USL FC Tulsa

Roughnecks Draw 1-1 in Utah with Real Monarchs

Published on August 9, 2015 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
FC Tulsa News Release


Tulsa Roughnecks FC ended a two-match trip to the Rocky Mountains Saturday night with a 1-1 draw against Real Monarchs SLC at Rio Tinto Stadium. The match ended in controversy when the Roughnecks appeared to be awarded a penalty kick in stoppage time for a foul on Henri Manhebo, but the corner kick that set up the foul was ruled to have gone out of play.

The draw gives the Roughnecks 32 points and a 9-9-5 record. The result combined with Orange County's 1-0 win over Austin drops Tulsa into seventh place in the Western Conference standings, one point behind the Blues in the fight for the sixth and final playoff spot.

Saturday's match started slowly for the Roughnecks who were playing their fourth game in nine days. In the 13th minute, they fell down a goal when Real Monarchs striker Emory Welshman beat Jake Feener with a blast from just inside the box to open the scoring.

It took Tulsa approximately 14 minutes to answer and it came courtesy of the red-hot Sammy Ochoa. Ochoa settled a pass from 12 yards out and calmly struck a shot with the outside of his right-foot that found the back of the net to make it 1-1.

For Ochoa, it marks the third straight match that he has scored in. The former Seattle Sounders forward now has five goals in his last five matches and leads the Roughnecks with seven goals this season.

Both teams threatened to take the lead before halftime with the crossbars rattled on each end of the pitch. In addition, Tulsa defender Kyle Venter had to clear a shot out of Feener's goal mouth just before the halftime whistle to keep the score level.

In the second half, the first chance came to the Roughnecks. In the 59th minute, Brady Ballew got free down the right wing and sent a cross in front of goal, but Cristian Mata's effort sailed high.

Roughnecks head coach David Irving turned to his bench three minutes later, bringing on Oscar Jimenez for Adam Black. In the 72nd minute, he made his second change when Kyrian Kidd came on for Ochoa.

Shortly thereafter, Kidd found himself behind the Monarchs' defense, but keeper Eric Osswald rushed out to smother the ball before the striker could take a shot.

Tulsa had two appeals for a penalty kick denied in the final minutes. In the 88th minute, substitute Lucas Cordeiro went down in the penalty area, but referee Oladokun Faduyile waved play on.

Two minutes into stoppage time, it seemed the Roughnecks were going to have a chance to win the match from the spot when Henri went down at the corner of the box, and Faduyile blew his whistle and pointed to the spot. The Roughnecks were setting up for the spot kick, but the assistant referee ruled the corner kick that came before the foul had crossed over the goal line.

Seconds later, the final whistle sounded.

Tulsa now returns home for its next two matches. The Roughnecks will host a rematch with Real Monarchs SLC Thursday night at ONEOK Field, before hosting Louisville City FC on Saturday evening in downtown Tulsa. Kickoff for both matches is scheduled for 7:30PM.

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United Soccer League Championship Stories from August 9, 2015


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