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Road to Gold: Remaining Strength of Schedule

TULSA – As FC Tulsa’s season heads into the home stretch, every match left on the schedule is magnified in importance. With only eight matches remaining in the 2021 USL Championship regular season and a Playoffs “Magic Number” of 16, your friendly neighborhood writers at www.fctulsa.com thought it would be fun to see just how FC Tulsa’s remaining schedule stacks up to the rest of the league.

While there are many ways to calculate strength of schedule, we kept it simple. First, we calculated the points per match each of the 31 USL Championship teams have earned already this season. Then we assigned those values to the remaining matches on each team’s schedule. A quick click of the average button and “ta-da” – a basic strength of schedule metric.

It’s important to note that in this 2021 USL Championship season that features select “out of division” matches, every schedule is different. Unlike in past seasons, where an Eastern Conference team played every other East team home and away, there is variance in opponents, which makes strength of schedule even more important.

We didn’t want to overcomplicate this, so we chose not to factor in home vs. road splits here. With fans back in the stands, that could certainly swing a matchup one way or the other.

Finally, keep in mind that this is merely a fun exercise meant to provide a quick comparison tool as the USL Championship season hits its final six weeks. It has no bearings on how good or bad a certain team is or their chances of making it to the postseason.

Onto a few intriguing storylines and a full strength of schedule ranking.

FC Tulsa’s Strength of Schedule – 10th out 31, 3rd in Central
FC Tulsa has a top 10 easiest schedule out of the 31 USL Championship clubs, but it still ranks behind Louisville City FC (6th) and Birmingham Legion FC (7th), the teams it is chasing in the Central Division. While out-of-division matches against El Paso and San Antonio provide the two hardest remaining tests out of the eight remaining matches, FC Tulsa has already exhausted its matches against Louisville and Birmingham. That means the other six Central Division matches for Tulsa in 2021 come against the five teams beneath it in the division.

The foursome of FC Tulsa’s out-of-division opponents – Rio Grande Valley FC, Austin Bold FC, San Antonio FC and El Paso Locomotive FC – looks pretty tough on paper, and two of those matches still must be played in October. El Paso is clearly one of the best teams in the league with just two losses all season and San Antonio is one of the teams to hand the Locomotive a loss. FC Tulsa will get to host El Paso but will have to make one more trip to Texas to play San Antonio on October 16.

Outside of those two matches, FC Tulsa’s schedule looks very appealing with matches left against Sporting Kansas City II, Memphis (x2), Indy, Atlanta and OKC Energy FC. FC Tulsa has beaten all of those teams at least once this year and will likely be favored in all six of those matches.

Rest of the Central Division
While Louisville City and Birmingham both have slightly easier schedules than FC Tulsa, one massive match looms at the end of the season when Louisville and Birmingham will face each other on the final matchday of 2021. While it seems almost a sure thing that all three teams will make the playoffs, that match could impact seeding amongst the sides.

OKC Energy FC currently sits in the fourth and final playoff spot in the Central Division, but will face the 3rd hardest remaining schedule in the league in its final seven matches. Its final five matches will be against San Antonio, Austin, Birmingham, El Paso and FC Tulsa – five teams in playoff position as it stands today. If Energy FC is going to return to the postseason for the first time since 2017, it will have to survive a gauntlet to get there.

Three teams are chasing OKC for that final Central Division playoff spot – Atlanta United 2, Indy Eleven and Memphis 901 FC. Of the three, Atlanta has the easiest remaining schedule, but the fewest remaining matches – seven. Memphis, still with 10 matches to play this season, has the most remaining possible points out, but will have to play Louisville City three more times and FC Tulsa twice in those 10 matches.

Other USL Championship Strength of Schedule Notes

  • Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC has the hardest remaining schedule in the USL Championship and also only six remaining matches. The Riverhounds, in second place in the Atlantic Division, are chasing Tampa Bay Rowdies, who have the third easiest remaining schedule. The top of the Atlantic Division should provide some drama down the stretch.
  • The easiest remaining schedule of playoff contenders is owned by San Diego Loyal SC. Currently in second in the Pacific Division, San Diego is trying to hold off a charge from Orange County SC, who sits in third, but has the 21st ranked strength of schedule.
     
  • Despite a rough start to its inaugural USL Championship campaign, Oakland Roots has been one of the better teams in the league over the last month of the season. With the 11th easiest schedule remaining, Oakland could end up overtaking Tacoma for the final postseason berth in the Pacific Division.
     
  • The Mountain Division playoff race has seen its share of twists and turns already in 2021 and the final six weeks could provide even more shake ups. Rio Grande Valley FC remains in the mix for a playoff spot despite going winless in its last eight matches. With the 8th easiest remaining schedule, RGV could put itself back in the chase with three huge matches against New Mexico United in its final eight tilts.

TULSA – As FC Tulsa’s season heads into the home stretch, every match left on the schedule is magnified in importance. With only eight matches remaining in the 2021 USL Championship regular season and a Playoffs “Magic Number” of 16, your friendly neighborhood writers at www.fctulsa.com thought it would be fun to see just how FC Tulsa’s remaining schedule stacks up to the rest of the league.

While there are many ways to calculate strength of schedule, we kept it simple. First, we calculated the points per match each of the 31 USL Championship teams have earned already this season. Then we assigned those values to the remaining matches on each team’s schedule. A quick click of the average button and “ta-da” – a basic strength of schedule metric.

It’s important to note that in this 2021 USL Championship season that features select “out of division” matches, every schedule is different. Unlike in past seasons, where an Eastern Conference team played every other East team home and away, there is variance in opponents, which makes strength of schedule even more important.

We didn’t want to overcomplicate this, so we chose not to factor in home vs. road splits here. With fans back in the stands, that could certainly swing a matchup one way or the other.

Finally, keep in mind that this is merely a fun exercise meant to provide a quick comparison tool as the USL Championship season hits its final six weeks. It has no bearings on how good or bad a certain team is or their chances of making it to the postseason.

Onto a few intriguing storylines and a full strength of schedule ranking.

FC Tulsa’s Strength of Schedule – 10th out 31, 3rd in Central
FC Tulsa has a top 10 easiest schedule out of the 31 USL Championship clubs, but it still ranks behind Louisville City FC (6th) and Birmingham Legion FC (7th), the teams it is chasing in the Central Division. While out-of-division matches against El Paso and San Antonio provide the two hardest remaining tests out of the eight remaining matches, FC Tulsa has already exhausted its matches against Louisville and Birmingham. That means the other six Central Division matches for Tulsa in 2021 come against the five teams beneath it in the division.

The foursome of FC Tulsa’s out-of-division opponents – Rio Grande Valley FC, Austin Bold FC, San Antonio FC and El Paso Locomotive FC – looks pretty tough on paper, and two of those matches still must be played in October. El Paso is clearly one of the best teams in the league with just two losses all season and San Antonio is one of the teams to hand the Locomotive a loss. FC Tulsa will get to host El Paso but will have to make one more trip to Texas to play San Antonio on October 16.

Outside of those two matches, FC Tulsa’s schedule looks very appealing with matches left against Sporting Kansas City II, Memphis (x2), Indy, Atlanta and OKC Energy FC. FC Tulsa has beaten all of those teams at least once this year and will likely be favored in all six of those matches.

Rest of the Central Division
While Louisville City and Birmingham both have slightly easier schedules than FC Tulsa, one massive match looms at the end of the season when Louisville and Birmingham will face each other on the final matchday of 2021. While it seems almost a sure thing that all three teams will make the playoffs, that match could impact seeding amongst the sides.

OKC Energy FC currently sits in the fourth and final playoff spot in the Central Division, but will face the 3rd hardest remaining schedule in the league in its final seven matches. Its final five matches will be against San Antonio, Austin, Birmingham, El Paso and FC Tulsa – five teams in playoff position as it stands today. If Energy FC is going to return to the postseason for the first time since 2017, it will have to survive a gauntlet to get there.

Three teams are chasing OKC for that final Central Division playoff spot – Atlanta United 2, Indy Eleven and Memphis 901 FC. Of the three, Atlanta has the easiest remaining schedule, but the fewest remaining matches – seven. Memphis, still with 10 matches to play this season, has the most remaining possible points out, but will have to play Louisville City three more times and FC Tulsa twice in those 10 matches.

Other USL Championship Strength of Schedule Notes

  • Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC has the hardest remaining schedule in the USL Championship and also only six remaining matches. The Riverhounds, in second place in the Atlantic Division, are chasing Tampa Bay Rowdies, who have the third easiest remaining schedule. The top of the Atlantic Division should provide some drama down the stretch.
  • The easiest remaining schedule of playoff contenders is owned by San Diego Loyal SC. Currently in second in the Pacific Division, San Diego is trying to hold off a charge from Orange County SC, who sits in third, but has the 21st ranked strength of schedule.
     
  • Despite a rough start to its inaugural USL Championship campaign, Oakland Roots has been one of the better teams in the league over the last month of the season. With the 11th easiest schedule remaining, Oakland could end up overtaking Tacoma for the final postseason berth in the Pacific Division.
     
  • The Mountain Division playoff race has seen its share of twists and turns already in 2021 and the final six weeks could provide even more shake ups. Rio Grande Valley FC remains in the mix for a playoff spot despite going winless in its last eight matches. With the 8th easiest remaining schedule, RGV could put itself back in the chase with three huge matches against New Mexico United in its final eight tilts.

Match Recap: FC Tulsa 0, Austin Bold FC 1 – Presented by Williams

TULSA – A night of 918 celebrations turned sour at ONEOK Field as FC Tulsa was held scoreless for the second time at home in 2021 with a 1-0 loss to Austin Bold FC on Saturday night. The loss broke a six-match unbeaten streak for Tulsa and keeps the club in third place in the Central Division. 

Despite holding three-quarters of the possession, FC Tulsa was unable to capitalize and was held without a significant scoring chance throughout the 90 minutes. 

Austin took advantage of the only moment in an uneventful first half, striking on its opening salvo of the match, a free kick placed just outside the box 10 minutes into the first half. Fabien Garcia's set piece deflected off the top of the Tulsa wall and the inside of the left post to give Bold FC the lead. It was the first time since August 14 that FC Tulsa has not scored first in a match, a six-match run. 

Meanwhile, FC Tulsa's potent attack was held in check through the opening 45 minutes with none of those four shots forcing a save from Bold FC. 

Unfortunately for Tulsa, the second 45 was more of the same. Austin was content to sit in and defend, and despite Tulsa holding 76% of possession throughout the second half, there was no getting through the Bold backline on Saturday night. 

FC Tulsa will go back on the road on Friday night to play Sporting Kansas City II at Children's Mercy Park. 

1) SCORELESS AT HOME
A rarity occurred on Saturday night as FC Tulsa was held scoreless for the second time at home in 2021 and for just the third time in the last two seasons. Heading into tonight, FC Tulsa had averaged more than two goals a match at ONEOK Field, bagging 23 goals over 11 previous home matches. 

2) GOOD RESULTS AROUND THE CENTRAL
While FC Tulsa didn't get the result it wanted on Saturday at ONEOK, it did have luck elsewhere in the Central Division. Birmingham Legion FC only gained one point in a draw against OKC Energy FC while Indy Eleven and Atlanta United 2 suffered losses, maintaining the gap to FC Tulsa in third. With Austin being an out-of-division opponent, the points earned by the Bold at ONEOK Field don't hurt FC Tulsa in the standings. 

3) MAGIC NUMBER UPDATE
The home stretch is officially upon FC Tulsa as there are just eight USL Championship matches left in the regular season, four home and four away. FC Tulsa will play each of the five Central Division teams below it in the standings, Memphis twice, and will play two more out of division matches, at home against El Paso and on the road at San Antonio FC. There are 24 points on the board and FC Tulsa's "Magic Number" is now at 16. 

UP NEXT
FC Tulsa goes on the road for its final matchup of the season against Sporting Kansas City II on Friday, September 24 at Children's Mercy Park. FC Tulsa has taken six of a possible nine points so far against the last place team in the Central Division. 

TULSA – A night of 918 celebrations turned sour at ONEOK Field as FC Tulsa was held scoreless for the second time at home in 2021 with a 1-0 loss to Austin Bold FC on Saturday night. The loss broke a six-match unbeaten streak for Tulsa and keeps the club in third place in the Central Division. 

Despite holding three-quarters of the possession, FC Tulsa was unable to capitalize and was held without a significant scoring chance throughout the 90 minutes. 

Austin took advantage of the only moment in an uneventful first half, striking on its opening salvo of the match, a free kick placed just outside the box 10 minutes into the first half. Fabien Garcia’s set piece deflected off the top of the Tulsa wall and the inside of the left post to give Bold FC the lead. It was the first time since August 14 that FC Tulsa has not scored first in a match, a six-match run. 

Meanwhile, FC Tulsa’s potent attack was held in check through the opening 45 minutes with none of those four shots forcing a save from Bold FC. 

Unfortunately for Tulsa, the second 45 was more of the same. Austin was content to sit in and defend, and despite Tulsa holding 76% of possession throughout the second half, there was no getting through the Bold backline on Saturday night. 

FC Tulsa will go back on the road on Friday night to play Sporting Kansas City II at Children’s Mercy Park. 

1) SCORELESS AT HOME
A rarity occurred on Saturday night as FC Tulsa was held scoreless for the second time at home in 2021 and for just the third time in the last two seasons. Heading into tonight, FC Tulsa had averaged more than two goals a match at ONEOK Field, bagging 23 goals over 11 previous home matches. 

2) GOOD RESULTS AROUND THE CENTRAL
While FC Tulsa didn’t get the result it wanted on Saturday at ONEOK, it did have luck elsewhere in the Central Division. Birmingham Legion FC only gained one point in a draw against OKC Energy FC while Indy Eleven and Atlanta United 2 suffered losses, maintaining the gap to FC Tulsa in third. With Austin being an out-of-division opponent, the points earned by the Bold at ONEOK Field don’t hurt FC Tulsa in the standings. 

3) MAGIC NUMBER UPDATE
The home stretch is officially upon FC Tulsa as there are just eight USL Championship matches left in the regular season, four home and four away. FC Tulsa will play each of the five Central Division teams below it in the standings, Memphis twice, and will play two more out of division matches, at home against El Paso and on the road at San Antonio FC. There are 24 points on the board and FC Tulsa’s “Magic Number” is now at 16. 

UP NEXT
FC Tulsa goes on the road for its final matchup of the season against Sporting Kansas City II on Friday, September 24 at Children’s Mercy Park. FC Tulsa has taken six of a possible nine points so far against the last place team in the Central Division. 

FC Tulsa's Defense Has Been One of the Best Since Late June. What Does that Mean for Playoffs?

Although the famous Bear Bryant quote “Defense Wins Championships” is derived from the other football, last year’s Tampa Bay Rowdies club finally proved that the often-cliché saying can apply to the USL Championship as well. And that’s a great thing for FC Tulsa this season.

For years, the final two clubs standing at the end of the USL Championship season were there because of their offenses, blasting their way through opponents from the beginning of the regular season until the League Finals. In fact, the 2015 Rochester Rhinos were the last club to make it to the Finals without being in the top six in goals scored during the regular season.

As in the MLB, NFL, NBA, or any other professional sports league, defense has taken the back seat to offense in the USL Championship over the past few years. Louisville City FC in 2017 had been the most recent club to even make it to the finals with a top-three defense in terms of goals conceded. However, the 2020 Tampa Bay Rowdies reached the Finals last season tied for the second-best defense, only giving up 14 goals, as well as tied for the second-most clean sheets in the League with eight in a shortened season of just 16 matches played.

Of course, the 2020 USL Championship would not end up being played due to a Covid-19 outbreak, but the point remains the same ­– it is possible to reach the Finals on the back of a great defense.

While FC Tulsa may not have the League’s top defense, it has been one of the best in the entire League over the past two-and-a-half months. Since June 25, the FC Tulsa backline has only conceded 18 times over its 15 matches, good for fourth-best in USL Championship among teams that have played at least 15 times during that span. This even includes a four-match losing sprinkled in, proving that even when things were not going well for FC Tulsa as a club, the defense kept a result obtainable. 

In fact, FC Tulsa has not allowed an opponent to score more than two goals in the previous 15 outings, a stat mirroring last year’s elite FC Tulsa defense known around the League as one of the most unforgiving. This season, that number is even more impressive when considering eight different players have appeared along the FC Tulsa back-four during this span. Regardless of who is on the pitch wearing the black and gold, the Tulsa garrison has been stout. Jorge Corrales, Leo Folla, Matt Sheldon, Kevin Garcia, Mou Jadama, Solomon Kwambe, Bradley Bourgeois, and Johnny Fenwick have all logged minutes for the backline since late June.

Not only have the many cohesive pieces making up the Tulsa backline made it one of the most difficult puzzles to solve in the League lately, but the unit has found a way to put up some of the USL Championship’s best offensive numbers at the same time.

The FC Tulsa defense is one of only four clubs whose back-four has recorded at least nine assists. Wing-backs Jorge Corrales and Matt Sheldon have both logged three assists each, paralleling each other in the assists column just as they parallel each other up and down the pitch. Captain Bradley Bourgeois has two assists on the year, and the stalwart to his left, Mou Jadama, has assisted once as well. In total, the backline has created 43 chances for FC Tulsa.

In addition to creating chances and setting up its attacking threats, the defense has proven it can take matters into its own hands when it comes to influencing the scoreline.

Bradley Bourgeois knocked in a header earlier this season off a free kick, and Matt Sheldon sent in a screamer off a spinning volley, rippling the back of the net. Sheldon also scored off an open field pass from Jason Johnson, his first goal following 75 professional appearances in which he never contributed to the scoreboard. It is very rare to find a defensive force that can effectively stifle opponents, assist players in the attacking third, and score itself. 

The USL Championship itself has even taken notice of the quality of FC Tulsa’s defense this season, awarding four total Team of the Week awards to the group, tying the club for the third-most honors going to defensive players this season . Bradley Bourgeois has twice gotten the nod, and Jorge Corrales and Matt Sheldon have each been honored once. FC Tulsa is one of six clubs this season with at least four defensive appearances on Team of the Week.

While FC Tulsa’s offense is no slouch, tied-seventh in the USL Championship with 37 goals and tied-third in conversion rate at 19%, the club’s defense is what has had something special brewing over the past few months. 

There is still a long way to go before FC Tulsa could potentially appear in the 2021 USL Championship Finals. The field is wide open, and with seven weeks remaining in the season, clubs currently holding fifth and sixth spots in their divisions are sure to make a push above the Playoffs line. Some will be fueled by offense, others by its defense. Tampa Bay proved that defense can at least partially carry a club to a final-two spot in November, as its offense scored the fifth-most goals in the League as well a year ago. 

FC Tulsa has performed similarly over its last 15 matches to that very Rowdies club, currently finding itself just two points out of second in the Central and five points out of first.

The Rowdies and Phoenix Rising FC were ultimately unable to compete in the title match, leaving the inquiry unresolved. Perhaps this season’s FC Tulsa club will be able to finally answer the question Tampa Bay did not get the chance to ­– can a good defense, along with a good offense, really win a championship in the USL?

Although the famous Bear Bryant quote “Defense Wins Championships” is derived from the other football, last year’s Tampa Bay Rowdies club finally proved that the often-cliché saying can apply to the USL Championship as well. And that’s a great thing for FC Tulsa this season.

For years, the final two clubs standing at the end of the USL Championship season were there because of their offenses, blasting their way through opponents from the beginning of the regular season until the League Finals. In fact, the 2015 Rochester Rhinos were the last club to make it to the Finals without being in the top six in goals scored during the regular season.

As in the MLB, NFL, NBA, or any other professional sports league, defense has taken the back seat to offense in the USL Championship over the past few years. Louisville City FC in 2017 had been the most recent club to even make it to the finals with a top-three defense in terms of goals conceded. However, the 2020 Tampa Bay Rowdies reached the Finals last season tied for the second-best defense, only giving up 14 goals, as well as tied for the second-most clean sheets in the League with eight in a shortened season of just 16 matches played.

Of course, the 2020 USL Championship would not end up being played due to a Covid-19 outbreak, but the point remains the same ­– it is possible to reach the Finals on the back of a great defense.

While FC Tulsa may not have the League’s top defense, it has been one of the best in the entire League over the past two-and-a-half months. Since June 25, the FC Tulsa backline has only conceded 18 times over its 15 matches, good for fourth-best in USL Championship among teams that have played at least 15 times during that span. This even includes a four-match losing sprinkled in, proving that even when things were not going well for FC Tulsa as a club, the defense kept a result obtainable. 

In fact, FC Tulsa has not allowed an opponent to score more than two goals in the previous 15 outings, a stat mirroring last year’s elite FC Tulsa defense known around the League as one of the most unforgiving. This season, that number is even more impressive when considering eight different players have appeared along the FC Tulsa back-four during this span. Regardless of who is on the pitch wearing the black and gold, the Tulsa garrison has been stout. Jorge Corrales, Leo Folla, Matt Sheldon, Kevin Garcia, Mou Jadama, Solomon Kwambe, Bradley Bourgeois, and Johnny Fenwick have all logged minutes for the backline since late June.

Not only have the many cohesive pieces making up the Tulsa backline made it one of the most difficult puzzles to solve in the League lately, but the unit has found a way to put up some of the USL Championship’s best offensive numbers at the same time.

The FC Tulsa defense is one of only four clubs whose back-four has recorded at least nine assists. Wing-backs Jorge Corrales and Matt Sheldon have both logged three assists each, paralleling each other in the assists column just as they parallel each other up and down the pitch. Captain Bradley Bourgeois has two assists on the year, and the stalwart to his left, Mou Jadama, has assisted once as well. In total, the backline has created 43 chances for FC Tulsa.

In addition to creating chances and setting up its attacking threats, the defense has proven it can take matters into its own hands when it comes to influencing the scoreline.

Bradley Bourgeois knocked in a header earlier this season off a free kick, and Matt Sheldon sent in a screamer off a spinning volley, rippling the back of the net. Sheldon also scored off an open field pass from Jason Johnson, his first goal following 75 professional appearances in which he never contributed to the scoreboard. It is very rare to find a defensive force that can effectively stifle opponents, assist players in the attacking third, and score itself. 

The USL Championship itself has even taken notice of the quality of FC Tulsa’s defense this season, awarding four total Team of the Week awards to the group, tying the club for the third-most honors going to defensive players this season . Bradley Bourgeois has twice gotten the nod, and Jorge Corrales and Matt Sheldon have each been honored once. FC Tulsa is one of six clubs this season with at least four defensive appearances on Team of the Week.

While FC Tulsa’s offense is no slouch, tied-seventh in the USL Championship with 37 goals and tied-third in conversion rate at 19%, the club’s defense is what has had something special brewing over the past few months. 

There is still a long way to go before FC Tulsa could potentially appear in the 2021 USL Championship Finals. The field is wide open, and with seven weeks remaining in the season, clubs currently holding fifth and sixth spots in their divisions are sure to make a push above the Playoffs line. Some will be fueled by offense, others by its defense. Tampa Bay proved that defense can at least partially carry a club to a final-two spot in November, as its offense scored the fifth-most goals in the League as well a year ago. 

FC Tulsa has performed similarly over its last 15 matches to that very Rowdies club, currently finding itself just two points out of second in the Central and five points out of first.

The Rowdies and Phoenix Rising FC were ultimately unable to compete in the title match, leaving the inquiry unresolved. Perhaps this season’s FC Tulsa club will be able to finally answer the question Tampa Bay did not get the chance to ­– can a good defense, along with a good offense, really win a championship in the USL?

Celebrate the 9-1-8 with FC Tulsa Ticket and Merch Specials

TULSA – FC Tulsa is ready to celebrate the 9-1-8! With a home match on 918 Day this Saturday night at ONEOK Field against Austin Bold FC, FC Tulsa is launching ticket and merch specials, paying homage to Tulsa’s area code and will have a big Fireworks Show after the match for all fans in attendance.

Starting today, Endline tickets to FC Tulsa’s match against Austin Bold FC, which normally sell for $20, are available for just $9.18, an over 50% OFF offer. These seats place fans directly behind the north goal to encourage the FC Tulsa defense or rattle the Austin backline and keeper. It’s a fantastic view of the best pro sports experience for fans in Tulsa. The tickets will also get all fans access to the postmatch Fireworks Show. In addition, $3 Modelos will be available as part of 918 Happy Hour from 6-7 p.m. CT.

To gear up on matchday and make it easier to rep the 9-1-8, FC Tulsa will mark all merchandise down 9.18% on Saturday, September 18 at the Team Shop, located at 1155 S. Elgin Ave., the Online Shop and at all matchday merch locations at ONEOK Field.

“Part of our mission in running a premier pro sports franchise in Tulsa is making our product accessible and affordable to all sports fans in Tulsa,” said FC Tulsa president James Cannon. “Saturday is a fantastic opportunity to come together and celebrate who we are as a city and the progress that Tulsa is making each and every day. What better place to do that than right in the heart of downtown at ONEOK Field, cheering on FC Tulsa to another home victory.”

Fans can get their special 918 Day tickets to Saturday night’s match now by following this link. FC Tulsa is unbeaten in its last six matches and has won six of its last eight matches dating back to August 7. No team in the USL Championship has earned more points than FC Tulsa since that date. Kickoff for Saturday night’s match is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT.  

TULSA – FC Tulsa is ready to celebrate the 9-1-8! With a home match on 918 Day this Saturday night at ONEOK Field against Austin Bold FC, FC Tulsa is launching ticket and merch specials, paying homage to Tulsa’s area code and will have a big Fireworks Show after the match for all fans in attendance.

Starting today, Endline tickets to FC Tulsa’s match against Austin Bold FC, which normally sell for $20, are available for just $9.18, an over 50% OFF offer. These seats place fans directly behind the north goal to encourage the FC Tulsa defense or rattle the Austin backline and keeper. It’s a fantastic view of the best pro sports experience for fans in Tulsa. The tickets will also get all fans access to the postmatch Fireworks Show. In addition, $3 Modelos will be available as part of 918 Happy Hour from 6-7 p.m. CT.

To gear up on matchday and make it easier to rep the 9-1-8, FC Tulsa will mark all merchandise down 9.18% on Saturday, September 18 at the Team Shop, located at 1155 S. Elgin Ave., the Online Shop and at all matchday merch locations at ONEOK Field.

“Part of our mission in running a premier pro sports franchise in Tulsa is making our product accessible and affordable to all sports fans in Tulsa,” said FC Tulsa president James Cannon. “Saturday is a fantastic opportunity to come together and celebrate who we are as a city and the progress that Tulsa is making each and every day. What better place to do that than right in the heart of downtown at ONEOK Field, cheering on FC Tulsa to another home victory.”

Fans can get their special 918 Day tickets to Saturday night’s match now by following this link. FC Tulsa is unbeaten in its last six matches and has won six of its last eight matches dating back to August 7. No team in the USL Championship has earned more points than FC Tulsa since that date. Kickoff for Saturday night’s match is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT.  

Match Recap: FC Tulsa 1, Birmingham Legion 1 – Presented by Williams

TULSA – A late goal again decided an FC Tulsa match, but on Saturday night at ONEOK Field, it didn't fall in Tulsa's favor as Birmingham Legion equalized in the 80' minute to earn a 1-1 draw and end Tulsa's five-match winning streak. 

While it wasn't the full three points, FC Tulsa's draw extended its unbeaten streak to a season-best six matches and continued to create separation towards the top of the Central Division. Tulsa still trails Birmingham by two points for the coveted second place spot in the division that comes with a home playoff match. While the sides won't meet again in 2021, each still has nine matches left to play and everything is still to be decided. 

The match started brightly for FC Tulsa, and just like in the previous five matches, FC Tulsa found the scoresheet first. Like he's done since joining FC Tulsa five weeks ago, forward Jason Johnson created the first goal of the match, getting free in the box during a cross. To prevent the wide open attempt, Birmingham defender Ryan James pulled down Johnson, making for a simple penalty call.

Suárez made no mistake on his second penalty of the week as he beat Birmingham keeper Trevor Spangenberg in the 29'. It marked the fifth match in the last that Suárez appeared on the scoresheet with a goal or an assist. From the spot, Suárez is automatic so far in 2021, converting all three opportunities he's taken.

FC Tulsa defended its net bravely throughout the next 50 minutes until second half substitute J.J. Williams equalized on a header that dinked off the far post and across the line. 

It wasn't until the final kick of the match that FC Tulsa had a chance to take all three points. A corner kick in the waning seconds of stoppage time taken by Lebo Moloto found the head of Marlon, whose attempt skimmed over the top of the net.

Here are three takeaways from the 1-1 draw. 

1) SUPER DARÍO AGAIN FROM THE SPOT
It was the second straight match that Darío Suárez stepped up to the penalty spot in a tie match, and for the second time, the Cuban dynamo converted. While the goal didn't come in the 89' minute like Wednesday's, it did continue the trend of Tulsa netting the first tally. 

Super Darío has now matched his 2020 goal mark with eight goals in 2021. Suárez's 16 goals over the two seasons are the most during that span for FC Tulsa. 

2) DEFENSE COMES UP BIG
While Birmingham scored a late equalizer, FC Tulsa held the fort against a potent Birmingham attack. Legion FC put up 20 shots, however only four reached the target with the long equalizer going over the line. 

Defender Johnny Fenwick was a midseason addition to the FC Tulsa roster, but the Brit has been solid as a substitute off the bench for Tulsa. He made his most extensive Tulsa appearance to date, playing the entire second half. He had six clearances in 45 minutes, by far the most on the squad.

3) MOLOTO MAKES MAGIC
Midfielder Lebo Moloto continued his creation in the center of the pitch with five chances created, the most for any player on either team. Moloto nearly had an assist on his final touch of the match when his corner found the head of Marlon, but his shot skimmed the top of the net. 

Despite the midfield magician missing the first nine matches of the season due to injury, Moloto has created 27 chances in his 14 matches played, the most on the team during that time. 

UP NEXT
FC Tulsa returns to ONEOK Field next Saturday to take on Austin Bold FC on 918 Day. It's the second out of four "non-division" matchups for FC Tulsa in 2021 as Austin is the Mountain Division of the Western Conference. Tulsa played Austin three times in 2020 and the sides drew all three times.

TULSA – A late goal again decided an FC Tulsa match, but on Saturday night at ONEOK Field, it didn’t fall in Tulsa’s favor as Birmingham Legion equalized in the 80′ minute to earn a 1-1 draw and end Tulsa’s five-match winning streak. 

While it wasn’t the full three points, FC Tulsa’s draw extended its unbeaten streak to a season-best six matches and continued to create separation towards the top of the Central Division. Tulsa still trails Birmingham by two points for the coveted second place spot in the division that comes with a home playoff match. While the sides won’t meet again in 2021, each still has nine matches left to play and everything is still to be decided. 

The match started brightly for FC Tulsa, and just like in the previous five matches, FC Tulsa found the scoresheet first. Like he’s done since joining FC Tulsa five weeks ago, forward Jason Johnson created the first goal of the match, getting free in the box during a cross. To prevent the wide open attempt, Birmingham defender Ryan James pulled down Johnson, making for a simple penalty call.

Suárez made no mistake on his second penalty of the week as he beat Birmingham keeper Trevor Spangenberg in the 29′. It marked the fifth match in the last that Suárez appeared on the scoresheet with a goal or an assist. From the spot, Suárez is automatic so far in 2021, converting all three opportunities he’s taken.

FC Tulsa defended its net bravely throughout the next 50 minutes until second half substitute J.J. Williams equalized on a header that dinked off the far post and across the line. 

It wasn’t until the final kick of the match that FC Tulsa had a chance to take all three points. A corner kick in the waning seconds of stoppage time taken by Lebo Moloto found the head of Marlon, whose attempt skimmed over the top of the net.

Here are three takeaways from the 1-1 draw. 

1) SUPER DARÍO AGAIN FROM THE SPOT
It was the second straight match that Darío Suárez stepped up to the penalty spot in a tie match, and for the second time, the Cuban dynamo converted. While the goal didn’t come in the 89′ minute like Wednesday’s, it did continue the trend of Tulsa netting the first tally. 

Super Darío has now matched his 2020 goal mark with eight goals in 2021. Suárez’s 16 goals over the two seasons are the most during that span for FC Tulsa. 

2) DEFENSE COMES UP BIG
While Birmingham scored a late equalizer, FC Tulsa held the fort against a potent Birmingham attack. Legion FC put up 20 shots, however only four reached the target with the long equalizer going over the line. 

Defender Johnny Fenwick was a midseason addition to the FC Tulsa roster, but the Brit has been solid as a substitute off the bench for Tulsa. He made his most extensive Tulsa appearance to date, playing the entire second half. He had six clearances in 45 minutes, by far the most on the squad.

3) MOLOTO MAKES MAGIC
Midfielder Lebo Moloto continued his creation in the center of the pitch with five chances created, the most for any player on either team. Moloto nearly had an assist on his final touch of the match when his corner found the head of Marlon, but his shot skimmed the top of the net. 

Despite the midfield magician missing the first nine matches of the season due to injury, Moloto has created 27 chances in his 14 matches played, the most on the team during that time. 

UP NEXT
FC Tulsa returns to ONEOK Field next Saturday to take on Austin Bold FC on 918 Day. It’s the second out of four “non-division” matchups for FC Tulsa in 2021 as Austin is the Mountain Division of the Western Conference. Tulsa played Austin three times in 2020 and the sides drew all three times.

WATCH: Darío Suárez Bags Another PK, FC Tulsa Leads Birmingham 1-0 in the 29'

Darío Suárez converts his second PK in as many matches for FC Tulsa, putting FC Tulsa ahead of Birmingham 1-0 early in a crucial matchup for second place in the Central Division. The opportunity was rewarded following Jason Johnson drawing the foul in the box. The goal is Suárez's eighth, tying him with Rodrigo da Costa for the club lead.

Darío Suárez converts his second PK in as many matches for FC Tulsa, putting FC Tulsa ahead of Birmingham 1-0 early in a crucial matchup for second place in the Central Division. The opportunity was rewarded following Jason Johnson drawing the foul in the box. The goal is Suárez’s eighth, tying him with Rodrigo da Costa for the club lead.

Match Preview: FC Tulsa vs Birmingham Legion FC – Presented by Tulsa Spine and Rehab

TULSA – The battle for second place is set at ONEOK Field.

FC Tulsa plays host to Birmingham Legion FC on Saturday night just two points behind Birmingham, a club FC Tulsa has defeated in each of its last two matchups. A home playoff game is awarded to the top two clubs in the Central Division, making the second spot so much more advantageous than the third spot come November, and FC Tulsa is ready to commandeer that position from Legion FC.

A six-match win streak is in the sights of FC Tulsa, a feat achieved only 12 times by clubs in USL Championship since the inception of the Tulsa Roughnecks in 2015. The streak has launched FC Tulsa into sixth in the Week 20 USL Championship Power Rankings, its highest ranking since Week 4 when the club ranked second in the rankings.

Over its five wins in its last five matches, FC Tulsa has scored first in every match and is 11W-1L-0W overall this season when netting the opening goal. On average, Birmingham Legion concedes 20 minutes before it scores on the road this season.

Marlon and Darío Suárez have scored six of the club’s nine goals over FC Tulsa’s five-match win streak and continue to drive the offense. Both wingers scored on Wednesday night against Indy and do not appear to be slowing down. Head coach Michael Nsien will also have Joaquín Rivas back in the squad coming off international duty with El Salvador to bolster an attack already firing on all cylinders. 

Sean Lewis left the match late in the first half on Wednesday night with a lower-body injury and is questionable to appear against Birmingham, but FC Tulsa is in good hands with rookie Austin Wormell. In seven appearances this season, Wormell has made 20 saves and come up with a clean sheet as well.

Overall, FC Tulsa leads the season series 2-1 and has won the previous two matchups, outscoring Birmingham 5-2 in those matches. So far, this series has featured three goals from FC Tulsa beyond the 80’, a last-minute win, palpable tension on the field, and fireworks at ONEOK Field. Now throw second place in the Central Division into the mix, and you have a must-watch match on Saturday night.

Stick around after the match as the Tulsa Police Department and Tulsa Fire Department will face off in a soccer match for some friendly fun at ONEOK following the FC Tulsa match as part of First Responders Night.

FC Tulsa vs Birmingham Legion FC, presented by Tulsa Spine and Rehab, kicks off from ONEOK Field at 7:00 p.m. CT. 

HOW TO WATCH
TV: MY41
Spanish Radio: Que Buena Tulsa
Stream: ESPN+ (US), YouTube (International)
Follow: You can follow FC Tulsa @FCTulsa on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

SCOUTING BIRMINGHAM LEGION FC
Birmingham Legion FC is a club that has built its success on the backs of its defense.  Although only scoring 30 times in 22 matches, Birmingham has held opponents to just 25 goals, resulting in 12W-7L-3D record. Birmingham has been less impressive on the road than at home, posting a 6W-4L-2D record away from home, but interestingly enough has registered four of its six clean sheets on the road this season.

Legion FC is coming off perhaps its toughest defeat of the season in which it gave up two stoppage-time goals to Memphis 901 FC, allowing FC Tulsa to move three points closer superseding it in the standings. However, Junior Flemmings will return to Birmingham Legion FC after being on international duty for Jamaica, bolstering its offensive presence on the wing.

Neco Brett leads Birmingham in scoring with 12 goals, tying him for third in USL Championship. Brett has scored three of Birmingham’s four goals against FC Tulsa this season. Jonathan Dean leads the club in assists with four and chances created with 34. Keeper Matt Van Oekel is one of the best USL Championship has to offer, posting 59 saves in 20 matches for a 72.8% save pct. Van Oekel has also come up with six clean sheets, second-best in the Eastern Conference.

THREE THINGS TO KNOW

1) Offensive Attack
FC Tulsa is now near the top of the USL Championship in both goals and conversion after the winning streak. The 36 total goals scored over 22 matches give FC Tulsa 1.64 scored per match, the 5th-best mark in the league. Since 2016, every USL Championship finalist has finished the season in the top 5 in scoring in the league, a good omen for FC Tulsa fans.

2) 97% Odds
The numbers are in FC Tulsa’s favor when it comes to a second-consecutive USL Championship Playoffs berth. According to the data and analytics site FiveThirtyEight, FC Tulsa has a 97% chance of making the USL Championship Playoffs with a projected point total of 51. Those odds are the eighth-best in the league right now. FiveThirtyEight still projects Tulsa to finish in 3rd in the Central Division with a 52% chance, however, a top two position could still be in the cards with a 37% chance of finishing 1st or 2nd.

3) Three With Seven
With both Darío Suárez and Marlon bagging goals in the win on Wednesday, it gives FC Tulsa three players with at least seven goals in 2021, the most in the USL Championship. FC Tulsa has spread out the scoring all season with eight players who have scored at least two goals, four who have scored at least five and the trio of Suárez, Marlon and Rodrigo da Costa (8) who have scored seven.

TULSA – The battle for second place is set at ONEOK Field.

FC Tulsa plays host to Birmingham Legion FC on Saturday night just two points behind Birmingham, a club FC Tulsa has defeated in each of its last two matchups. A home playoff game is awarded to the top two clubs in the Central Division, making the second spot so much more advantageous than the third spot come November, and FC Tulsa is ready to commandeer that position from Legion FC.

A six-match win streak is in the sights of FC Tulsa, a feat achieved only 12 times by clubs in USL Championship since the inception of the Tulsa Roughnecks in 2015. The streak has launched FC Tulsa into sixth in the Week 20 USL Championship Power Rankings, its highest ranking since Week 4 when the club ranked second in the rankings.

Over its five wins in its last five matches, FC Tulsa has scored first in every match and is 11W-1L-0W overall this season when netting the opening goal. On average, Birmingham Legion concedes 20 minutes before it scores on the road this season.

Marlon and Darío Suárez have scored six of the club’s nine goals over FC Tulsa’s five-match win streak and continue to drive the offense. Both wingers scored on Wednesday night against Indy and do not appear to be slowing down. Head coach Michael Nsien will also have Joaquín Rivas back in the squad coming off international duty with El Salvador to bolster an attack already firing on all cylinders. 

Sean Lewis left the match late in the first half on Wednesday night with a lower-body injury and is questionable to appear against Birmingham, but FC Tulsa is in good hands with rookie Austin Wormell. In seven appearances this season, Wormell has made 20 saves and come up with a clean sheet as well.

Overall, FC Tulsa leads the season series 2-1 and has won the previous two matchups, outscoring Birmingham 5-2 in those matches. So far, this series has featured three goals from FC Tulsa beyond the 80’, a last-minute win, palpable tension on the field, and fireworks at ONEOK Field. Now throw second place in the Central Division into the mix, and you have a must-watch match on Saturday night.

Stick around after the match as the Tulsa Police Department and Tulsa Fire Department will face off in a soccer match for some friendly fun at ONEOK following the FC Tulsa match as part of First Responders Night.

FC Tulsa vs Birmingham Legion FC, presented by Tulsa Spine and Rehab, kicks off from ONEOK Field at 7:00 p.m. CT. 

HOW TO WATCH
TV: MY41
Spanish Radio: Que Buena Tulsa
Stream: ESPN+ (US), YouTube (International)
Follow: You can follow FC Tulsa @FCTulsa on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

SCOUTING BIRMINGHAM LEGION FC
Birmingham Legion FC is a club that has built its success on the backs of its defense.  Although only scoring 30 times in 22 matches, Birmingham has held opponents to just 25 goals, resulting in 12W-7L-3D record. Birmingham has been less impressive on the road than at home, posting a 6W-4L-2D record away from home, but interestingly enough has registered four of its six clean sheets on the road this season.

Legion FC is coming off perhaps its toughest defeat of the season in which it gave up two stoppage-time goals to Memphis 901 FC, allowing FC Tulsa to move three points closer superseding it in the standings. However, Junior Flemmings will return to Birmingham Legion FC after being on international duty for Jamaica, bolstering its offensive presence on the wing.

Neco Brett leads Birmingham in scoring with 12 goals, tying him for third in USL Championship. Brett has scored three of Birmingham’s four goals against FC Tulsa this season. Jonathan Dean leads the club in assists with four and chances created with 34. Keeper Matt Van Oekel is one of the best USL Championship has to offer, posting 59 saves in 20 matches for a 72.8% save pct. Van Oekel has also come up with six clean sheets, second-best in the Eastern Conference.

THREE THINGS TO KNOW

1) Offensive Attack
FC Tulsa is now near the top of the USL Championship in both goals and conversion after the winning streak. The 36 total goals scored over 22 matches give FC Tulsa 1.64 scored per match, the 5th-best mark in the league. Since 2016, every USL Championship finalist has finished the season in the top 5 in scoring in the league, a good omen for FC Tulsa fans.

2) 97% Odds
The numbers are in FC Tulsa’s favor when it comes to a second-consecutive USL Championship Playoffs berth. According to the data and analytics site FiveThirtyEight, FC Tulsa has a 97% chance of making the USL Championship Playoffs with a projected point total of 51. Those odds are the eighth-best in the league right now. FiveThirtyEight still projects Tulsa to finish in 3rd in the Central Division with a 52% chance, however, a top two position could still be in the cards with a 37% chance of finishing 1st or 2nd.

3) Three With Seven
With both Darío Suárez and Marlon bagging goals in the win on Wednesday, it gives FC Tulsa three players with at least seven goals in 2021, the most in the USL Championship. FC Tulsa has spread out the scoring all season with eight players who have scored at least two goals, four who have scored at least five and the trio of Suárez, Marlon and Rodrigo da Costa (8) who have scored seven.

Vote: Sean Lewis Nominated for Week 20 Save of the Week

For the second time this season, FC Tulsa keeper Sean Lewis has been nominated by the USL Championship for Save of the Week.

The nominated save was an outstanding display of reaction time and agility by the Michigan native, parrying away a header from Louisville’s Paolo DelPiccolo from just six yards away. The shot was arcing to Lewis’ left, but he was able to reach up and get his fingertips on the ball, guiding it up over the crossbar to safety. 

Lewis’ save in the 60’ was crucial to the final result of the match, shutting out one of the best clubs in the League and extending FC Tulsa’s win streak to four at the time with a 1-0 victory.

Vote below for Sean Lewis for Week 20 Save of the Week!

For the second time this season, FC Tulsa keeper Sean Lewis has been nominated by the USL Championship for Save of the Week.

The nominated save was an outstanding display of reaction time and agility by the Michigan native, parrying away a header from Louisville’s Paolo DelPiccolo from just six yards away. The shot was arcing to Lewis’ left, but he was able to reach up and get his fingertips on the ball, guiding it up over the crossbar to safety. 

Lewis’ save in the 60’ was crucial to the final result of the match, shutting out one of the best clubs in the League and extending FC Tulsa’s win streak to four at the time with a 1-0 victory.

Vote below for Sean Lewis for Week 20 Save of the Week!

FC Tulsa's Playoff Odds Now at 97% After Wednesday's Victory

TULSA – FC Tulsa can almost taste a second consecutive USL Championship Playoffs spot.  

Fueled by the current five-match winning streak, FC Tulsa’s playoff odds now sit at 97% according to FiveThirtyEight, the data and analytics driven site. The club is one of just seven USL Championship teams with a greater than 95% chance to make the postseason as it stands today.

To start the 2021 season, it was a coin flip that FC Tulsa would make a return trip to the postseason as FiveThirtyEight had Tulsa advancing at 57% with a predicted point total of 46. Following a four-match losing streak culminating in a 2-0 loss to Indy Eleven on August 4, those odds dropped to 51%, a season low.

Just 36 days later, the script has flipped for FC Tulsa as its now projected to earn 51 points, a number that would all but guarantee a Playoffs spot. Since the USL Championship expanded the Playoffs to 16 teams in the 2016 season, no team has earned more than 50 points and missed the postseason.

The sights are set higher than just a Playoffs spot for head coach Michael Nsien and FC Tulsa in 2021. A stated goal for the club this season has been bringing a playoff match to Tulsa for the first time in club history. The only way to guarantee that is to finish in a top two spot in the Central Division, which FC Tulsa sits just two points outside of. A win over second place Birmingham on Saturday would see FC Tulsa back into second and in the driver’s seat for a home playoff match.

However, first things first, and the first thing is clinching a Playoff spot, a feat FC Tulsa could accomplish sooner rather than later. FC Tulsa’s “Magic Number” sits at 20 for locking up one of four Central Division playoff places. Any combination of points gained by FC Tulsa and dropped points from OKC Energy FC or Indy Eleven, the two teams tied for the fifth-most possible points remaining, will lower that Magic Number. When it hits zero, FC Tulsa will be back in the Playoffs.

Saturday’s match against Birmingham at ONEOK Field for second place might just be the biggest match of the regular season yet for Tulsa as it’s the final match of the campaign against either Birmingham or Louisville, the two teams ahead of FC Tulsa in the Central Division. It will be the last chance to have control over ground being made up on the current top two.

Tickets to Saturday’s match are still available here, and prices start at just $10 if purchased in advance of matchday. Can FC Tulsa make it six in-a-row? If so, a home playoff match could be on the menu in 2021.

TULSA – FC Tulsa can almost taste a second consecutive USL Championship Playoffs spot.  

Fueled by the current five-match winning streak, FC Tulsa’s playoff odds now sit at 97% according to FiveThirtyEight, the data and analytics driven site. The club is one of just seven USL Championship teams with a greater than 95% chance to make the postseason as it stands today.

To start the 2021 season, it was a coin flip that FC Tulsa would make a return trip to the postseason as FiveThirtyEight had Tulsa advancing at 57% with a predicted point total of 46. Following a four-match losing streak culminating in a 2-0 loss to Indy Eleven on August 4, those odds dropped to 51%, a season low.

Just 36 days later, the script has flipped for FC Tulsa as its now projected to earn 51 points, a number that would all but guarantee a Playoffs spot. Since the USL Championship expanded the Playoffs to 16 teams in the 2016 season, no team has earned more than 50 points and missed the postseason.

The sights are set higher than just a Playoffs spot for head coach Michael Nsien and FC Tulsa in 2021. A stated goal for the club this season has been bringing a playoff match to Tulsa for the first time in club history. The only way to guarantee that is to finish in a top two spot in the Central Division, which FC Tulsa sits just two points outside of. A win over second place Birmingham on Saturday would see FC Tulsa back into second and in the driver’s seat for a home playoff match.

However, first things first, and the first thing is clinching a Playoff spot, a feat FC Tulsa could accomplish sooner rather than later. FC Tulsa’s “Magic Number” sits at 20 for locking up one of four Central Division playoff places. Any combination of points gained by FC Tulsa and dropped points from OKC Energy FC or Indy Eleven, the two teams tied for the fifth-most possible points remaining, will lower that Magic Number. When it hits zero, FC Tulsa will be back in the Playoffs.

Saturday’s match against Birmingham at ONEOK Field for second place might just be the biggest match of the regular season yet for Tulsa as it’s the final match of the campaign against either Birmingham or Louisville, the two teams ahead of FC Tulsa in the Central Division. It will be the last chance to have control over ground being made up on the current top two.

Tickets to Saturday’s match are still available here, and prices start at just $10 if purchased in advance of matchday. Can FC Tulsa make it six in-a-row? If so, a home playoff match could be on the menu in 2021.

MATCH RECAP: FC Tulsa 2, Indy Eleven 1 – Presented by Williams

TULSA – High 5!

Another late winner, another three points and FC Tulsa's winning streak is alive and well after a 2-1 home victory over Indy Eleven on Wednesday night at ONEOK Field. Tonight's winner came courtesy of forward Darío Suárez, who converted an 89' minute penalty kick won by teammate Lucas Coutinho to snatch a fifth win "on the spin." 

In a season that's been chock full of drama, it's the third match-winning goal past the 84' minute in the last month as FC Tulsa continues to inch closer to the top of the Central Division.

The same trends that brought FC Tulsa to a four-match winning streak – scoring the first goal and scoring multiple goals – continued in Wednesday's match starting with Marlon's opener off a cross from Jason Johnson. It was a cool finish from the Brazilian who didn't miss from 10 yards out. 

A dominant first half turned sour midway through the opening 45 minutes when FC Tulsa keeper Sean Lewis took a knock and was forced to the bench for Austin Wormell. Lewis had been an instrumental part of FC Tulsa's four-match winning streak and hadn't allowed a goal in Tulsa's last 194 minutes. 

As the soccer gods would have it, just minutes after having to make the change, Tulsa conceded as Indy equalized the match at 1-1. That was the final tally that Wormell would give up as the Tulsa native made four saves in the victory, including two highlight reel stops late in the match that kept it an equal scoreline.

In the 84' minute, FC Tulsa head coach Michael Nsien sent in the substitution that eventually made the difference when he brought on midfielder Lucas Coutinho. Coutinho wasted little time making an impact, earning the penalty that Suárez converted. 

FC Tulsa's next match will be its biggest yet as a sixth win in a row on Saturday would leapfrog Tulsa over Birmingham Legion FC and into second place in the Central Division.

Here are three quick takeaways from the match…

1) Late is Great
In the last 31 days, FC Tulsa has had three match winners past the 84' minute. While the previous two came from the boot of Marlon, tonight's drama king was Darío Suárez, who coolly converted the penalty to send FC Tulsa to three points. It's the latest heroics from FC Tulsa who have matched the league's longest win streak in 2021. 

With the victory, FC Tulsa has put together the 31st 5-match winning streak in the USL Championship since 2015 and is the 20th different franchise to accomplish the feat. 

2) Seventh Heaven
Both Marlon and Suárez's goals tonight were their seventh each, giving FC Tulsa three players with at least seven goals (Rodrigo da Costa, 8) the most in the league. Marlon and Super Darío have been two of the offensive architects of the winning streak with three goals apiece during the last five matches. 

FC Tulsa has now scored 10 goals over the five matches while allowing just four. 

3) Wormell to the Rescue 
FC Tulsa had to make a rare call to the bullpen early to bring on keeper Austin Wormell for Sean Lewis who appeared to take a knock midway through the first half. It was Wormell's first appearance since July 29.

The Tulsa native came up big, making four saves in the 56 minutes he played, including two huge stops down the stretch with the match tied at 1-1. Wormell is now 3W-3L-1D in seven appearances in net. 

UP NEXT
FC Tulsa will be right back on the ONEOK Field pitch on Saturday night against Birmingham Legion FC in match that will decide second place for the time being. A win would put FC Tulsa into second while a draw or loss would keep Birmingham there. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. CT and tickets are available.

TULSA – High 5!

Another late winner, another three points and FC Tulsa’s winning streak is alive and well after a 2-1 home victory over Indy Eleven on Wednesday night at ONEOK Field. Tonight’s winner came courtesy of forward Darío Suárez, who converted an 89′ minute penalty kick won by teammate Lucas Coutinho to snatch a fifth win “on the spin.” 

In a season that’s been chock full of drama, it’s the third match-winning goal past the 84′ minute in the last month as FC Tulsa continues to inch closer to the top of the Central Division.

The same trends that brought FC Tulsa to a four-match winning streak – scoring the first goal and scoring multiple goals – continued in Wednesday’s match starting with Marlon’s opener off a cross from Jason Johnson. It was a cool finish from the Brazilian who didn’t miss from 10 yards out. 

A dominant first half turned sour midway through the opening 45 minutes when FC Tulsa keeper Sean Lewis took a knock and was forced to the bench for Austin Wormell. Lewis had been an instrumental part of FC Tulsa’s four-match winning streak and hadn’t allowed a goal in Tulsa’s last 194 minutes. 

As the soccer gods would have it, just minutes after having to make the change, Tulsa conceded as Indy equalized the match at 1-1. That was the final tally that Wormell would give up as the Tulsa native made four saves in the victory, including two highlight reel stops late in the match that kept it an equal scoreline.

In the 84′ minute, FC Tulsa head coach Michael Nsien sent in the substitution that eventually made the difference when he brought on midfielder Lucas Coutinho. Coutinho wasted little time making an impact, earning the penalty that Suárez converted. 

FC Tulsa’s next match will be its biggest yet as a sixth win in a row on Saturday would leapfrog Tulsa over Birmingham Legion FC and into second place in the Central Division.

Here are three quick takeaways from the match…

1) Late is Great
In the last 31 days, FC Tulsa has had three match winners past the 84′ minute. While the previous two came from the boot of Marlon, tonight’s drama king was Darío Suárez, who coolly converted the penalty to send FC Tulsa to three points. It’s the latest heroics from FC Tulsa who have matched the league’s longest win streak in 2021. 

With the victory, FC Tulsa has put together the 31st 5-match winning streak in the USL Championship since 2015 and is the 20th different franchise to accomplish the feat. 

2) Seventh Heaven
Both Marlon and Suárez’s goals tonight were their seventh each, giving FC Tulsa three players with at least seven goals (Rodrigo da Costa, 8) the most in the league. Marlon and Super Darío have been two of the offensive architects of the winning streak with three goals apiece during the last five matches. 

FC Tulsa has now scored 10 goals over the five matches while allowing just four. 

3) Wormell to the Rescue 
FC Tulsa had to make a rare call to the bullpen early to bring on keeper Austin Wormell for Sean Lewis who appeared to take a knock midway through the first half. It was Wormell’s first appearance since July 29.

The Tulsa native came up big, making four saves in the 56 minutes he played, including two huge stops down the stretch with the match tied at 1-1. Wormell is now 3W-3L-1D in seven appearances in net. 

UP NEXT
FC Tulsa will be right back on the ONEOK Field pitch on Saturday night against Birmingham Legion FC in match that will decide second place for the time being. A win would put FC Tulsa into second while a draw or loss would keep Birmingham there. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. CT and tickets are available.

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