USL FC Tulsa

Strong Start Just What FC Tulsa Needs against Atlanta United 2

August 28, 2021 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
FC Tulsa News Release


TULSA - No late magic needed tonight. The Magician provided plenty in the first half.

Lebo Moloto, one of the USL Championship's most prolific players over its history, scored a first half brace within a four-minute span to propel FC Tulsa to a 3-1 victory over Atlanta United 2 at ONEOK Field on Saturday night.

FC Tulsa put all three goals away in the first half, the first from the boot of defender Matt Sheldon and the final two from Moloto, enough scoring to seal its second three-match winning streak of the season. The victory is also the fourth in the last five matches as FC Tulsa continues to separate itself from the middle of the Central Division and solidly into a top three position.

Coming into the match, Atlanta United 2 was the lone Central Division opponent FC Tulsa hadn't beaten yet in 2020 with Tulsa suffering two losses in Atlanta earlier this season. At home, the tides turned as FC Tulsa improved its record at ONEOK Field to 6W-3L-0D this season.

Now another test awaits as FC Tulsa makes a final trip to Louisville on Friday night in a 1 vs. 3 Central Division showdown. A fourth consecutive win would close the gap between Louisville at the top and FC Tulsa to single digit points.

GOALS

14' TUL - Matt Sheldon (Mo Jadama)

17 ATL - Machop Chol

30' TUL - Lebo Moloto (Darío Suárez)

34' TUL - Lebo Moloto

SHELDON SECURES SECOND

It took Matt Sheldon 76 matches to score his first professional goal, and just four more to score his second. Sheldon's opener, courtesy of fellow defender Mo Jadama's headed pass, was a spin-o-rama side volley that beat Atlanta keeper Rocco Rios Novo on the far post. It gives FC Tulsa a third goal by a defender this season, with Jadama providing an eighth assist from the backline, but his first in 2021.

MOLOTO MAKES BIG IMPACT

It was a rough start to 2021 for midfielder Lebo Moloto. An injury during preseason meant Moloto missed the season's first nine matches, and it took some time for the former All-League player to find his match fitness. Over the last month, however, Moloto has been the engine of the FC Tulsa offense. He scored his first, and second, goal of the season four minutes apart in the first half. Those two goals go along with Moloto's two assists already in August.

SCORE FIRST, SCORE TWO

Again, FC Tulsa buried the first goal of the match and scored multiple goals, improving their outstanding record in each metric this season. When scoring first, FC Tulsa is now 8W-1L-0D and when scoring at least twice, the club is 9W-1L-0D. It's a recipe for success as FC Tulsa is one of the highest scoring teams in the USL Championship, ranking fifth in total goals in 2021.

BUSY WEEK ENDS

The match ends the busiest seven-day stretch of the season for FC Tulsa as it played three USL Championship matches from Sunday, August 22, to Saturday, August 28. It's the only stretch of its kind in 2021 for FC Tulsa, and the third dating back to its inaugural season in the USL Championship 2015. In those three-match weeks (or in the case of 2015, four matches in nine days) FC Tulsa has a track record of success, securing 21 of a possible 30 points.

CENTRAL DIVISION STANDINGS UPDATE

Team Matches Played Record Points

Louisville City FC 20 12-4-4 40

Birmingham Legion FC 20 11-6-3 36

FC Tulsa 20 10-9-1 31

Indy Eleven 20 7-9-5 26

Atlanta United 2 22 6-9-7 25

OKC Energy FC 20 5-7-8 23

Memphis 901 FC 17 5-6-6 21

Sporting KC II 21 3-12-6 15

UP NEXT

FC Tulsa will have a six-day gap between matches before a Friday night fight against Louisville City FC on the road. It will be the fourth and final meeting between Tulsa and Louisville. Kickoff is scheduled 6:30 p.m. CT.

Check out the FC Tulsa Statistics



United Soccer League Championship Stories from August 28, 2021


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