Roughnecks Beat OKC; Keep Playoff Hopes Alive
September 7, 2015 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
FC Tulsa News Release
Tulsa Roughnecks FC vs. OKC Energy FC
(FC Tulsa, Credit: Rich Crimi)
Tulsa Roughnecks FC closed out their inaugural regular season in winning style Sunday night by topping state rivals Oklahoma City Energy 2-1 in the Black Gold Derby. The victory, which came before a crowd of 6,005 at ONEOK Field, kept the Roughnecks USL playoff hopes alive.
The win improved Tulsa's record to 11-11-6 and its point total to 39. The Roughnecks moved into the sixth and final playoff spot in the USL's Western Conference table. They now must wait out the final two weeks of the season to learn their playoff fate.
In order to claim a post-season berth, the Roughnecks need Seattle Sounders 2 to lose their final two regular season games and for Arizona United to lose or draw one of its final three matches.
Knowing they needed a victory to keep their playoff hopes alive, the Roughnecks began the match looking to attack. Most of the pressure came courtesy of Brady Ballew. His constant runs down the right side caused a number of problems for the Energy's back line.
Ballew's best chance came on a designed free kick in the 10th minute, but his shot hit the side netting.
The Energy survived the early pressure and eventually came to life offensively. The first opportunity came in the 20th minute when Sebastian Dalgaard beat Ben Brewster and Ryan Price down the left side, but Tulsa goalkeeper Jake Feener came out to make a sliding save.
Ten minutes Feener denied the Energy again with a diving save off a deflected shot from Dalgaard.
Tulsa owned most of the chances over the final ten minutes of the first half. A mistake by an Energy defender sent Ballew in one-on-one with Newton, but his shot went high and wide.
In the 41st minute, a flick pass from Cristian Mata set up Lucas Cordeiro, but again Newton denied the Roughnecks a first goal.
Cristian Mata battles during Sunday's Black Gold Derby at ONEOK Field. (Rich Crimi)
The second half started with the Roughnecks pushing forward looking for the first goal. Ten minutes in, Mata had a rolling shot cleared off the line by Christian Duke. Seconds later, a blast from Sammy Ochoa blasted a left-footed shot just inches wide of the far post.
The break through finally came in the 63rd minute. Cordeiro delivered a ball behind the Energy defenders that ran perfectly to Ballew. In on goal, the Tulsa midfielder made no mistake with this chance, beating Newton to give the Roughnecks the 1-0 lead.
Sixteen minutes later, the Roughnecks got the vital second goal. Defender Ben Brewster pushed up down the right side and delivered a cross to the head of substitute Kyrian Kidd. Kidd rose high for a header that found the back of the net to double Tulsa's lead to 2-0.
Kidd missed a chance to put the game away just a few minutes later. A feed from Ballew found Kidd in front of an open goal, but the striker fired over the goal.
The Energy got back into the match in the 86th minute. Sub Peter Toth blasted a free kick that deflected off the hands of Feener and into the goal to trim the Tulsa lead to 2-1. The goals was reminiscent of his goal that beat the Roughnecks in the U.S. Open Cup in May.
The Roughnecks survived the final few minutes of regulation and five minutes of added to claim the full three points.
Tulsa dominated the match statistically. The Roughnecks out-shot the Energy 22-11 and led in corner kicks 11-3.
The crowd was the second largest of the season for a match at ONEOK Field, second only to the season opener against the Energy.
Images from this story
 Roustabouts Unveil New Tifo for Tulsa Roughnecks (Rich Crimi) |
 Tulsa Roughnecks FC vs. OKC Energy FC (Rich Crimi) |
United Soccer League Championship Stories from September 7, 2015
- USL Week 25: Rhinos Claim Regular-Season Title - USL
- Roughnecks Beat OKC; Keep Playoff Hopes Alive - FC Tulsa
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
Other Recent FC Tulsa Stories
- Arthur Rogers Earns Fourth USL Championship Team of the Week Nod
- Arthur Rogers Secures his First Goal for FC Tulsa in a 1-1 Draw Against Phoenix Rising FC
- FC Tulsa Back at ONEOK Field to Face Phoenix Rising FC for the Third Time this Season
- FC Tulsa Signs FC Tulsa Academy Standout Anthony Harper to First Team
- Military Appreciation Night Set for June 14 at ONEOK Field
