2026 US Open Cup Round 2: FC Tulsa capitalize on OT mistake in foul fest with San Antonio FC

On a night where both sides were consistently missing the mark in front of goal but finding it in their tackles, FC Tulsa pounced on a poor pass at the back to defeat San Antonio FC 1-0 away after extra time on Wednesday night.

Battling for every inch all night, the two sides committed a combined 60 fouls, the second-most in a single match in the US Open Cup’s Modern Era (1995-present) and just four shy of the record of 64 set in a quarterfinal match on Aug. 9, 2000 — a match which, coincidentally, current SAFC head coach Carlos Llamosa started and played all 112 minutes of, his D.C. United losing 3-2 at home in sudden-death extra time to Miami Fusion FC (MLS).

A total of 15 yellow cards were also handed out Wednesday, though only one player was sent off for a second, in extra time.

Remi Cabral not only avoided the referee’s book but also was the only player to find his way onto the scoresheet, notching his goal in the 106th minute after coming on as a substitute in the 70th. The goal was just the second SAFC has conceded in six competitive matches so far this season, and the first from open play.

“We knew it was going to be a tight game – it always is when we play against San Antonio,” said Tulsa head coach Luke Spencer. “We played against them one time in preseason already and then we played against them in the regular season – two good teams, two physical teams. …We look forward to these battles and we embraced it.”

Although decent opportunities were created throughout the match, neither side was sharp enough to get a shot on goal for more than an hour. Tulsa came close in the 69th minute as Jamie Webber hit the crossbar with a free kick, after which the ball bounced around a few times in the box before SAFC cleared it.

SAFC’s Jorge Hernandez got the first shot on target in the 78th minute, retrieving an overcooked cross on the right side of the box before firing a shot toward the bottom right corner, forcing goalkeeper Dane Jacomen to tip it away. Six minutes later, Tulsa got its first shot on target as Stefan Lukic cut inside from the right flank and fired from just outside the box, giving goalkeeper Joey Batrouni a comfortable catch.

SAFC’s task got harder in the 97th minute when Akeem O’Connor-Ward became the only player to receive a second yellow card as he arrived just a moment too late to a challenge, forcing SAFC to play with 10 men for the rest of the match.

Just 16 seconds after the second half of extra time began, Tulsa scored the lone goal when Cabral pounced on an undercooked backpass, rounded Batrouni and fired the ball in from a tight angle on the right side of the box, with defender Alex Crognale racing toward the line but unable to clear the ball in time. It was Cabral’s second Open Cup goal after opening the scoring for Phoenix Rising FC on May 22, 2024, at the Seattle Sounders FC, though his side ultimately lost 2-1.

“It was really good pressing from the whole team, as we worked during the week, we worked on the pressing, we want to be an aggressive team,” Cabral said. “I saw Lukic making pressure, I followed the pressing and scored. …My objective was just to hit the frame because I know even when a defender is coming, it’s really hard to clear the ball when you’re facing your own goal.”

Even down a man, SAFC threw what it could at Tulsa but still couldn’t find the killer touch, losing its first match in all competitions this year.

“After what wasn’t the best first half, I thought the guys stepped it up in the second half, won a lot more duels, we were together, we looked more like us and we competed, so I think that turned into being able to get the goal in the end and make some critical plays down the stretch,” Spencer said.

Tulsa and SAFC have now met twice in the Open Cup with Tulsa narrowly edging out SAFC both times, having also won 7-6 in a penalty shootout in Tulsa on May 31, 2017, back when the side was known as the Tulsa Roughnecks. It is also now undefeated in six straight matches in all competitions against SAFC dating back to 2023.

Tulsa advanced to the Round of 32 where it is guaranteed to face an MLS opponent, having last done so on May 21, 2024, losing 4-0 away to four-time Open Cup champion Sporting Kansas City.