Kickoff on Saturday Is Set for 4 p.m. CT
Kickoff on Saturday Is Set for 4 p.m. CT
SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Riding the momentum from an undefeated homestand spanning three matches, FC Tulsa has rocketed up to 2nd place in the USL Championship Eastern Conference standings. Tulsa continues to lead the league in goals scored (8), but its high-octane offense will be put to the test by a quality offensive and defensive unit in San Diego Loyal SC on Saturday evening.
Moses Dyer joined the scoring party for FC Tulsa last time out vs. El Paso Locomotive FC, becoming the fifth player to log a goal for the club this season. Rodrigo da Costa’s Goal of the Week nominaiton from the same match was his second of the season, making FC Tulsa the only club in the league to have three players with multiple goals in 2023 (Marcus Epps, Milo Yosef, Rodrigo da Costa) alongside Sacramento Republic FC.
Da Costa has been his usual self to begin the current campaign with two goals and one assist, bringing his Tulsa totals up to 35 goals and 26 assists. Both rank first in franchise history. This season, the Brazilian also ranks first in the USL-C in crosses (26) and second in chances created (11).
FC Tulsa’s clash with San Diego Loyal SC pits strength against strength as Tulsa’s No. 1 offense goes up against a SD Loyal defense that has conceded only three goals in 2023, the third fewest in the league.
Seven new head coaches were introduced to the USL Championship in 2023, Blair Gavin and Loyal SC gaffer Nate Miller being two of them. Only three of those seven have collected six or more points through this point in the season – Gavin and Miller comprise two-thirds of that list.
While Saturday will mark the first head-to-head contest between Gavin and Miller, the two clubs met once before on March 23, 2022 and it was FC Tulsa who came out on top at ONEOK Field by a narrow 1-0 margin. Darío Suárez stretched out to greet a curling service in the 77’ minute, just getting a toe to the delivery and scoring the match’s only goal.
An early kickoff from Torero Stadium is set for 4 p.m. CT on Saturday.
SCOUTING SAN DIEGO
Despite a new head coach at the helm in Nate Miller, San Diego Loyal SC has still found success through its first four matches of the season. While its offense has done well (six goals in four matches), the Loyal’s defense has stood out as one of the best in the USL Championship with only three concessions and two clean sheets.
Former Liga MX and MLS stalwart Joe Corona, who has over 400 professional appearances to his credit along with two Gold Cup and two Liga MX Apertura titles, inked a deal with San Diego in the offseason. He joins 2022 USL-C All-League midfielder Alejandro Guido and Nick Moon to service strikers Elliot Collier and Ronaldo Damus up top. Koke Vegas returns to man the net for the Loyal in 2023 after making 71 saves a year ago, matching the total of Tulsa keeper Austin Wormell.
STAT OF THE MATCH
Da Costa could once again make club history on Saturday night. He needs to log only 58 more minutes to become the first player to ever record 10,000 USL Championship minutes for FC Tulsa between regular season and postseason play.
HOW TO WATCH
The match will be broadcasted live locally on My41 Tulsa as well as streamed nationally on ESPN+.
WATCH PARTY
The Tulsan Athletic Club is the best place in town to watch the match! Come out for the Official Watch Party of FC Tulsa and play free pickleball from 3-8 p.m. and order up $10 Domestic pitchers or 918 Cerveza for just $4.
