News Archive

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. –  A long and disappointing roadtrip came to a delayed end on Sunday evening as FC Tulsa suffered a 2-1 loss to Birmingham Legion FC. It is the third consecutive road loss for FC Tulsa as the club will take just three points from its four-match, six-week trip away from ONEOK Field.

On a rainy day in Alabama, it was Birmingham who came out of the gate on the front foot as Legion FC peppered FC Tulsa keeper Sean Lewis. Ultimately Legion FC found the breakthrough when a misplaced ball from Tulsa defender Leo Folla found the path of Birmingham forward J.J. Williams. Williams then sent a cross through the box to an on-rushing Neco Brett who made no mistake in putting Legion FC up 1-0 in the 30' minute. 

FC Tulsa started the second half with a renewed sense of purpose and created multiple chances, with forward Jerome Kiesewetter having a shot saved just wide while defender Bradley Bourgeois hit the side netting on a deflected shot. However that momentum was curbed by a three-and-a-half hour rain delay. 

Following the delay, it was Birmingham who recorded the first tally as Brett struck again, this time off a feed from substitute Junior Flemmings from a counter attack. However, FC Tulsa kept the pressure on and pulled a goal back from the head of Darío Suárez. The striker turned a cross from Marlon Santos into the net for his third goal of the season. 

It looked like Suárez would make it two when a free kick appeared destined for the top corner, but a diving save from Birmingham's Matt VanOekel kept the ball out of the net. Ultimately, the rally would fall just short as FC Tulsa was unable to find the net again and lost its third consecutive match.

Here are three takeaways from the loss.

1) Need to Be Better in Both Thirds
Head coach Michael Nsien noted that in both the attacking and defending third of the pitch, FC Tulsa came up short. The gaffer was upset in scoring just once considering the amount of chances FC Tulsa created, while allowing two goals defensively off long balls over the top. 

"…We have to be better than that. We expect that we should be better than that," said Nsien.

2) Suárez Provides a Consolation
Darío Suárez was FC Tulsa's most dangerous player all evening and his goal to cut Birmingham Legion FC's lead in half late in the match was a deserved strike. It was his third goal of the season and the 11th of his FC Tulsa career. 

3) Homestand Needed
FC Tulsa could use a boost from its home fans at ONEOK Field. Head coach Michael Nsien said after the match that a "change of energy" was needed and a home match could be just the medicine to cure Tulsa's ails. FC Tulsa has lost just one match at home since the start of the 2020 season, going 5W-1L-3D in its last nine home matches.

UP NEXT
FC Tulsa will have a 10-day break before it returns to ONEOK Field on Wednesday, June 16 against Sporting KC II. It will be a two-match homestand for FC Tulsa as Saturday, June 19 will see the club face off against Louisville City FC. Both matches will kickoff at 7 p.m.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. –  A long and disappointing roadtrip came to a delayed end on Sunday evening as FC Tulsa suffered a 2-1 loss to Birmingham Legion FC. It is the third consecutive road loss for FC Tulsa as the club will take just three points from its four-match, six-week trip away from ONEOK Field.

On a rainy day in Alabama, it was Birmingham who came out of the gate on the front foot as Legion FC peppered FC Tulsa keeper Sean Lewis. Ultimately Legion FC found the breakthrough when a misplaced ball from Tulsa defender Leo Folla found the path of Birmingham forward J.J. Williams. Williams then sent a cross through the box to an on-rushing Neco Brett who made no mistake in putting Legion FC up 1-0 in the 30′ minute. 

FC Tulsa started the second half with a renewed sense of purpose and created multiple chances, with forward Jerome Kiesewetter having a shot saved just wide while defender Bradley Bourgeois hit the side netting on a deflected shot. However that momentum was curbed by a three-and-a-half hour rain delay. 

Following the delay, it was Birmingham who recorded the first tally as Brett struck again, this time off a feed from substitute Junior Flemmings from a counter attack. However, FC Tulsa kept the pressure on and pulled a goal back from the head of Darío Suárez. The striker turned a cross from Marlon Santos into the net for his third goal of the season. 

It looked like Suárez would make it two when a free kick appeared destined for the top corner, but a diving save from Birmingham’s Matt VanOekel kept the ball out of the net. Ultimately, the rally would fall just short as FC Tulsa was unable to find the net again and lost its third consecutive match.

Here are three takeaways from the loss.

1) Need to Be Better in Both Thirds
Head coach Michael Nsien noted that in both the attacking and defending third of the pitch, FC Tulsa came up short. The gaffer was upset in scoring just once considering the amount of chances FC Tulsa created, while allowing two goals defensively off long balls over the top. 

“…We have to be better than that. We expect that we should be better than that,” said Nsien.

2) Suárez Provides a Consolation
Darío Suárez was FC Tulsa’s most dangerous player all evening and his goal to cut Birmingham Legion FC’s lead in half late in the match was a deserved strike. It was his third goal of the season and the 11th of his FC Tulsa career. 

3) Homestand Needed
FC Tulsa could use a boost from its home fans at ONEOK Field. Head coach Michael Nsien said after the match that a “change of energy” was needed and a home match could be just the medicine to cure Tulsa’s ails. FC Tulsa has lost just one match at home since the start of the 2020 season, going 5W-1L-3D in its last nine home matches.

UP NEXT
FC Tulsa will have a 10-day break before it returns to ONEOK Field on Wednesday, June 16 against Sporting KC II. It will be a two-match homestand for FC Tulsa as Saturday, June 19 will see the club face off against Louisville City FC. Both matches will kickoff at 7 p.m.

TULSA – FC Tulsa's match at Birmingham Legion FC was delayed in the 58' due to lightning and inclement weather in the area. The score was 1-0 at the time of the suspension, with Birmingham ahead.

The match, if abandoned, will be re-played from the beginning, as if it were brand new. Tune into FC Tulsa's social media, @FCTulsa on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for the latest updates.

TULSA – FC Tulsa’s match at Birmingham Legion FC was delayed in the 58′ due to lightning and inclement weather in the area. The score was 1-0 at the time of the suspension, with Birmingham ahead.

The match, if abandoned, will be re-played from the beginning, as if it were brand new. Tune into FC Tulsa’s social media, @FCTulsa on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for the latest updates.

TULSA – Sean Lewis' standout performance against Indy Eleven already earned him Save of the Week honors in Week 3, and now that stop has been nominated for Save of the Month.

Lewis made a spectacular save to keep the clean sheet in a 2-0 win at Indy Eleven earlier this season. Fans can vote here for Lewis from now until 11 a.m. CT on Monday, June 7.

TULSA – Sean Lewis’ standout performance against Indy Eleven already earned him Save of the Week honors in Week 3, and now that stop has been nominated for Save of the Month.

Lewis made a spectacular save to keep the clean sheet in a 2-0 win at Indy Eleven earlier this season. Fans can vote here for Lewis from now until 11 a.m. CT on Monday, June 7.

TULSA – While FC Tulsa forward Joaquín Rivas competes abroad for El Salvador in his country’s quest to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, he continues to bring home club honors. The USL Championship announced on Thursday afternoon that Rivas was one of five nominees for the league’s Player of the Month award for April/May and his match winner against OKC Energy FC on April 24 is nominated for the Goal of the Month.

Rivas was critical to FC Tulsa’s wins in each of its first three matches as the Salvadoran scored four goals in those matches, winning a Player of the Week following his two-goal performance against Indy Eleven. His start to the 2021 season earned him a call up to the El Salvador National Team for its two World Cup qualifiers this week.

Other nominees for the Player of the Month award include San Antonio FC’s Santiago Patino, Phoenix Rising FC’s Santi Moar, Tampa Bay Rowdies’ Sebastian Guenzatti and Birmingham Legion FC’s Matt VanOekel. The winner is calculated through a combination of fan-votes (51%), USL Technical Committee (25%) and the USL’s National Media Panel (24%). Voting will conclude on Monday at 11 a.m. CT and the winner will be announced on Thursday, June 10.

His volleyed goal against OKC Energy FC also earned love from the league as a monthly award nominee after it won Goal of the Week. That goal, his second of FC Tulsa's season opening victory over its Black Gold Derby rival, ended up being the match winner. 

Fans can vote on the Player of the Month here and on the Goal of the Month here.

TULSA – While FC Tulsa forward Joaquín Rivas competes abroad for El Salvador in his country’s quest to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, he continues to bring home club honors. The USL Championship announced on Thursday afternoon that Rivas was one of five nominees for the league’s Player of the Month award for April/May and his match winner against OKC Energy FC on April 24 is nominated for the Goal of the Month.

Rivas was critical to FC Tulsa’s wins in each of its first three matches as the Salvadoran scored four goals in those matches, winning a Player of the Week following his two-goal performance against Indy Eleven. His start to the 2021 season earned him a call up to the El Salvador National Team for its two World Cup qualifiers this week.

Other nominees for the Player of the Month award include San Antonio FC’s Santiago Patino, Phoenix Rising FC’s Santi Moar, Tampa Bay Rowdies’ Sebastian Guenzatti and Birmingham Legion FC’s Matt VanOekel. The winner is calculated through a combination of fan-votes (51%), USL Technical Committee (25%) and the USL’s National Media Panel (24%). Voting will conclude on Monday at 11 a.m. CT and the winner will be announced on Thursday, June 10.

His volleyed goal against OKC Energy FC also earned love from the league as a monthly award nominee after it won Goal of the Week. That goal, his second of FC Tulsa’s season opening victory over its Black Gold Derby rival, ended up being the match winner. 

Fans can vote on the Player of the Month here and on the Goal of the Month here.

TULSA – While FC Tulsa forward Joaquín Rivas competes abroad for El Salvador in his country’s quest to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, he continues to bring home club honors. The USL Championship announced on Thursday afternoon that Rivas was one of five nominees for the league’s Player of the Month award for April/May and his match winner against OKC Energy FC on April 24 is nominated for the Goal of the Month.

Rivas was critical to FC Tulsa’s wins in each of its first three matches as the Salvadoran scored four goals in those matches, winning a Player of the Week following his two-goal performance against Indy Eleven. His start to the 2021 season earned him a call up to the El Salvador National Team for its two World Cup qualifiers this week.

Other nominees for the Player of the Month award include San Antonio FC’s Santiago Patino, Phoenix Rising FC’s Santi Moar, Tampa Bay Rowdies’ Sebastian Guenzatti and Birmingham Legion FC’s Matt VanOekel. The winner is calculated through a combination of fan-votes (51%), USL Technical Committee (25%) and the USL’s National Media Panel (24%). Voting will conclude on Monday at 11 a.m. CT and the winner will be announced on Thursday, June 10.

His volleyed goal against OKC Energy FC also earned love from the league as a monthly award nominee after it won Goal of the Week. That goal, his second of FC Tulsa's season opening victory over its Black Gold Derby rival, ended up being the match winner. 

Fans can vote on the Player of the Month here and on the Goal of the Month here.

TULSA – While FC Tulsa forward Joaquín Rivas competes abroad for El Salvador in his country’s quest to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, he continues to bring home club honors. The USL Championship announced on Thursday afternoon that Rivas was one of five nominees for the league’s Player of the Month award for April/May and his match winner against OKC Energy FC on April 24 is nominated for the Goal of the Month.

Rivas was critical to FC Tulsa’s wins in each of its first three matches as the Salvadoran scored four goals in those matches, winning a Player of the Week following his two-goal performance against Indy Eleven. His start to the 2021 season earned him a call up to the El Salvador National Team for its two World Cup qualifiers this week.

Other nominees for the Player of the Month award include San Antonio FC’s Santiago Patino, Phoenix Rising FC’s Santi Moar, Tampa Bay Rowdies’ Sebastian Guenzatti and Birmingham Legion FC’s Matt VanOekel. The winner is calculated through a combination of fan-votes (51%), USL Technical Committee (25%) and the USL’s National Media Panel (24%). Voting will conclude on Monday at 11 a.m. CT and the winner will be announced on Thursday, June 10.

His volleyed goal against OKC Energy FC also earned love from the league as a monthly award nominee after it won Goal of the Week. That goal, his second of FC Tulsa’s season opening victory over its Black Gold Derby rival, ended up being the match winner. 

Fans can vote on the Player of the Month here and on the Goal of the Month here.

KANSAS CITY –  Same story, second verse, two weeks apart. 

On Wednesday night, FC Tulsa traveled to play an MLS2 team featuring several MLS players and left without a result. Sporting Kansas City II, who started seven players on MLS contracts, took the three points with a 3-1 victory. While the scoreline was different, the match was eerily similar to FC Tulsa's first loss of the season on May 19 against Atlanta United 2, when it featured eight players from its parent club.

FC Tulsa appeared back on track when it took the lead in the 14' of the match after first-time starter Lucas Coutinho scored on a counter from fellow Brazilian midfielder Rodrigo da Costa. However, that goal came largely against the run of play as Sporting KC II dominated the run of play. The pressure paid off as Sporting KC II equalized just before the halftime whistle. 

The second half was all Sporting Kansas City II as it took the lead only four minutes after halftime and didn't let up, ultimately finishing off a come from behind 4-1 victory.

Here are three takeaways from the 4-1 defeat…

1) Starting XI Change Pays Off
Head coach Michael Nsien made a slight formation change to the Starting XI as Lucas Coutinho earned his first start with FC Tulsa alongside fellow attacking midfielder Rodrigo da Costa. The moved paid off quickly as Coutinho bagged his first goal in the USL Championship. Coutinho signed this offseason after two years with South Georgia Tormenta FC in USL League One.

2) FULL 90 FOR KIESEWETTER
Forward Jerome Kiesewetter was FC Tulsa's biggest offseason acquisition, but a combination of injury and bad luck has kept the U.S. international outside of the Starting XI so far this season. On Wednesday night, Kiesewetter finally earned his first start, playing the full 90 minutes in the defeat.

3) ANOTHER DEFENSIVE BREAKDOWN
The nine goals that FC Tulsa has allowed in its last 180 minutes of soccer is one more than the eight goals the club had allowed in its previous 10 regular season matches combined. Heading into this match, Sporting KC II had scored just two total goals in its previous six matches in 2020. 

UP NEXT
FC Tulsa will have to rebound quickly for a Sunday matinee at Birmingham Legion FC. It will be the first ever meeting between the clubs, with kickoff scheduled for 4 p.m. CT.

KANSAS CITY –  Same story, second verse, two weeks apart. 

On Wednesday night, FC Tulsa traveled to play an MLS2 team featuring several MLS players and left without a result. Sporting Kansas City II, who started seven players on MLS contracts, took the three points with a 3-1 victory. While the scoreline was different, the match was eerily similar to FC Tulsa’s first loss of the season on May 19 against Atlanta United 2, when it featured eight players from its parent club.

FC Tulsa appeared back on track when it took the lead in the 14′ of the match after first-time starter Lucas Coutinho scored on a counter from fellow Brazilian midfielder Rodrigo da Costa. However, that goal came largely against the run of play as Sporting KC II dominated the run of play. The pressure paid off as Sporting KC II equalized just before the halftime whistle. 

The second half was all Sporting Kansas City II as it took the lead only four minutes after halftime and didn’t let up, ultimately finishing off a come from behind 4-1 victory.

Here are three takeaways from the 4-1 defeat…

1) Starting XI Change Pays Off
Head coach Michael Nsien made a slight formation change to the Starting XI as Lucas Coutinho earned his first start with FC Tulsa alongside fellow attacking midfielder Rodrigo da Costa. The moved paid off quickly as Coutinho bagged his first goal in the USL Championship. Coutinho signed this offseason after two years with South Georgia Tormenta FC in USL League One.

2) FULL 90 FOR KIESEWETTER
Forward Jerome Kiesewetter was FC Tulsa’s biggest offseason acquisition, but a combination of injury and bad luck has kept the U.S. international outside of the Starting XI so far this season. On Wednesday night, Kiesewetter finally earned his first start, playing the full 90 minutes in the defeat.

3) ANOTHER DEFENSIVE BREAKDOWN
The nine goals that FC Tulsa has allowed in its last 180 minutes of soccer is one more than the eight goals the club had allowed in its previous 10 regular season matches combined. Heading into this match, Sporting KC II had scored just two total goals in its previous six matches in 2020. 

UP NEXT
FC Tulsa will have to rebound quickly for a Sunday matinee at Birmingham Legion FC. It will be the first ever meeting between the clubs, with kickoff scheduled for 4 p.m. CT.

TULSA – It has been a long 14 days of waiting for FC Tulsa.

After a franchise-best 3-0 start to the season, FC Tulsa hit its first bump in the road with a 5-0 loss to Atlanta United 2 on May 19. Now, the club has had two weeks to stew on the embarrassing defeat, waiting for its next USL Championship match. That finally comes on Wednesday night as FC Tulsa travels to Kansas City for a matchup against Sporting Kansas City II at Children’s Mercy Park.  
 

SCOUTING SPORTING KANSAS CITY II

While FC Tulsa’s first six weeks of the season was largely positive, with wins in the first three matches, Sporting Kansas City II’s season hasn’t quite gotten off the ground yet. Sporting KC II comes into Wednesday’s matchup with three losses and three draws in its six matches, 7th in the Central Division, sitting ahead of only Memphis 901 FC, who have played two games. 

After opening their season with a 2-0 loss against FC Tulsa, Sporting drew against OKC Energy FC and LA Galaxy II, and lost to Colorado Springs and Indy Eleven. Part of the problem for Sporting KC II has been its offense, as the club has been shutout in four of six matches and have just two goals overall on the campaign. However, an impressive 0-0 draw against El Paso Locomotive at home on Sunday was a positive step in the right direction.
 

THINGS TO KNOW

1) Second Half of the Roadie

FC Tulsa’s longest road stretch of the season enters it’s latter half, with this Wednesday’s match against Sporting KC II and Sunday’s match against Birmingham Legion FC representing the end of the six-week long road trip. After this week, FC Tulsa fans will enjoy having the squad back at ONEOK Field for two matches against Sporting Kansas City II on Wednesday, June 16 and against Louisville City FC on Saturday, June 19. Tickets are available for both matches here 

2) Captain’s Familiarity

In 2018 and 2019, FC Tulsa captain Bradley Bourgeois and Sporting Kansas City II striker Ropapa Mensah played together with Nashville SC, battling everyday in training. Fast forward to 2021, Bourgeois is now an anchor for FC Tulsa while Mensah is one of Sporting Kansas City II’s most dynamic players. Mensah did not appear in the two squads’ first meeting on May 1 due to injury, but he should be raring to go this Wednesday night. With two weeks to prepare, FC Tulsa will hope to put Bourgeois’ “Mensah IQ” to good use. 

3) Back to the Top

Even with the tough 5-0 loss to Atlanta United 2, FC Tulsa still has one of the best records in the Central Division at 3-0-1. The 2.25 points per match is tied for the best in the Central with Indy Eleven, whom FC Tulsa beat earlier this season. A win on Wednesday night presents an opportunity to go back to the top of the table, leapfrogging Birmingham Legion FC, and enter the summer months riding some momentum.
 

How to Watch

FC Tulsa’s match will be available across Tulsa on My41 at 7 p.m. for a local broadcast and streamed nationally on ESPN+. Fans can also listen to a national radio broadcast of the match on SiriusXM FC brought to you by John Horlander and former Tulsa Roughnecks star, Brady Ballew. This will be the first of two matches on SiriusXM FC in June followed by Sunday’s match at Birmingham Legion FC.

TULSA – It has been a long 14 days of waiting for FC Tulsa.

After a franchise-best 3-0 start to the season, FC Tulsa hit its first bump in the road with a 5-0 loss to Atlanta United 2 on May 19. Now, the club has had two weeks to stew on the embarrassing defeat, waiting for its next USL Championship match. That finally comes on Wednesday night as FC Tulsa travels to Kansas City for a matchup against Sporting Kansas City II at Children’s Mercy Park.  
 

SCOUTING SPORTING KANSAS CITY II

While FC Tulsa’s first six weeks of the season was largely positive, with wins in the first three matches, Sporting Kansas City II’s season hasn’t quite gotten off the ground yet. Sporting KC II comes into Wednesday’s matchup with three losses and three draws in its six matches, 7th in the Central Division, sitting ahead of only Memphis 901 FC, who have played two games. 

After opening their season with a 2-0 loss against FC Tulsa, Sporting drew against OKC Energy FC and LA Galaxy II, and lost to Colorado Springs and Indy Eleven. Part of the problem for Sporting KC II has been its offense, as the club has been shutout in four of six matches and have just two goals overall on the campaign. However, an impressive 0-0 draw against El Paso Locomotive at home on Sunday was a positive step in the right direction.
 

THINGS TO KNOW

1) Second Half of the Roadie

FC Tulsa’s longest road stretch of the season enters it’s latter half, with this Wednesday’s match against Sporting KC II and Sunday’s match against Birmingham Legion FC representing the end of the six-week long road trip. After this week, FC Tulsa fans will enjoy having the squad back at ONEOK Field for two matches against Sporting Kansas City II on Wednesday, June 16 and against Louisville City FC on Saturday, June 19. Tickets are available for both matches here 

2) Captain’s Familiarity

In 2018 and 2019, FC Tulsa captain Bradley Bourgeois and Sporting Kansas City II striker Ropapa Mensah played together with Nashville SC, battling everyday in training. Fast forward to 2021, Bourgeois is now an anchor for FC Tulsa while Mensah is one of Sporting Kansas City II’s most dynamic players. Mensah did not appear in the two squads’ first meeting on May 1 due to injury, but he should be raring to go this Wednesday night. With two weeks to prepare, FC Tulsa will hope to put Bourgeois’ “Mensah IQ” to good use. 

3) Back to the Top

Even with the tough 5-0 loss to Atlanta United 2, FC Tulsa still has one of the best records in the Central Division at 3-0-1. The 2.25 points per match is tied for the best in the Central with Indy Eleven, whom FC Tulsa beat earlier this season. A win on Wednesday night presents an opportunity to go back to the top of the table, leapfrogging Birmingham Legion FC, and enter the summer months riding some momentum.
 

How to Watch

FC Tulsa’s match will be available across Tulsa on My41 at 7 p.m. for a local broadcast and streamed nationally on ESPN+. Fans can also listen to a national radio broadcast of the match on SiriusXM FC brought to you by John Horlander and former Tulsa Roughnecks star, Brady Ballew. This will be the first of two matches on SiriusXM FC in June followed by Sunday’s match at Birmingham Legion FC.