skip navigation

Roughnecks, Ugarte Edge Out S2

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 08/31/17, 12:29AM EDT

Share

Tulsa moves into fifth in Western Conference via 1-0 victory in Seattle


Photo courtesy Charis Wilson / Seattle Sounders FC 2

TUKWILA, Wash. – Francisco Ugarte scored the only goal as Tulsa Roughnecks FC took a 1-0 victory against Seattle Sounders FC 2 to move into fifth place in the USL Western Conference on Wednesday night at Starfire Stadium. S2 created some early pressure, and Tulsa goalkeeper Fabian Cerda saved well to deny David Olsen from the left side of the penalty area in the 10th minute. The Roughnecks’ first good chance came from a corner as Bradley Bourgeois’ free header was blocked, but S2 almost struck immediately on the counterattack as Felix Chenkam fired just wide of the right post. Chenkam went close again from just inside the top of the penalty area as his shot clipped the top of the crossbar just past the half-hour mark, while Charles Renken had a volleyed finish turned away by Cerda. The Roughnecks went close to opening the scoring as Collin Fernandez sent a shot just wide of the left post just before the hour-mark, and S2 goalkeeper Bryan Meredith made a big save to deny Fernandez in the 68th minute. S2’s Zach Mathers forced a good save from a free kick by Cerda three minutes later, but the Roughnecks took the lead with 17 minutes to go as Juan Pablo Caffa’s corner kick found Ugarte for a volleyed finish. S2’s Calum Mallace went close to an equalizer with a fierce shot from 30 yards that was tipped over the crossbar in the 81st minute, but the Roughnecks closed out a big road victory to open their trip to the Pacific Northwest.

Scoring:
73’ – TUL – Francisco Ugarte (Juan Pablo Caffa)

Three Things That Matter:

  • 1. After sitting out the past two games for the Roughnecks due to injury, the return of Juan Pablo Caffa to the Roughnecks’ lineup paid major dividends as the Argentinian playmaker made an important difference after his introduction as a second-half substitute with just under half-an-hour to play. Caffa has been integral to the Roughnecks’ resurgence this season thanks to his precision from set pieces, and his in-swinging delivery from the right to set up Francisco Ugarte’s opening goal highlighted a little of what the side had missed in his absence. In a crucial contest, Tulsa’s talisman came through when it counted most.

  • 2. Both Caffa and forward Ian Svantesson began the game on the substitutes bench, but helped turn the tide in the final 25 minutes as Svantesson had a strong impact as well after replacing Pavel Kondrakhin, who was rather anonymous prior to his departure registering only one shot off target. Kicking off a three-game trip to the Pacific Northwest, credit has to be given to Roughnecks Head Coach David Vaudreuil, who pulled off a great display of man-management as his side equaled its single-season high for wins with its 11th victory of the year, while keeping Caffa and Svantesson fresh for the two games ahead in Portland and Vancouver.

  • 3. Seattle had chances to gain the upper hand in the first half, but wasn’t quite able to find either a way past Roughnecks goalkeeper Fabian Cerda, or a precise enough finish to pick out the back of the net. After back-to-back wins S2 was back in the race for the USL Cup Playoffs, but now the side will need a strong run of results in its final seven games to have a chance at reaching the postseason with its deficit still at four points, with the likes of Phoenix Rising FC – which S2 faces next on Saturday – and Orange County SC sitting alongside it with numerous games in hand in addition to the teams Seattle needs to catch above the red line.

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match

Francisco Ugarte, Tulsa Roughnecks FC – Ugarte scored the only goal, and marshalled Tulsa’s defense as he recorded three tackles and five interceptions to lead his side to a shutout win on the road.

Upcoming Games:
Seattle Sounders FC 2
at Phoenix Rising FC – September 2, 10:30 p.m. ET, Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex
Tulsa Roughnecks FC at Portland Timbers 2 – September 3, 5 p.m. ET, Providence Park

Follow the USL Championship

Most Recent News

Most Read News

Latest Videos