Kickoff vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies is Set for 6:30 p.m. CT
Kickoff vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies is Set for 6:30 p.m. CT
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – History is on the horizon. With a win on Saturday night, FC Tulsa would set a new franchise record with six consecutive victories, shattering the previous mark established two years ago. One of the Eastern Conference’s best stands in Tulsa’s way, the Tampa Bay Rowdies, making Saturday night a can’t-miss USL Championship affair.
Over its last five wins, FC Tulsa’s offense outscored its opposition 10-5, goalkeeper Michael Nelson posted a 76% save pct., and Blair Gavin improved his record as a head coach to an even 7W-7L-7D.
Five USL Championship Team of the Week awards have been awarded to FC Tulsa over that stretch as well – one for Marcus Epps, one for Adam Armour, and three for Phillip Goodrum (including two Player of the Week honors).
Goodrum has been a revelation, rekindling his 2022 form in which he scored 22 goals for Memphis 901 FC. The striker is averaging 1.4 Goals + Assists per 90 minutes during the streak and has compiled seven goals and two assists in Total since joining Tulsa.
On the season, the striker from Tennessee’s nine goal contributions equate to 0.9 G+A per 90 minutes since joining FC Tulsa, the best in club history among all players with at least 300 minutes played for Tulsa.
FC Tulsa’s upcoming opponent this weekend is the Tampa Bay Rowdies, currently occupying third place in the East. Tampa Bay finds itself in the midst of establishing a new identity after six-year head coach Neill Collins departed to join the EFL League One side Barnsley FC on Jul 5.
Since Collins’ exit from the organization, the Rowdies have failed to score a goal in two matches against Birmingham Legion FC and Indy Eleven, resulting in one loss and one draw.
Kickoff from Al Lang Stadium is set for 6:30 p.m. CT.
SCOUTING TAMPA BAY ROWDIES
As one of the most consistent and successful clubs year after year in the USL Championship, Tampa Bay once again finds itself in the thick of the Eastern Conference title race after a commanding start to the season. Despite two recent, unfavorable results under interim head coach Stuart Dobson, the Rowdies still rank fifth in the USL-C with 32 goals scored while conceding only 20, the third-fewest in the league. On Thursday, the Rowdies appointed Nicky Law as its head coach through the remainder of the season, further clouding the tactical approach Tampa Bay will employ on Saturday night.
The three key additions made by Tampa in the offseason to bolster its attack, Cal Jennings, Charlie Dennis, and former Tulsa man JJ Williams, have combined to score 21 times thus far, spearheaded by Jennings with eight. Goalkeeper Connor Sparrow has recorded six clean sheets in 16 matches to boot.
STAT OF THE MATCH
The Tulsa defense currently ranks third in the USL Championship with 11.2 successful tackles per match. Additionally, the club’s exceptional clearance rate of 18.0 per 90 minutes is good for second in the league as the defense continues to improve at limiting its opponents’ scoring chances.
Over Michael Nelson’s first 16 matches in goal this season, he faced an average of 4.4 shots on target per match. Conversely, Nelson has faced just 3.5 shots on goal in his last four outings, demonstrating the recent stranglehold the Tulsa defense has held over its opponents.
TUNE IN
Fans can watch the match locally on My41 Tulsa or stream it nationally on ESPN+.
WATCH PARTY
Head to the brand new Cabin Boys Brewpub for the Official Watch Party of FC Tulsa, complete with 918 Cerveza priced at just $4, handcrafted food from its gourmet kitchen, over 30 taps to choose from, and raffles for prizes and experiences.
TUNE IN
For highlights, polls, updates and more throughout matchday, be sure to follow @FCTulsa on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Threads.
