Kickoff From Las Vegas is Set for 9:30 p.m. CT
Kickoff From Las Vegas is Set for 9:30 p.m. CT
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – FC Tulsa’s second of four road matches in May commences on Saturday night in the Sin City, providing fans in Northeast Oklahoma with some #USLAfterDark action with its 9:30 p.m. CT kickoff. Fresh off back-to-back draws, Tulsa matches up against the only club without a win in the USL Championship, Las Vegas Lights FC, for the first time since 2019.
Last weekend, a dominating display put in by FC Tulsa resulted in its fifth draw of the season. A myriad of tremendous saves made by Detroit’s goalkeeper and two shots into the woodwork denied Tulsa of the three points the statistics say it deserved, but the recipe is there – Tulsa continues to create scoring chances, control the ball, and limit goals by the opposition more effectively with each passing match.
In an effort to keep the opposition from opening the scoring, something that has occurred six times in nine contests, FC Tulsa acquired left-back Adam Armour via MLS loan on Monday. Armour joins the Tulsa roster after spending 2022 with Charlotte FC in MLS where he accounted for the club’s first-ever MLS goal. In addition, the 20-year-old defender has 19 caps under his belt for the United States at the U-17 level.
Armour will be available for selection to Blair Gavin on Saturday night.
Gavin has spoken about matches against Western Conference foes being “Cup Finals” since the beginning of the season, referring to the fact that FC Tulsa only gets to play everyone from the West once. This weekend’s Cup Final comes against a Las Vegas side that has struggled to score goals, as well as prevent them, all year long.
The two sides have met up four times in total, twice in 2018 and twice more in 2019. All four results ended in draws.
Kickoff from Cashman Field is set for 9:30 p.m. CT.
SCOUTING LAS VEGAS
Las Vegas Lights FC enters Saturday’s match in last place in the Western Conference and as the only club in the USL Championship without a win this season. Head coach Isidro Sanchez, who returned to Vegas in the offseason after serving as the franchise’s first head coach back in 2018, is searching for both offensive and defensive consistency in his homecoming season.
Lights FC ranks 19th out of 24 clubs with eight goals scored while conceding 13 goals, the fifth-most in the league. 25 new faces appear on the club’s roster that were not part of the squad last season as the club looks to rebuild following the severance of its affiliation with MLS’ Los Angeles FC in the offseason.
STAT OF THE MATCH
Rodrigo da Costa has been one of the best distribution men in the USL Championship this season. His 24 chances created are the second-most in the league (four behind Memphis 901 FC’s Aaron Molloy), and his xA total sits at 3.17, 0.51 points higher than second place.
HOW TO WATCH
The match will be broadcasted locally by My41 Tulsa and streamed nationally on ESPN+.
WATCH PARTY
The Official Watch Party of FC Tulsa will take place at the Tulsan Athletic Club on Saturday night. The TAC is offering free pickleball from 5-10 p.m., 918 Cervezas for $4, and Domestic Pitchers for only $10.
STAY UP TO DATE
For highlights, polls, updates and more throughout matchday, be sure to follow @FCTulsa on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
