OKLAHOMA CITY – OKC Energy FC took a 3-0 victory and their second win against in-state rival Tulsa Roughnecks FC this season in the Black Gold Derby on Saturday night at Taft Stadium. The game appeared to be getting ready to go to the halftime break scoreless until Energy FC was awarded a penalty kick when a foul was called during an OKC corner kick. Michael Thomas stepped up, and gave the hosts the lead with a shot to the left corner. Sebastian Dalgaard doubled Energy FC’s advantage six minutes into the second half with a fierce shot from the top of the penalty area after a long throw-in caused a scramble in the Tulsa penalty area, and the hosts wrapped up the victory with a minute to go as Colin Bonner scored from close range off a cross by Michael Harris.

Scoring:
45+’ – OKC – Michael Thomas (PK)
51’ – OKC – Sebastian Dalgaard
89’ – OKC – Colin Bonner (Michael Harris)

Three Things That Matter:

• 1. Energy FC continued to push up the Western Conference standings with a third consecutive victory that keeps the side right in the mix for a top-two position at the end of the season. While it wasn’t a pretty performance in the first half, the hosts’ persistence paid off after the break as goals by Sebastian Dalgaard and Colin Bonner came against a Roughnecks defense that fought hard, but eventually wore down under the pressure.

• 2. Tulsa has played better of late, but Saturday night was a very frustrating night that saw the side limited in attack, and lose its best attacking option for its next game when Sammy Ochoa was sent off with less than 20 minutes to go. The playoffs definitely appear out of reach now for the Roughnecks, but hopefully they can rally around one another and make a strong go of it down the stretch as they did a season ago to build a platform for next season.

• 3. Energy FC has conceded only one goal in its last five games, a sign the side is returning to the sort of defensive stability that carried it to last year’s Western Conference Final in the USL Playoffs. The next four games for the side could be a defining moment in OKC’s season, however, with games against fellow playoff contenders Saint Louis, Sacramento, Rio Grande Valley and the LA Galaxy II all arriving in the next three weeks.   

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match

Michael Thomas, OKC Energy FC – Energy FC’s captain scored confidently from the penalty spot to give his side the halftime advantage, and was strong all-around as OKC stifled Tulsa offensively to extend its undefeated streak to seven games.

Upcoming Games:

OKC Energy FC at Saint Louis FC – July 30, 8:30 p.m. ET, World Wide Technology Soccer Park

Tulsa Roughnecks FC at Arizona United SC – July 30, 10:30 p.m. ET, Peoria Sports Complex