Game Recaps

TULSA – Anyone care to go dancing? For the second time in franchise history, FC Tulsa will be doing the Texas two-step in the USL Championship Playoffs as it travels to take on El Paso Locomotive FC in the Western Conference quarterfinals on Saturday.

FC Tulsa clinched the second playoff spot in group D on the final weekend of the 2020 regular season and rides a club-record 7-match unbeaten streak into the first round of the playoffs.

How to follow
Local Television: My41
Digital Stream: ESPN+
Social Media: @FCTulsa on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook

Scouting El Paso Locomotive FC
El Paso Locomotive also comes into this match on an impressive unbeaten streak at 11 straight. The last time El Paso trailed in a match was September 5, and it has been over 500 minutes since the club last allowed a goal.

Goalkeeper Logan Ketterer leads the USL Championship in shutouts at eight, and midfielder Dylan Mares is the funnel through which the offense flows, having created nearly 30 percent of El Paso’s chances this season.

Storylines to Watch
Road Warriors – FC Tulsa hasn’t been outside the friendly confines of ONEOK Field in over a month, with the last road trip coming in early September with the doubleheader Austin, Texas. Now it’s back to Texas again, this time with a spot in the Western Conference semifinals on the line.

Playoff soccer is back again – The Tulsa USL Franchise underwent more than just a massive facelift this offseason. In the previous five years of the franchise’s existence, the club had made the playoffs just one time. Now, in year one of the new era, FC Tulsa is charging ahead into the postseason with eyes on the first playoff win in franchise history.

Unstoppable force, meet immovable object – FC Tulsa and El Paso come into this one a pair of scorching hot teams. Both are on massive unbeaten streaks, and the two teams are a pair of just four playoff teams who have lost just two matches this season. Something’s gotta give on Saturday though, as one team will have to walk away the winner by the time it’s over.

Where to Watch
FC Tulsa fans catch the playoff match at the ONEOK Field Watch Party. Kickoff is set for 8:30 p.m., and gates open at 8 p.m. Fans can read more about the watch party here. The match will be televised on My41 in Tulsa, on ESPN+ streaming anywhere in the US, or on YouTube streaming internationally.

FC Tulsa clinched the second playoff spot in group D on the final weekend of the 2020 regular season and rides a club-record 7-match unbeaten streak into the first round of the playoffs.

How to follow
Local Television: My41
Digital Stream: ESPN+
Social Media: @FCTulsa on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook

FC Tulsa nominated for several monthly league awards

TAMPA – FC Tulsa’s run of form from the beginning of September through the end of the season has record-breaking. Darío Suárez scored six consecutive goals. FC Tulsa set another franchise record with a seven-match unbeaten run, the longest in club history. Thanks to a pair of late Toby Uzo headers, FC Tulsa won the wrench in the Black Gold Derby over OKC Energy FC.

Uzo, along with midfielder Rodrigo da Costa, were recently given league honors for the final week of the season, and now there’s more awards coming down the pipeline.

Suárez has been nominated for player of the month after his electric goalscoring streak, and fans can vote for him here. Both Uzo and midfielder Eric Bird won an award for Goal of the Week in September, so now fans will have to choose between their two sweetest boys for which goal is the goal of the month here.

FC Tulsa begins its playoff run at El Paso Locomotive FC on Saturday at 8:30 p.m.

Uzo, along with midfielder Rodrigo da Costa, were recently given league honors for the final week of the season, and now there’s more awards coming down the pipeline.

FC Tulsa begins its playoff run at El Paso Locomotive FC on Saturday at 8:30 p.m.

FC Tulsa partners with the Tulsa Dream Center to bring youth soccer into the community

TULSA – FC Tulsa is proud to partner once again with the Tulsa Dream Center and FC Tulsa’s community partners such as the Tulsa Rugby Club, 83 United, and more to bring soccer into the Tulsa community.

Over the next two weeks, FC Tulsa and the Tulsa Dream Center will be putting on a number of events at the Dream Center site on W 46th St to continue to build interest in and hype around soccer in the Tulsa community.

On Saturday, October 10, FC Tulsa, the Dream Center Staff, and FC Tulsa community partners will be putting on a “field day.” Volunteers will come out to the Dream Center to help the staff and children line the soccer field and to prepare the fields for play. FC Tulsa has purchased paint stripers and equipment for the event, and thanks to a donation from Mac’s soccer shack, the Dream Center will be able to put nets on the goals and corner flags on the fields at the Dream Center.

Volunteers will be hanging nets, painting the goals, and striping the field. FC Tulsa fans are encouraged to come by and donate soccer equipment on Saturday from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. Below is a list of the items the club is seeking for donations.

Training cones
Soccer balls
Equipment bags
Soccer cleats (all sizes)
Shin guards
Soccer pinnies
Miscellaneous soccer equipment

Fans can also drop off soccer equipment at the FC Tulsa watch party on Saturday night, or at the office (1155 S Elgin Ave) on Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

On Thursday, October 15, FC Tulsa and the Dream Center will be hosting a coach and volunteer education seminar at the Dream Center from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.. Speakers will be giving attendants an introduction to soccer, soccer coaching, and the U.S. Soccer learning platform.

Finally, on Saturday, October 17, FC Tulsa and the dream center will be hosting a soccer clinic from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. Where local area soccer coaches, FC Tulsa staff, and community partners will be leading drills and soccer training activities. Open Goaaal have donated soccer balls for Saturday’s clinic, and every child in attendance will leave with their own soccer ball.

Training cones
Soccer balls
Equipment bags
Soccer cleats (all sizes)
Shin guards
Soccer pinnies
Miscellaneous soccer equipment

Fans can also drop off soccer equipment at the FC Tulsa watch party on Saturday night, or at the office (1155 S Elgin Ave) on Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

FC Tulsa to Host Watch Party at ONEOK Field for Saturday Playoff Match

TULSA – FC Tulsa’s first USL Championship Playoffs match in the new era of the franchise will be in El Paso on Saturday night, but soccer fans in Tulsa can still celebrate the experience with friends and family at ONEOK Field with a Watch Party thrown by the club, sponsored by The Tulsan Bar. Fans will be able to attend and either sit in the seats at ONEOK Field or bring a blanket and enjoy the match from the pitch.

The My41 broadcast of the postseason match will be televised on ONEOK Field’s large video board and fans will hear familiar voices as FC Tulsa broadcasters Dave Saunders and Anna Beffer will have the call of the match. It will be the first time the esteemed duo will call an FC Tulsa road match this season after calling all eight of the club’s home matches in 2020.

Gates will open at 8:00 p.m. for the 8:30 p.m. kickoff and fans will be able to park on the street or in the OSU Tulsa lot. The First Base Concession Stand as well as the Libation Station will be open selling food and drinks, and FC Tulsa will be offering $3 hot dogs, $5 domestic drafts as well as $5 12oz. craft beers.

The Watch Party is free for all to attend, but the club does ask fans to RSVP here.

All safety protocols instituted at FC Tulsa home matches in 2020 will apply for the watch party including social distancing and a requirement to wear face masks on entry, exit and while in the concourse.

Saturday night’s match will pit FC Tulsa against El Paso Locomotive FC in a single elimination match in the First Round of the USL Championship Playoffs. It will be the first meeting between the clubs in 2020, and both enter the playoff match riding long unbeaten streaks with FC Tulsa not having lost in its last seven matches and El Paso, 11.

10 Reasons Why FC Tulsa Punched its Ticket to the Postseason

TULSA – With a dominating 2-0 performance in its home finale, FC Tulsa clinched a playoff spot in the inaugural season of its new era under the ownership of the Craft. Check off another benchmark in year one of the “rebuild” of the club, so to speak. But how did Tulsa’s USL Soccer franchise go from finishing 16th out of 18 teams in the Western Conference just a year ago to a playoff team in one season?

Here are 10 reasons why FC Tulsa punched its ticket to the postseason.

1) Roster Investment and Overhaul

Making the playoffs begins and ends with the players on the pitch, and it’s no secret that the with the Craft’s ownership a significant increase in roster budget was made to infuse the roster with talent and depth. In the offseason, head coach Michael Nsien and his staff signed 13 new players to the club, more than half of the total roster. Ten of those new players finished in the top 14 in minutes played for the side in 2020, showcasing the large impact made by new faces.

2) Setting the Tone Early

Way back on March 7, FC Tulsa opened what it thought would be a normal regular season, traveling to Sacramento Republic FC, one of the top teams in the USL Championship. Despite being outshot 21-6 and a falling behind 1-0, FC Tulsa fought back, snatching a late equalizer to even the final scoreline at 1-1. While it wasn’t a pretty result, it set the tone for the season that Tulsa was contender.

3) Da Costa’s Early Heroics

In 2019, Rodrigo da Costa scored nine goals with 13 assists and was named to the All-USL Second Team. He carried that momentum over into 2020, scoring FC Tulsa’s first two goals, both bringing the club back level after it had fallen behind 1-0 on the road. While da Costa would only add one more goal throughout the season, his two early goals secured big road results for FC Tulsa.

4) Sean Lewis’ Dominance in Net

FC Tulsa keeper Sean Lewis played every minute of the season in net for FC Tulsa, and always seemed to come up with a big save when needed. He finished tied for 3rd in total saves with 51 on the season and allowed the fewest goals per match of any keeper to make 40 or more saves in 2020. Lewis was at his best against the best, holding San Antonio FC scoreless twice this season in a 1-0 win and a 0-0 draw as FC Tulsa was the only team to keep San Antonio off the scoresheet in any match in 2020.

5) Most Improved Defense in the USL Championship

The Tulsa Roughnecks were one of the worst defensive teams in the USL Championship in 2019, conceding 69 goals in 34 matches, an average of 2.03 per match. In 2020, with a healthy Sean Lewis and defensive additions Bradley Bourgeois, Kevin Garcia, and Callum Chapman-Page, among others, they nearly halved that number, allowing 16 goals in 15 matches, an average of 1.07. That 0.96 goal per match improvement between 2019 and 2020 was the best for any USL Championship team.

6) Super Darío in September

Darío Suarez may not have wanted to wake up when September ended because he had a dream month for a forward. In the month of September alone, he scored six goals in a span of four matches between September 2 and September 12, bagging at least one goal in each match. His hot streak was desperately needed as FC Tulsa secured six points in the four matches to earn two results in Austin and a win over Rio Grande Valley FC.

7) Eric Bird’s Bangers

Midfielder Eric Bird might have only scored two goals in 2020, but each was match-winning goal against a fellow USL Championship playoff side. And yes, both were bangers. He got his first goal in FC Tulsa colors on August 8 at Saint Louis FC when he scored a 20-yard strike to give FC Tulsa a 1-0 first half lead it would not relinquish. Bird then delivered one of the most memorable moments of 2020 when he scored a mid-air volley in stoppage time from 15 yards out to beat San Antonio FC at ONEOK Field, giving FC Tulsa three points against the best team in USL Championship at the time.

8) Winning the Wrench

It’s not a successful soccer season in Oklahoma unless you win the Wrench, and unfortunately, that trophy has fallen into the hands of the wrong team since 2017. That changed this season when super subs Cristhian Altamirano and Toby Uzo teamed up for a pair of goals in the final 10 minutes to turn a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 victory. Two Altamirano crosses found the head of the tall striker who turned the dimes into goals, beating OKC Energy FC last week at ONEOK. The win secured the Wrench and put FC Tulsa on the precipice of the playoffs.

9) The Winning Streak

Championship winning teams usually end up peaking at the right time, when it matters most. There is no doubt that FC Tulsa started playing its best soccer at the end of the season with a playoff berth in site. The club won each of its final three matches to secure a USL Championship playoff spot, culminating in a dominant, clinching 2-0 win over Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC last Saturday night. FC Tulsa scored two first half goals to leave little doubt, but more impressive was the zero shots on target allowed by the defense.

10) Tulsa and the Fans

It has been a tough year. However, it was made a little less tough by the fact that FC Tulsa was allowed to have fans at each of its eight home matches in 2020. Even with limited capacity and safety protocols, the city of Tulsa got behind the club to provide a unique home field advantage that many teams other USL Championship teams playing behind closed doors were unable to enjoy. Tulsa’s record at home speaks to that home-field advantage as Tulsa went 4W-3D-1L at home, securing 15 of its 25 points in the friendly confines of ONEOK Field. The fans made the difference in 2020.

Make sure to stay tuned as more information about FC Tulsa’s playoff match on Saturday at El Paso Locomotive FC is revealed this week. Fans can follow along @FCTulsa on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for the latest club news and updates.

Here are 10 reasons why FC Tulsa punched its ticket to the postseason.

1) Roster Investment and Overhaul

2) Setting the Tone Early

3) Da Costa’s Early Heroics

4) Sean Lewis’ Dominance in Net

5) Most Improved Defense in the USL Championship

6) Super Darío in September

7) Eric Bird’s Bangers

8) Winning the Wrench

9) The Winning Streak

10) Tulsa and the Fans

Da Costa, Uzo receive weekly honors from the USL Championship

TAMPA – A duo of FC Tulsa playmakers were named to the bench of the USL Championship’s Week 15 Team of the Week. Forward Toby Uzo and midfielder Rodrigo da Costa earned league honors following a pair of standout performances in the final week of the season

Uzo scored a brace off the bench in FC Tulsa’s dramatic comeback victory over rivals OKC Energy FC. His two diving headers were enough to propel FC Tulsa to a 3-2 win over Energy FC and to clinch the wrench for the 2020 seasons.

Da Costa followed up Uzo’s performance with a goal and an assist in FC Tulsa’s playoff-clinching 2-0 win over Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC. The Brazilian midfielder assisted Marlon’s opener in the 36’ and then scored one of his own in the 40’ as FC Tulsa secured its spot in the 2020 USL Championship playoffs.

Uzo’s winner against OKC is also up for goal of the week, and fans can vote for him here.

FC Tulsa to Travel to El Paso Locomotive FC in First Round of USL Championship Playoffs

TULSA – When FC Tulsa celebrated on the ONEOK Field pitch on Saturday night after clinching Group D’s second seed, the club knew it would be on the road in the first round of the USL Championship Playoffs, but it didn’t yet know its First Round opponent. El Paso Locomotive FC needed a win on Sunday in its regular season finale to lock up the No. 1 seed in Group C, and that’s just what it did with a 2-0 victory over Real Monarchs SLC.

With El Paso’s win, FC Tulsa will travel to the western tip of Texas next weekend for a First Round match against Locomotive FC on Saturday, October 10. The teams didn’t meet in the 2020 regular season after the schedule was re-shuffled following the COVID-19 hiatus and regular season format changes.

El Paso finished its 2020 campaign as one of the best teams in the Western Conference with a 9W-2L-5D record and riding an 11-match unbeaten streak dating back to August 1. Like FC Tulsa, Locomotive FC have also beaten San Antonio FC this season as Tulsa and El Paso are the only two clubs to accomplish that feat against SAFC.

As a reminder, the 2020 USL Championship bracket is a 16-team single elimination bracket with each round being hosted by the team with the better record. For FC Tulsa, it will be on the road for at least the first two rounds. Stand by for more information regarding tickets for fans wanting to make a road trip, as well as information related to an FC Tulsa Watch Party.

Kickoff is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. CT and the match will be broadcast locally in Tulsa on My41 Tulsa and nationally on ESPN+. Stay tuned to @FCTulsa on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for official announcements related to the playoff match.

RECAP presented by Williams: FC Tulsa clinches a playoff spot after 2-0 win at home to Switchbacks FC

TULSA – Win, and in. It was as simple as that for FC Tulsa on Saturday night. In fact just a point would have clinched a playoff berth. Nevertheless, FC Tulsa defeated Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC 2-0 in commanding fashion at ONEOK Field in the final regular season match of 2020.

In a match where FC Tulsa held over 55% possession and completed nearly 90% of its passes, the hosts dominated from start to finish. FC Tulsa logged 10 shots on goal while allowing zero. In front of a raucous ONEOK crowd celebrating Soctfest and Real Men Wear Pink night, there was even more to celebrate early as Marlon and Rodrigo da Costa netted early goals to set FC Tulsa off and running.

The first came from Marlon in the 36’. Rodrigo da Costa lifted a delectable ball towards the back post, and Marlon headed it back across goal and into the bottom left corner. Da Costa would get his own goal to go with his assist just four minutes later, when a pass from Ariel Martínez would send him through on goal for a one-on-one with Switchbacks keeper Sean Melvin. Da Costa settled himself and lifted a shot over the outstretched hands of the keeper and into the net for 2-0.

It would go into the half that way, and it was much of the same in the second half. FC Tulsa was happy to control the ball, suffocating any Switchbacks FC possession and causing mayhem in the attacking third. While the second half was goalless, the message was clear, FC Tulsa is not playing around.

The win means FC Tulsa clinches a playoff spot for the second time in franchise history, as well as extends its unbeaten streak to a club-record seven consecutive matches. The USL Championship playoffs are all about getting hot at the right time, and riding a wave of three straight wins and four in its last seven will be crucial for FC Tulsa.

Here are three takeaways from FC Tulsa’s historic win on Saturday night.

1) USL Championship Playoffs
The USL Championship playoffs begin next weekend, and for the second time in franchise history, FC Tulsa is going dancing. Only once before, in 2017, did the then-Roughnecks advance to the postseason. FC Tulsa will travel to face the winner of Group C, which could be El Paso Locomotive FC or New Mexico United.

2) Bookends for da Costa
Rodrigo da Costa scored the first goal of the season for FC Tulsa, the first goal for FC Tulsa after the season restart, and now the final goal of the regular season. The 2019 All-League honoree has been a crucial part of the Tulsa attack this season, and his three goals rank in a tie for second on the team.

3) Marlon is Streaking
FC Tulsa have had some guys get on a scoring streak this season, and Marlon is the latest to jump on that train, scoring two goals in the last two games and absolutely wreaking havoc on the wings for the attack.

Up Next:
FC Tulsa will await the rest of the weekend’s results to find out its first-round opponent. As it stands, El Paso Locomotive FC sits as the Group C leader, but New Mexico United could still sneak its way into the top spot with an El Paso loss on Sunday evening and a win at RGV FC on Tuesday.