W-4L-1D at home so far during the current campaign with nine goals scored over those eight matches, four of which came in one contest against the struggling Phoenix Rising FC.
Sean McFarlane made an immediate impact for FC Tulsa in his black-and-gold debut and seemed to re-energize the offense that has not been putting up the goal numbers it would like to be as of late. The McFarlane-JJ Williams combination that combined for a goal against San Antonio and nearly had a couple more may be exactly what the doctor ordered for the FC Tulsa offense – when this offense gets on a roll, it can be very hard to slow down.
Kickoff from Segra Field is set for 6:30 p.m. CT.
SCOUTING LOUDOUN UNITED FC
Since joining the USL Championship in 2019, the D.C. United affiliates have not made the playoffs in three seasons. Loudoun finished 12th out of 18 clubs in the East back in 2019, then finished last in Group F in 2020 and last in the Eastern Conference once again in 2021. Loudoun has four wins on the season, two of which came against current last-place club New York Red Bulls II, one against Phoenix Rising FC, and the other against Indy Eleven.
Abdellatif Aboukoura leads Loudoun with six goals on the season, and both Michael Gamble and Theodore Ku-Dipietro are tied for the club lead with two assists. Goalkeeping duties have been split in the Loudoun camp this season, but Luis Zamudio leads the pack with 31 saves on 47 shots faced for a 66% save pct.
THREE THINGS TO WATCH FOR
1) Rodrigo Eyes One Hundred
An appearance by Rodrigo da Costa on Sunday would be his 100th career USL Championship appearance (including playoffs), all of which have come in a Tulsa uniform. The Brazilian midfielder leads the franchise in nearly every offensive category in his fourth season with the club, including goals (29), assists (23), appearances (99), starts (95), and minutes (8,186).
2) Bradley Needs 57
FC Tulsa captain Bradley Bourgeois needs to log only 57 more minutes to take over the second spot when it comes to most minutes played in franchise history. Rodrigo da Costa is the all-time leader with 8,186 minutes played, Joaquín Rivas trails him with 7,303 minutes, and Bourgeois enters Sunday’s contest with 7,246.
3) Watch Party
With FC Tulsa on the road in Virginia, fans can still celebrate and root on FC Tulsa together at Elgin Park Brewery for the Official Watch Party of FC Tulsa! There will be giveaways, merch, a free-to-enter raffle for two pairs of Club Level suites to a future match, and $10 pitchers of house-brewed beer!
HOW TO WATCH
For fans that cannot make it out to Elgin Park Brewery on Sunday night, they can catch the match locally on My41 or stream the action on ESPN+. Be sure to follow @FCTulsa on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for live updates, news, highlights, and more throughout the match!
