USL Fresno FC

Match Day Preview | Fresno FC at OKC Energy FC | July 28, 2018

July 27, 2018 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Fresno FC News Release


Saturday, July 28

ONEOK Field | 5:30 p.m. PT

TV: CW 59 | STREAM: ESPN+

Social Media: Follow @FFCFoxes on Twitter for match updates and follow along using the hashtags #TULvFRS

FRESNO FC MATCH NOTES: TULvFRS | ROUGHNECKS FC MATCH NOTES | STREAM: TULvFRS | USL MEDIA GUIDE | USL MATCH CENTER

MATCH PREVIEW: Zorros head to Tulsa for rematch with Roughnecks

Los Zorros look to close out July in unbeaten fashion when they visit Tulsa Roughnecks FC on Saturday at ONEOK Field. The action kicks off at 5:30 p.m. PT. Fresno is unbeaten in its previous three matches, compiling a 2-0-1 record this month including a scoreless draw at OKC Energy FC on Wednesday. The match will be televised on CW59 and streamed on ESPN Plus.

It's the second and final regular-season meeting between the Roughnecks and Foxes, who played to a 2-2 draw on April 18 in Fresno. That was a physical battle that saw six cards given in the final 15 minutes of the game, including two reds. The Foxes will hope to continue its offensive production that is fourth in the league in total shots (300) behind goalscorers Jemal Johnson (8), Juan Pablo Caffa (7), and Christian Chaney (4). Club assists leader Zach Ellis-Hayden (4) returns to the 18-man lineup after serving a one-match suspension for his red card against Phoenix on July 14. Defensively, Fresno has allowed just two goals in the last 360 minutes picking up three clean sheets along the way between goalkeepers Kyle Reynish and former loanee CJ Cochran. The Roughnecks return to their home field in nearly a month, where they hope to scrap a four-match winless streak under new coach Michael Nsien, who was hired June 25 after the removal of David Vaudreuil.

HE SAID IT

Midfielder Pedro Ribeiro

What is the team's mentality heading into the second game of this road trip to Oklahoma?

"The way we've been playing the last four games - we have won three in a row and tied this last one - I feel like in Tulsa, while I have respect for them, I think it's a game we should get three points in and get a few goals and some confidence going before heading back home to train and then going on the road again. It'd be good to come out of this trip to Oklahoma with four points. That'd be big for us."

KEEPING IT CLEAN

Kyle Reynish and the Foxes' defense have been a wall in July, allowing just two goals over the club's three games, including two consecutive clean sheets against Phoenix Rising FC and OKC Energy FC. The 6-foot-3 Reynish has a 1.17 goals-against-average in 17 appearances this season for Fresno FC, and has been between the posts in five of the Foxes' six shutouts in 2018. His 48 saves are also 11th-most in the USL and his five clean sheets are sixth-best in the 17-team Western Conference.

CAFFA HOMECOMING

Juan Pablo Caffa returns to the home of his first American club when the Foxes play at Tulsa on Saturday. Caffa spent the 2017 season with the Roughnecks, helping the franchise to its first-ever trip to the USL Cup Playoffs. He recorded nine goals and eight assists for the Roughnecks to earn USL All-League Second Team honors, and that form has carried over to the Foxes. Caffa has scored eight goals and produced four assists in the team's inaugural season, despite missing six games due to an ankle injury earlier in the season.

SEEKING RESULTS ON THE ROAD

Los Zorros will look to get comfortable in unfamiliar places as they play their second game in a stretch of four matches away from Fresno. Fresno FC played to a 0-0 draw at OKC Energy FC on Wednesday, visit Tulsa on Saturday, before returning to California for matches at Sacramento Republic FC on Aug. 4, and a battle at LA Galaxy II on Aug. 9. The Foxes are unbeaten in their previous two away games, winning 4-2 at Portland Timbers 2 on July 8 before the scoreless draw. Before July, the Foxes were winless in its previous eight away matches.

SIBLING RIVALRY FOR FRANCK TAYOU

Foxes forward Franck Tayou will likely play his first professional game against older brother Uzi Tayou, who was signed by the Rougnecks earlier this week. Uzi, 29, and Franck, 28 were teammates at FC Wichita for the 2018 PDL season before earning USL contracts with Tulsa and Fresno, respectively. Franck joined the Foxes in early June.

"I've played against Uzi most of my life," Franck told TurfandBoards.com, recounting their battles in practice and the back yard. "I don't think Saturday will be any different. There's always love and respect no matter what."



United Soccer League Championship Stories from July 27, 2018


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