USL FC Tulsa

Preview: FC Tulsa at Indy Eleven, Saturday, 6 p.m. CT

Published on May 7, 2021 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
FC Tulsa News Release


TULSA - Two wins, five goals, six points. FC Tulsa is flying high at the top of the table to start the 2021 USL Championship season, but it'll face its first true litmus test when it travels to Indy Eleven on Saturday night. Tulsa and Indy, two of the presumptive playoff teams in the Central Division, will clash for the first time in club history.

ABOUT INDY ELEVEN

Since migrating to the USL Championship from the NASL prior to the 2018 season, Indy Eleven has been one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference. Making the First Round of the Playoffs in 2018 and the Eastern Conference Final in 2019. Last year, Eleven seemed a lock to make it three straight USL Championship Playoffs appearances after winning five of their six matches, but went ice cold down the stretch, winning just two of their final 10.

Indy started off 2021 strong last week with a gritty 1-0 road victory over Birmingham Legion FC. Despite a questionable playing surface, Indy was able to emerge victorious with a Manuel Arteaga goal providing the difference.

SERIES HISTORY

This match will be the first time the teams have met, but by season's end, the sides should be fairly familiar as they'll play four times in 2021 as Central Division foes. As two of the predicted contenders in the Central Division, both Tulsa and Indy will see Saturday's match as a measuring stick.

NINE TIMES

Ferris Bueller can't change this number. FC Tulsa hasn't lost in its last nine times in the USL Championship regular season, the longest unbeaten streak in club history. The club is also carrying a five-match winning streak, another Tulsa first. No USL Championship team in Oklahoma has ever had a 10-match unbeaten streak or 6-match winning streak.

2UPER 2UAREZ

With two goals in two matches already in 2021, Dario Suarez has continued scoring for FC Tulsa at a historic pace. The Cuban dynamo is now the fastest in franchise history to hit the 10 goal mark. His 10 goals have come in just 17 appearances for the club, breaking the previous best set by Ian Svantesson in 2017 who hit 10 goals in 20 matches played.

DA COSTA IN BUNCHES

Rodrigo da Costa seems to always find his way onto the scoresheet in bunches. Last Saturday, da Costa had a goal and an assist, the eighth time in his Tulsa career (51 appearances) he has either scored or assisted on multiple goals in the same match. In those eight matches, FC Tulsa is 6W-2L-0D.

SEAN'S FIRST SHUTOUT

Sean Lewis burst onto the scene in 2020 as one of the best keepers in the USL Championship, and he has backed that up so far in 2021. Lewis recorded a clean sheet last weekend against Sporting KC II, his fifth shutout since the start of 2020. The Rockford, Michigan native has allowed just 17 goals in his last 17 regular season matches in net for Tulsa. It's the fewest goals allowed in any 17-match stretch in the club's USL Championship history.

HOW TO TUNE IN

The match will be broadcast on TV locally on My41 Tulsa and nationally on ESPN+. Fans can also follow @FCTulsa on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook for updates and highlights throughout the match.

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United Soccer League Championship Stories from May 7, 2021


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