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Tulsa Holds to Seal Playoff Berth

By CHRIS HOCKMAN - chris.hockman@uslsoccer.com, 10/07/17, 10:00PM EDT

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Roughnecks survive red card, beat Sounders FC 2 again


Photo courtesy Tulsa Roughnecks FC

TULSA, Okla. – History was made at ONEOK Field on Saturday night as Tulsa Roughnecks FC clinched its place in the USL Cup Playoffs following a 1-0 win over Seattle Sounders FC 2, despite playing more than half the match with 10 men. Tulsa overcome a strong start from S2 to open the scoring in the 14th minute as a long ball from Fabian Cerda found Joey Calistri, who sent it across the face of goal for Christian Thierjung, who poked it home from a tight angle. In first half stoppage time the Roughnecks' Collin Fernandes earned his second yellow card of the match after a collision with Zach Mathers off of the ball. S2's Mathers took the resulting free kick well, beating Cerda, but could only find the crossbar, keeping it 1-0 at half time. With the man advantage, S2 controlled possession in the second half, but Tulsa adjusted well, pushing more men behind the ball in an effort to absorb the pressure. That worked perfectly, as the Tulsa defense got back, put their bodies on the line, making 15 tackles and 40 clearances, and held out Seattle yet again.

Scoring:
14’ – TUL – Christian Thierjung (Joey Calistri)

Three Things That Matter:

  • 1. Tulsa’s 2017 season will go down as a history-making one for the Oklahoma side as the Roughnecks clinched a playoff place for the first time in club history. That achievement marks a phenomenal turn around from the 2016 season, when Tulsa finished last in the USL Western Conference. With one home match remaining in the season the fans can now come to ONEOK Field next week to celebrate a place in the postseason as the team battles to hold onto the No. 6-seed.

  • 2. After being eliminated from playoff contention, Seattle has failed to play the role of spoiler, going winless in its last five matches, including two losses to Tulsa. S2 will look to play for pride in the final two matches of the season, with a finish anywhere between 11th and 13th all possible.

  • 3. This was the best opportunity S2 has had to beat Tulsa, but yet again the curse continued for Seattle. Tulsa remains perfect against S2 in the history of both clubs, bringing the all-time record between the two sides to 5-0-0, despite the Roughnecks having been reduced to 10 men for more than half the match. Seattle failed to take advantage of its extra man, managing just four shots on target out of a total of 14 despite having 74.6 percent of the ball.

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match:

Fabian Cerda, Tulsa Roughnecks FC – Having to face a lot of pressure throughout the second half, Cerda made four saves and kept a clean sheet after he also provided the long ball which started the play for the goal.

Upcoming Games:
Tulsa Roughnecks FC vs. Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC - October 14, 8p.m. ET, ONEOK Field
Seattle Sounders FC 2 vs. Swope Park Rangers – October 11, 8:30p.m. ET, Children’s Mercy Victory Field

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