USL FC Tulsa

Preview: FC Tulsa at OKC Energy FC, Saturday, April 24, 7:30 p.m. CT

April 22, 2021 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
FC Tulsa News Release


TULSA - FC Tulsa's 2021 USL Championship season begins with a bang on Saturday night with the Black Gold Derby against OKC Energy FC at 7:30 p.m. CT. Roles for the two clubs are reversed this year with Tulsa the defending Wrench-holders and OKC arriving empty-handed for the first time since 2018. As Central Division opponents, the clubs will meet four times in league play to decide the fate of the Wrench in 2021.

The match is one of two on opening weekend for the USL Championship, alongside another Central Division clash on Saturday, Louisville City FC hosting Atlanta United 2.

ABOUT OKC ENERGY FC

It was a tough 2020 season for OKC and first-year head coach John Pascarella. Nothing seemed to go right as Energy FC won just one of its 16 matches and managed only 12 goals all season. The lack of success necessitated changes in 2021, and OKC signed a number of players to help address the issues that plagued the club last season.

The signings of defenders Conor Donovan, Mitchell Osmond and Robert Coronado and forwards Aiden Daniels and Villyan Bijev headlined OKC's offseason as they try to return to the USL Championship Playoffs for the first time since 2017.

SERIES HISTORY

While FC Tulsa won the Wrench in 2020 with a win and two draws in three Black Gold Derby matches, It has been OKC who has gotten the better end of the rivalry historically. OKC captured the Wrench in 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019 and owns the overall series record at 8-4-6.

ROAD HEAVY START

Saturday will just be the start of a road-heavy stretch to begin the season as seven of the club's first 10 USL Championship matches will be on the road, including five of the first six. Last year, FC Tulsa earned results in six of seven road matches including a 1-1 draw over OKC Energy FC in July of 2020.

JOAQUÍN TO 100

If forward Joaquín Rivas takes the pitch on Saturday night for FC Tulsa, the appearance will mark his 100th in the regular season in his USL Championship career. He would become just the second current FC Tulsa player with 100 appearances, joining Lebo Moloto (154). Several FC Tulsa players are within striking distance of the century mark including Bradley Bourgeois, Eric Bird and Mo Jadama who are all within 15 appearances of 100.

CAPTAIN AND VICE CAPTAIN

On Thursday, FC Tulsa named defender Bradley Bourgeois as the 2021 Captain with midfielder Rodrigo da Costa serving as the club's Vice Captain. The captaincy is the first such honor for Bourgeois in his six-year USL Championship career. The University of Tulsa grad has been a member of FC Tulsa for two seasons, both of which have ended with a USL Championship Playoff berth (2017, 2020).

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.

Check out the FC Tulsa Statistics



United Soccer League Championship Stories from April 22, 2021


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