Match Kicks Off at 8 p.m. CT
Match Kicks Off at 8 p.m. CT
TULSA – After 28 days without a match in front of the Tulsa faithful, the ONEOK Field lights will once again illuminate the soccer pitch for FC Tulsa on Saturday night.
Blair Gavin’s crew will need to rebound after a disappointing result on the road last weekend, the club’s third consecutive match away from home. FC Tulsa enters the match in 10th place in the USL Championship’s Eastern Conference, but a win could put the club back above the playoff line.
The match will offer fans their first in-person glimpses of Phillip Goodrum, Patrick Weah, and Tommy McCabe as all three players will be making their home debuts against the 2021 USL Championship title winners.
Speaking of Goodrum, the forward has been a standout after being acquired from Memphis 901 FC on May 22 in a blockbuster transfer. Goodrum has accounted for two of the club’s last three goals scored and was named to the league’s Team of the Week in Week 12 and to the Team of the Week bench earlier this week.
On the defensive side of the ball, goalkeeper Michael Nelson continues to build his case as one of the best defenders of the net in the league. His 42 saves are tied for the second-most in the league, and his 71.4% save pct. puts Nelson among the top 10 in the USL Championship.
Kickoff from ONEOK is set for 8 p.m. CT.
SCOUTING ORANGE COUNTY
Orange County SC has had a challenging season so far, amassing a 3W-8L-4D record after finishing last in the West a season ago. The away performances for Saturday’s visitors have been particularly disappointing, leaving the club without a win and posting a 0W-4L-2D record overall. Last time out, Orange County suffered a 4-0 defeat at the hands of Colorado Springs to secure its 10th place spot in the Western Conference standings. One of the club’s struggles has been its low conversion rate (9%), resulting in only 12 goals scored in 15 outings.
Despite these challenges, Milan Iloski has once again emerged as a standout player, leading the California side in every attacking statistic. He has netted 5 goals, provided 3 assists, taken 39 shots, and created 24 scoring opportunities for his teammates. That being said, the forward is also leading the league with 12 big chances missed.
STAT OF THE MATCH
Based on recent history, goals pour in at an astounding rate when FC Tulsa and Orange County SC match up. Over the previous four meetings, the two sides have combined to score a staggering 22 goals. This trend could very well continue tomorrow night as the top two finishers for the 2022 USL Championship Golden Boot go head-to-head. Milan Iloski finished last season with 22 goals, winning the Golden Boot, Phillip Goodrum capped his campaign just one shy of the lead with 21.
TULSA TOUGH NIGHT
Be one of the first 2,000 fans in attendance to receive a one-of-a-kind “Don’t be a Cry Baby” t-shirt! Gates open at 7 p.m. before the match kicks off at 8 p.m.
HOW TO WATCH
Tickets to the match are still available for purchase here. For those that cannot make it out to ONEOK Field, catch all the action locally on My41 Tulsa or stream it all on ESPN+.
STAY UPDATED
For highlights, polls, updates and more throughout matchday, be sure to follow @FCTulsa on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
