FC Tulsa

2026 US Open Cup Round 3: St. Louis CITY falls short of tacos in shutout of FC Tulsa

April 16, 2026 by Tim Thomas

Tomas Ostrak of St. Louis CITY SC celebrates after scoring a goal against FC Tulsa in the Third Round of the 2026 US Open Cup. Photo: St. Louis CITY SC

St. Louis CITY SC scored 20 minutes in, then added three more goals to take down USL Championship side FC Tulsa 4-0 in Wednesday’s Round of 32 matchup in the 2026 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup at Energizer Park.

After beating San Antonio FC and Little Rock Rangers in the first two rounds of the Open Cup; FC Tulsa made its first trip to St. Louis since defeating now-defunct Saint Louis FC in the COVID-shortened 2020 season. Attempting to keep the dream alive in their third consecutive road match in Open Cup play, Tulsa did not shy away from CITY, playing aggressively and getting a handful of set pieces in the first half.

“We played a very good team in Tulsa that came out with a plan, that went all in, that was brave,” said CITY coach Yoann Damet. “So, credit to them in the way they approached that game and the way they made it difficult for us.”

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St. Louis took advantage of the hard-charging Tulsa players by applying pressure early and often whenever Tulsa touched the ball. Eventually the game would break in CITY’s favor.

“I think that comes with just our core of our team,” Mykhi Joyner said. “We always want to be aggressive, and we want to be on the front foot of the defense. Just trying to be more aggressive than them and then take the ball in their final third and punish them.”

Sang-Bin Jeong used fancy footwork to dribble through the Tulsa defense in the 20th minute. Getting near the touch line and leaving more than a few Tulsa defenders wondering if their shoes were untied. Sang-Bin put the ball into the box where it went from Tomas Totland to the feet of a wide-open Marcel Hartel.

Hartel drove it into the upper 90 to give CITY a lead that would never be challenged.

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As the first half rolled on, St. Louis would score one of the more unique goals in its young history. St. Louis CITY keeper Roman Bürki played a deep long ball forward. It looped across the field clearing the Tulsa line, the ball then took a large bounce and found the head of Sang-Bin who put it over FC Tulsa keeper Dane Jacomen.

It was the soccer equivalent of a “Hail Mary” pass in football.

“This was actually planned,” Hartel said. “We knew that they play man-to-man and when we saw in the buildup that they are coming man-to-man, that we attract them with eight guys a bit deeper and then Roman shoots it behind the line. It worked perfectly.”

Oddly enough this marked the second time in two days a St. Louis netminder assisted on a goal. St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington had an assist in a 7-5 victory the night before in the NHL.

St. Louis didn’t let off the gas heading into the half. In the first minute of first half stoppage time Hartel put a shot off the post.

Coming out of the break, CITY picked up where they left off. Forcing FC Tulsa goalkeeper Jacomen to make a diving save, the momentum from which almost carried him with the ball into the back of the net. An embarrassing goal was avoided when Jacomen kept the ball in front of the line and pushed it out to a friendly player.

St. Louis would not be denied additional goals. In the 61st minute, Joyner and Hartel lined up over a free kick for CITY. Joyner stepped up and drove a clean strike around the wall for the third goal of the game. It would have been a safe bet to assume that veteran player Hartel would take the shot, but a last second decision meant that the young Joyner got a chance.

“I was very confident to shoot from this position,” said Hartel. “Then I laid the ball on the ground, and I saw the goalkeeper was cheating a bit too much in my opinion. And then Mykhi (Joyner) asked me to shoot.”

“I saw the wall kind of tucked over a little too far and the goalie’s placement as well. I kinda saw his feet to the left more, the goalie’s left, so I asked ,” added Joyner.

A game that started off quite physical got even more so as the CITY lead grew and Tulsa felt the walls closing in on them. In the 65th minute, Lucas Stauffer dug the Tulsa hole deeper when he was shown a straight red after he pulled a CITY player down by the jersey in a denial of an obvious goal scoring opportunity.

The final nail in the coffin would come from Tomáš Ostrák, who struck an absolute rocket from well outside the penalty area to give St. Louis their fourth and final goal. It was Ostrák’s first game back with CITY after suffering an injury in the preseason.

“It was awesome. I was very happy that I received a chance from the coach. It was big privilege to jump in this game. I am very happy that I scored my first goal and that I helped my team advance to the next round,” said Ostrák.

As the end of the game drew near and the result was not in doubt the fans could smell blood in the water. In the 85th minute, a chant of “We want tacos” rang out from the supporter section. The chant is a reference to a partnership the St. Louis Blues have with local bar Hotshots, wherein if the Blues score five goals tacos cost only one dollar the next day. This marked the second soccer/hockey crossover of the evening.

While the fans didn’t get a fifth goal and the subsequent discount tacos, they did get a shout out from coach Damet after the game. Because of an incoming severe weather alert, CITY was not able to do their tradition of walking around the stadium and clapping for the fans.

“I just wanted to mention the fans tonight, thank the fans that came out tonight for the game. It was great to see a lot of them out and supporting the team. We didn’t get a chance to do a round on the pitch because of the weather,” Damet said.

In what could be seen as a statement of intent, St. Louis CITY SC sent out a lineup consisting of primarily regular players. They also notably started their primary keeper Burki as opposed to backup Ben Lundt, who has served as an Open Cup keeper for CITY in years past. With a resounding win and lineup that showed their resolve CITY looks to make a deep run in the Open Cup this year.

“We want to show that we take it serious, that we want to go to the next round. It’s five games to win, to get a trophy and today was the first step,” said Hartel.

St. Louis will get a chance to prove their seriousness in two weeks when they travel north on I-55 to the “Windy City” and take on the Chicago Fire in the Round of 16.

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

April 3, 2026 by Jonathan Check

Ian Carlos Souza Daniel (left) of FC Tulsa battles for the ball with a San Antonio FC player in the Second Round of the 2026 US Open Cup. Photo: Rance Ristau/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).

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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.

2026 US Open Cup Round 1: FC Tulsa pulls away late to overcome Little Rock Rangers

March 19, 2026 by Caleb Byrd

Players from FC Tulsa (left) and Little Rock Rangers battle for the ball in the First Round of the 2026 US Open Cup. Photo: Little Rock Rangers

FC Tulsa survived a spirited challenge from Little Rock Rangers and pulled away late for a 4-2 win in Round 1 of the US Open Cup on Wednesday night.

In a Little Rock high school football stadium, the Rangers, an amateur side from USL League Two, pushed their professional visitors from the USL Championship deep into the second half before Tulsa finally put the match away.

While FC Tulsa began its USL Championship regular season two weeks ago, the Little Rock team had only trained together for three days before the match as the USL League Two season does not kick off until May.

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“Some of the guys are going to come back this summer,” Rangers head coach Francesco Brunetti explained. “Some of our older guys work here in town. Some of them took a shift, 9-5 today, and came to play. And the second goal was scored by one of our academy kids. We had three academy kids playing at the end.”

“I think it means everything to them, right?” Tulsa manager Luke Spencer said of his opponents after the match. “It’s their opportunity, so they’re really excited for it, regardless of the circumstances. And I think that the challenge for us is that it’s an environment that we haven’t been in before. But, all in all, I’m just happy with the result.”

An 85th-minute strike from Little Rock academy player Aiden Turner was one of the highlights of the match as it cut Tulsa’s lead to 3-2. Turner, a high school senior committed to play Division III soccer at Hendrix College next year, recovered a deflected shot in the box and slotted it past the goalkeeper at the near post.

“I saw it go in the net and I was hurrying to get the ball,” Turner said. “I tried not to celebrate too much because we still had a job to do.”

Just seconds after Turner’s goal, Tulsa’s Nelson Pierre rifled a low shot into the net to restore Tulsa’s two-goal lead and seal the victory.

“I think there were a lot of positives to take away,” Spencer said of his Tulsa team. “We wanted to be dangerous in front of goal, create a lot of opportunities and be able to finish them.”

FC Tulsa grabbed the lead early with two first-half goals. Harvey St. Clair finished a Bruno Lapa cross in the 18th minute to open the scoring. In the 31st minute, Tulsa extended its lead through a powerful Jamie Webber volley from outside the box.

Little Rock responded in the 51st minute when Raphael Kistmann turned a Jon Koka cross off the crossbar and into the goal. Tulsa’s Lamar Batista headed home a lofted set piece from Webber in the 71st minute to extend his team’s lead back to two goals. Turner scored in the 85th minute before Pierre answered seconds later to complete the scoring.

Despite the loss, Brunetti believes his team’s Open Cup experience will prepare them for a successful USL League Two season.

“I think this set a standard for all of us,” he said. “If we don’t meet that standard every game, from the coaching staff through to the last guy that we have in the team and the club’s equipment manager, there’s going to be disappointment. I think it’s going to give us a lot of hope, but also a lot of work to do to match the standard every time.”

2025 US Open Cup Round 3: 10-man Phoenix Rising save late PK, win shootout over FC Tulsa

April 17, 2025 by John Tranchina

Players from Phoenix Rising FC celebrate after scoring a goal against FC Tulsa in the Third Round of the 2025 US Open Cup. Photo: FC Tulsa

There were plenty of moments for Phoenix Rising FC to crumble under the pressure and the difficult moments they found themselves in, but instead, the team faced its adversity head-on and ultimately emerged victorious.

While playing a man down since the 75th minute, then surrendering the tying goal in the 86th minute, Phoenix continued to battle and survived a shot off the goal post in overtime, and then a penalty shot against in the final minute of OT before prevailing 4-2 in the PK shootout over FC Tulsa in the Third Round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup tournament Wednesday night. The game was played at the Hurricane Soccer and Track Complex, on the campus of the University of Tulsa.

Rising FC advance to the Fourth Round (or the Round of 32) of the US Open Cup, where they are guaranteed to face an MLS team, in a game that will take place either May 6 or 7.

Coming off a disappointing loss on Saturday, 3-2 to Detroit City FC in which they led 2-0 into the 86th minute before surrendering three late goals to lose, Phoenix looked like they might falter late again once Tulsa’s Stefan Lukic tied the game in the 86th minute. But despite Tulsa generating the better scoring opportunities throughout the two 15-minute overtime periods, Phoenix goalkeeper Patrick Rakovsky made two key saves, then stopped FC Tulsa’s Taylor Calheira’s penalty shot in the 121st minute to keep the game going.

In the shootout, Rakovsky made another diving save on the first Tulsa shot (by Kalil ElMedkhar) and Phoenix won the PKs 4-2 to claim the victory.

“Incredible group, incredible performance,” said Rising FC coach Pa-Modou Kah. “Given what we had to deal with Saturday night, you’re 2-0 up and you lose, but the character shown and what this group is capable of, we saw it today. It’s an unbelievable team spirit from everybody, from the players, from the staff that is here, from the staff that is home, and for our fans, this is for you. This is what we’re about.”

Obviously, the key moment was Rakovsky’s save on Calheira on the PK just before overtime ended. After a handball was called on a Phoenix defender in the box, Calheira stepped to the dot, about five minutes after his shot from about 10 yards out rattled off the left goalpost. He had scored on PKs in each of the two previous rounds of the U.S. Open Cup and just about everyone in the stadium figured he was about to again.

Calheira shot low to the left side, but Rakovsky made the diving save.

“It feels amazing, it’s something you dream about, save a PK in the last minute, go to a PK shootout, you win,” Rakovsky said afterwards. “Obviously, unlucky that you concede a goal five minutes before the end, but I still thought we gave a great fight. We played almost 50 minutes one man down, we kept fighting. We also had a little bit of luck, they shot it off the post, but also they were lucky to get the PK. Obviously, he hits the ball with his hand, but he’s also falling down, so I know they have to take it, but okay, you can’t change it. Obviously, huge congratulations to the team, great fight, and also, to be that cool in front of the PKs, amazing for the team. Luckily it worked out.”

Kah was proud of Rakovsky for his clutch save on Calheira.

“Listen, these are the moments where you have a goalkeeper that is capable of doing this and Patrick was capable,” Kah said. “It’s tough, because when you look at the game in whole, I think we controlled the game. I think we had occasions to score in second half but we didn’t take the chances, and then in the 85th minute, they score, and you might think, ‘Here we go again,’ but the resilience of this group is unbelievable. The resilience of this group is unbelievable. And the work, the fight, the fighting spirit, they give everything for each other. I’m so extremely proud of this team.”

For Tulsa, it was a heart-breaking ending to their U.S. Open Cup run, the second straight season they reached the Third Round. They defeated local amateur club Tulsa Athletic of The League for Clubs 1-0 on March 18 in the First Round, then beat USL League One side Forward Madison FC 3-1 on April 2 in the Second Round. Last year, they advanced to the Fourth Round (Round of 32) before falling to Sporting Kansas City of MLS, 4-0.

Tulsa actually defeated Phoenix 1-0 in their USL Championship season opener back on March 8. But after opening with a 5-1-0 record across all competitions, Tulsa has now lost two in a row, following its 2-1 home loss to Oakland Roots SC on Saturday.

“It’s disappointing, but I thought the guys gave everything,” FC Tulsa coach Luke Spencer said. “We were pushing forward, were unlucky on a few, so they gave everything and we’re out of the Cup, but that’s life. Proud of the guys for their effort.”

FC Tulsa’s usual home stadium, ONEOK Field, which they share with minor league baseball’s Double-A Tulsa Drillers, wasn’t available due to the Drillers already playing there.

Following a scoreless first half in which FC Tulsa had the wind, featuring gusts of up to 25-30 miles per hour, behind them, Phoenix benefited from it in the second and struck for the game’s first goal in the 51st minute.

Jearl Margaritha received a nice pass from the left wing from Hope Avayevu and drilled a 10-yard shot into the upper right corner to give the Rising FC the 1-0 lead.

Pape Mar Boye almost made it 2-0 for Phoenix on a point-blank shot just four minutes later, but Tulsa goalkeeper Johan Penaranda made a nice save.

FC Tulsa began to gain the territorial advantage after that, and Rakovsky made a nice diving save near the right post in the 58th minute on a 20-yard blast from Owen Damm.

Things didn’t look good for Phoenix once Abdoulaye Cissoko received his second yellow card within six minutes, getting ejected from game in the 75th minute, and Tulsa tied it 11 minutes later. Marcos Certato delivered a nice cross from the right flank into the middle of the box, where Lukic fired it home from 8 yards out.

“Proud of the group, resilient to fight back, to keep pushing,” Spencer said of his team’s ability to tie it up late. “The subs impacted the game in a positive way, it just didn’t work out tonight.”

Phoenix nearly won it just before regulation ended when Margaritha drilled a 30-yard shot from the left side that forced Penaranda to make a nice diving stop.

Just six minutes into the first OT period, Rakovsky made another diving save on Calheira’s header from 12 yards out. Tulsa’s Al Hassan Toure nearly ended it in the 14th minute of overtime, but his point-blank header sailed just over the crossbar.

After Rakovsky’s save on Calheira’s PK late in the second OT period, every Phoenix shooter scored in the shootout: Emil Cuello, J.P. Scearce, Casey Wells, and then Carl Sainte clinched it.

For Tulsa, Arthur Rogers and Giordano Colli both scored.

2025 US Open Cup Round 2: Clinical FC Tulsa too much for Forward Madison

April 3, 2025 by Robert Chappell

Players from FC Tulsa and Forward Madison batle for the ball in the Second Round of the 2025 US Open Cup. Photo: Forward Madison

FC Tulsa put just three shots on target but they all went in, and Tulsa goalkeeper Bryan Dowd made six saves as the USL Championship side held off a scrappy Forward Madison squad for a 3-1 win in Madison to advance to the third round of the US Open Cup on Wednesday evening.

The game nearly took on a very different complexion in the seventh minute, when a long through ball from Madison winger Ferrety Sousa played Garrett McLaughlin in behind the Tulsa backline, but Dowd made a kick save to keep the game scoreless.

Tulsa displayed a preview of what was to come in the 19th minute, as Khalil ElMedkhar tapped an easy pass from Owen Damm into the back of the net, but Damm was flagged offside.

The visitors got it right just two minutes later, though. Taylor Calheira played a cutback into a pocket of space in the center of the penalty area, where Damm’s trailing run allowed an easy chip over Madison goalkeeper Owen Finnerty to open the scoring.

ElMedkhar doubled the lead in the 31st, taking a well-weighted through ball from Stefan Lukic and slotting it past Finnerty.

Finnerty kept the game within reach with a point-blank save on Calheira in the closing moments of the first half, but Tulsa put any doubts to rest just moments after the break.

It was Calheira one-on-one with Finnerty again, and Finnerty took Calheira’s legs out from under him, prompting a point to the spot. Calheira converted to make it 3-0.

The hosts got one back in the 68th on a well-worked training ground set piece – Jacob Crull looped a free kick toward the far post, where Timmy Mehl headed it back across the face of goal to the head of substitute Nazeem Bartman.

That was the last good look Madison would get against the USL Championship’s stingiest defense. Bartman’s tally was only the second goal Tulsa has allowed in the first six matches of the season.

FC Tulsa will head into the third round without midfielder Boubacar Diallo, who earned a second yellow card and was sent off in the 88th minute.

“The difference in the game was that they were clinical with their chances, and we weren’t,” Madison head coach Matt Glaeser said after the match.

“At the start of the game, there was a bit of a feeling out process,” said Tulsa’s first-year head coach Luke Spencer. “I thought both teams had chances. Brian Dowd came up big for us with a big-time save, kept it nil-nil. And then I thought as the first half went on, we were able to gain some momentum and obviously score some goals. It was just sticking to the plan, and having belief in what we were doing.”

Tulsa, currently sitting in second place in the Championship’s Western Conference, came into Madison riding the high of its first-ever win over Sacramento Republic on the weekend.

“We’re just trying to take it game by game. You know, our focus is on the next game,” Spencer said. “Yes, it’s nice to have momentum from the start of the season, and belief in what we’re doing, but you can lose that quick. For us, it’s staying focused and taking that one game at a time.”

While they await the third round draw, Tulsa will prepare to host Oakland Roots on April 12. Madison will head to Charlotte to resume USL League One play on April 11.

2024 US Open Cup Round 5: Sporting KC show no mercy, dominate FC Tulsa

May 22, 2024 by Alex Wiksell

Sporting Kansas City players celebrate after scoring a goal against FC Tulsa in the Round of 16 of the 2024 US Open Cup. Photo: Sporting Kansas City

With the help of a brace from Felipe Hernández and goals from Stephen Afrifa and Marinos Tzionis, Sporting KC cruised past FC Tulsa and into the Quarterfinals of the 2024 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup on Tuesday night in Kansas City.

With the 4-0 win, Sporting advanced to the Quarterfinals for the 13th time in their history, which is the fifth most in the history of the tournament (1913-present). Kansas City, who hasn’t won the Open Cup since 2017, is seeking a record-tying fifth title.

They will know their next opponent after the draw for the next round will take place at 10 p.m. ET on Wednesday night. Due to the geographic reasons, the club is expected to be placed in a group with Atlanta United, the winner of Indy Eleven and Detroit City FC and the winner of FC Dallas and the Tampa Bay Rowdies.

Sporting came out with a strong lineup featuring starters from last round’s Open Cup game vs Omaha and usual starters, as well as rotational players like Hernandez, Tzionis, and Afrifa starting. Four players who played at the weekend, and also John Pulskamp who is looked at as their “cup keeper” as he has only started one MLS game in the last year. Dany Rosero also made his return to the pitch, after he missed time due to a quad injury. Sporting’s stars came off the bench with Alan Pulido, Daniel Salloi, and Johnny Russell making late contributions.

All Felipe needed was a free kick, and he cashed in ????

1-0 | #SKCvTUL pic.twitter.com/meHjvq9Axx
— Sporting Kansas City (@SportingKC) May 22, 2024

Tulsa also rotated as they made five changes from their weekend defeat to the Tampa Bay Rowdies. Michael Creek was between the sticks as Tulsa likes to rotate him and Joey Roggeveen. Owen Damm saw his first start as an FC Tulsa player, after recently joining from Louisville City. Sebastian Sanchez and Alexander Dalou also appeared in the lineup for the first time since their first-round matchup vs Northern Colorado. Six players started from the weekend, rounded out by captain Phillip Goodrum.

Sporting kicked off to begin the half, and their dominance began right away. KC controlled possession for the first three minutes of the game. They seemed to lean toward attacking on the left side as Stephen Afrifa became involved early and often. In addition, the antics began quickly for both teams as Philip Goodrum kicked the ball away in the 8th minute while Dany Rosero was on the ground. Rosero responded quickly as he fouled Goodrum and they began to attack only 30 seconds later.

FULL MATCH VIDEO: Sporting KC vs. FC Tulsa

The first big chance for either team came at the 10-minute mark. Erik Thommy hit a quick shot that ricocheted off Afrifa and back to Thommy. He then curled a shot that was saved by Michael Creek, his first of many. That then fell to Jake Davis whose shot hit a sea of bodies and was cleared back to Sporting’s half. Another few big chances came soon after, with Creek saving a Thommy curler in the 17 minutes, and a close-range chance from Fontas was put over the bar at the 20-minute mark. The Sporting chances continue as a low-driven Thommy cross is put in the box and is cleared out at the last second. Just past the 25th minute, Afrifa swung a curling shot that hit exactly in the upper 90, easily the best chance up until then. Sporting attack continued as Camilo Ponce chopped down Jake Davis, leading to a yellow card for him, and for Patrick Seagrist, who was booked for dissent.

BULLSEYE ????

2-0 | #SKCvTUL pic.twitter.com/GG48Cltjc5
— Sporting Kansas City (@SportingKC) May 22, 2024

Finally, in the 32nd minute, Camilo Ponce created the first chance for Tulsa as his header was just pushed wide by Pulskamp. However, it didn’t take long for Sporting to push right back, as Thommy dribbled past his defender and drew a foul right on the edge of the bottom left of the box. The ensuing free-kick was hit right in the danger area, deflected off of defender Rashid Tetteh, and into the left side of the net.

Sporting continued to pile on the pressure as quickly after, in the 1st minute of added time, Hernandez whipped in a corner that was headed off the post by WIlly Agada and fell to the alert Afrifa who slotted home the second goal of the night. This was Stephen’s first goal for the first team and the first Canadian to score for the club this decade.

Going into halftime, Sporting out-shot Tulsa 15-1 and held 80 percent possession. Felipe Hernandez had created five chances and also had shown a lot of promise taking set pieces. Thommy dominated the ball too as he won eight duels in the first half alone. On the other side, Michael Creek did his best at controlling damage as he made five saves during the half.

Hernandez scores his second goal of the night! ✌️

Stream #SKCvTUL in the #USOC2024 for free: https://t.co/z7eBF41pYp pic.twitter.com/D7gtr9Sacv
— Sporting Kansas City (@SportingKC) May 22, 2024

Sporting brought off some key players as Thommy and the returning Rosero came for Memo Rodriguez and Robert Castellanos. Tulsa, on the other hand, needed to catch up and brought on Stefan Stojanovic and Edwin Laszo to bolster their attack, though this quickly became futile. Almost immediately, Patrick Seagrist dove recklessly into Jake Davis causing him to earn his second yellow and be sent off. Sporting used this advantage and it didn’t take long to begin to push forward yet again. Agada hit the post three minutes after the red and had another chance grabbed up by Creek and minutes after that.

Tulsa seemed to get back in it as a free kick that was headed toward goal by Stojanovic was saved by Pulskamp and rebounded out to Camilo Ponce who put the ball in the back of the net, but Stojanovic had fouled Pulskamp in the process, disallowing the goal in the 60th minute. Tulsa continued to try and put on pressure but it wasn’t enough. In the 63rd minute, Agada led a breakaway in which he played Hernandez through, where he finished and scored his second goal of the game, and Sporting’s 3rd.

Picture perfect finish, Tzionis! ????

Stream #SKCvTUL in the #USOC2024 for free: https://t.co/z7eBF41pYp pic.twitter.com/BI9zUoq6Bs
— Sporting Kansas City (@SportingKC) May 22, 2024

Not too long after, in the 65th minute, a similar breakaway began as Afrifa played through Marinos Tzionis who finished into the far left side of the goal and made it 4-0, and gave him his second goal in two Open Cup games. By this point, Sporting was outshooting Tulsa 21-1. Tulsa had another great chance as Pacheco was played through and Pulskamp was just able to get his body in the way of the shot, maintaining the clean sheet.

Sporting surprisingly brought on more firepower as the game went on with Johnny Russell and Alan Pulido being brought on for Tzionis and Afrifa in the 76th minute.

“It’s always good when an attacking player gets a goal because it’s a little bit of a confidence builder,” Sporting head coach Peter Vermes said about Afrifa’s performance.

For Afrifa, he was happy to finally get on the scoresheet.

“I’ve been looking for this goal for a long time, and I’m finally glad that it’s here,” said Afrifa. “It feels good.”

Then, Tulsa seemed to wave the white flag as they brought off captain Philip Goodrum for another striker Santiago Sanchez. Sporting continued to press in the last 10 minutes getting chances from Pulido and Salloi back to back that forced a double save from Creek.

No added time was added and Sporting KC convincingly defeated FC Tulsa 4-0.

This was Felipe Hernandez’s 2nd brace for the club, his first came in 2022 vs Union Omaha in the Open Cup as well. Afrifa also recorded his first assist along with his first goal for the club.

“The intensity, the aggressiveness, the front footedness to go and take the game to them was there, I think that ruled the day,” said Sporting head coach Peter Vermes.

2024 US Open Cup Round 4: FC Tulsa into Round of 16 for first time after late winner at Pittsburgh

May 7, 2024 by Colton Coreschi

Phillip Goodrum of FC Tulsa (left) battles for the ball against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds in the Fourth Round of the 2024 US Open Cup. Photo: Ed Thompson - Pittsburgh Soccer Now — Phillip Goodrum of FC Tulsa (left) battles for the ball against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds in the Fourth Round of the 2024 US Open Cup. Photo: Ed Thompson – Pittsburgh Soccer Now

On an unexpectedly pleasant Tuesday evening at Highmark Stadium, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds played host to fellow USL Championship side FC Tulsa in the former’s 2024 U.S. Open Cup debut, but the visitors advanced to the Round of 16 and a date against the winner of USL League One’s Union Omaha and MLS side Sporting Kansas City.

Phillip Goodrum scored the game-winning goal, taking a throw-in that landed near his feet before the always-dangerous forward neatly placed the ball through traffic and inside the back post to give Tulsa the 1-0 win in the 88th minute.

It’s the first time FC Tulsa advanced past the Fourth Round of the Open Cup in team history. After six unsuccessful attempts, it marked the first time the club had won a game on the road in the tournament.

While the weather thankfully avoided a dreary forecast, it was a tough first half for both sides that featured heavily rotated lineups. Each squad, many members of whom were making their starting debuts in 2024, took a healthy amount of time to feel each other out, with some scattered chances few and far between and unconverted by either side.

A look at the goal that won us the match and sends us to the Round of 16#ForTulsa | #PatinaGreenCountry pic.twitter.com/oRks1XdHqP
— FC Tulsa (@FCTulsa) May 8, 2024

The Riverhounds largely had the better of the chances, primarily coming from the play of forward EJ Johnson along the left wing. His first opportunity would come in the 5th minute, as a shot from the left wing seemed an easy save for Tulsa goalkeeper Joey Roggeveen, but slipped through his legs and very fortunately went wide of the net.

Johnson would continue to apply the pressure, generating another pair of chances in the 20th and 25th minute. The first came as his run behind the defense was found from midfield. Johnson ran towards the byline and fired in a dangerous cross that unfortunately beat everyone, including his onrushing teammates.

His second would come in similar fashion, with a more concentrated run straight towards goal and right at the last line of Tulsa’s defense. He’d generate a bit of space for his left foot, but would ultimately fire wide of the goal. That counter would also generate the first yellow of the night for Tulsa’s Rashid Tetteh for dragging down Babacar Diene and stopping his run cynically.

Tulsa’s best chance would come just prior to half, as a missed interception by Pittsburgh’s Jackson Walti left the midfield badly exposed. The numerically advantaged Tulsa attack was able to generate a shot, but it was blocked by a well-positioned Hounds defense and went out for a corner – taken and cleared as the whistle blew.

The second half started much like the first, slowly and with difficulty, but it was Tulsa who found the first substantial chance this time. A corner just prior to the hour mark was placed nicely into the box and headed home by Milo Yosef for the visitors, but the assistant referee was quick to raise the flag and wave the goal off for offsides.

The Hounds responded quickly, substituting on usual starters Junior Etou and Danny Griffin, who rapidly changed the pace of play. The fresh legs generated several turnovers and key passes, leading to multiple chances in the box for their teammates — specifically with potential chances for Langston Blackstock and Bradley Sample blocked by Tulsa defenders.

Despite several late flurries and a lot of stoppage time, the Hounds found themselves unable to answer back, and the Riverhounds faithful watched their run come to an end in much quicker fashion than their 2023 effort. They now prepare for a league rematch with Tulsa on the road Saturday.

2024 US Open Cup Round 3: FC Tulsa earns first win vs. pro team, 2-1 over Hailstorm FC

April 18, 2024 by Tim Abbott

It’s close to a 24 hour road trip from Windsor in northern Colorado to the oil capital of Tulsa. For the Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC, it will likely feel longer on the way back, for the winless USL League One side, as they fell to FC Tulsa, 2-1.

For FC Tulsa, it was the club’s first win over a pro team in the competition in team history. Out of the four times they have advanced, three of them were against amateur teams, and a fourth was a penalty kick shootout win over San Antonio FC (US Open Cup games that go to PKs are officially listed as a “draw”)

FC Tulsa pinned the Hailstorm into their defensive third for much of the opening twenty minutes, winning a series of corner kicks but failing to capitalize. The pressure would continue against Hailstorm’s low block without threatening the Coloradan goal mouth.

A pair of 1st half goals lead FC Tulsa to a 2-1 win against Northern Colorado Hailstorm in their opening match of the US Open Cup.

Nice crowd tonight at the Hurricane Soccer Complex too.@FCTulsa @nipsey04 @opencup pic.twitter.com/527ev3Dlvt
— TJ Eckert (@TJEckertKTUL) April 18, 2024

In fact, the best chance for either side came when a Noah Powder free kick for Hailstorm was whipped in from the left hand side of the penalty area, only for Tulsa keeper Michael Creek to deny a Brecc Evans header at point blank range, in the 32nd minute.

It took a mental error by Powder at the other end for FC Tulsa to go ahead, with the Trinidad and Tobago international hip checking Blaine Ferri to the ground in the penalty area in the 37th minute. Diogo Pacheco snuck his penalty kick just past the left hand of Edward Delgado into the goal.

In the 44th minute, substitute Milo Yosef added to the margin, driving a ball into the near post from 24 yards out after a free kick wasn’t fully cleared. Hailstorm closed out the first half on the attack, securing back to back corners, the last one marginally past an onrushing Bruno Rendon.

Northern Colorado Hailstorm fought their way back into the game and in the 65th minute, substitutes combined as Isidro Martinez pulled a goal back with a sumptuous curler into the Tulsa net after Ethan Hoard laid the ball back to the top of the box.

Alex Dalou had a shot kicked clear by Hailstorm keeper Delgado in the 68th minute, with the FCT player claiming a penalty, but it was not given.

Diogo Pacheco of FC Tulsa celebrates after scoring a goal against Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC in the Third Round of the 2024 US Open Cup. Photo: FC Tulsa

The last few minutes saw end to end action, although neither side threatened until Camilo Ponce sliced a half volley wide in the 80th minute for FC Tulsa. Ethan Hoard returned the favor, muscling in and earning a corner with a shot. David Garcia, who got the winner against Rapids 2 in the Second Round, had a second chance shot blocked by Creek. Ethan Hoard drove in, with the clock approaching 90, but a ball across the box was missed by Lucky Opara and Hailstorm’s challenge evaporated.

“Going back to the Rapids 2 game, it had been 10 days since we played, so we were rusty and we were awful in that first half, just like tonight. This time we gave ourselves too big a mountain to climb,” Hailstorm FC head coach Éamon Zayed said.

2023 US Open Cup Round 2: Tulsa Athletic upset FC Tulsa in sequel to last year’s Tulsa derby in a public park in Tulsa

April 6, 2023 by Matt Hubbard

Players from Tulsa Athletic and FC Tulsa battle for the ball in their 2023 US Open Cup match. Photo: Tulsa Athletic

Tulsa Athletic fans stormed the pitch as their beloved club pulled off what many are calling the biggest win in club history as they stunned FC Tulsa 1-0 Wednesday night in Round Two of the 2023 US Open Cup.

Tulsa Athletic head coach Jason Rogers was stunned. The last time these two teams met, FC Tulsa won 2-1 at ONEOK Field last year.

“We talked about this the other day, but you know, when you watch the FA Cup in England and you see those 4th and 5th tier guys or teams,” Rogers said. “You don’t think it’s ever going to happen to you or your group.”

It was a slow start to the game like two boxers feeling each other out before throwing haymakers. The first punch thrown was by Tulsa Athletic in the 18th minute as forward Aaron Ugbah took the first shot on goal after getting past the backline of FC Tulsa. FC Tulsa keeper Austin Wormell made the save, but this was just the beginning.

The two sides went back and forth, blow-for-blow counter-attacking. Athletic launched the ball through the air, into the box and Ugbah went wide of the left post, missing the back of the net by inches.

FC Tulsa put on the pressure in the 27th minute, Forward Siad Haji put a corner into the box, but Athletic keeper Bryson Reed made a fantastic save.

FC Tulsa put on a quick counterattack, Nate Worth received a pass from Luca Sowinski, and Worth floated the ball into the box for Watz Leazard, who took two shots on goal before going down with an injury after being fouled.

Athletic had back-to-back corners and was trying to put together a run to the box, Leazard fouled and received a yellow, allowing Athletic to get a free kick, which they failed to convert.

Ugbah once again made a terrific run down the right side, but missed in the 44th minute, resulting in a goal kick.

Mitchell Cashion took an incredible shot outside the box and Wormell made an equally incredible save, the Athletic were awarded a corner with two minutes of stoppage time.

FC Tulsa was driving down the pitch, but their run was cut short after Leazard was hit with a hard tackle. He did return to the game, however.

The scoring opened up after Aimar Membrila was given a yellow card for something said to the referee and Roman Torres received a free kick about 25 yards out.

The knockout blow came when Torres floated the ball into the box and K.B. Harris opened the scoring, giving Tulsa Athletic the lead in the 63rd minute on a terrific header near the back post.

“Man, we actually had a plan at halftime to play that ball back post on the first set piece,” Harris said. “It ended up working out, I was open, had to call one of my guys off, but it ended up going in so we’ll take it, man, we’ll take it.”

In the final 15 minutes, FC Tulsa ramped up the attacking play, subbing on Moses Dyer, Blaine Ferri, and Milo Yosef.

Torres shot on goal, but Wormell made a fantastic save in the 82nd minute. From there FC Tulsa continued to put pressure on, but it was too little too late as Tulsa Athletic left Hicks Park with the win.

2022 US Open Cup Round 3: FC Dallas wins 8th straight opener, 2-1 over FC Tulsa

April 22, 2022 by Daniel Crooke

Franco Jara of FC Dallas celebrates after scoring a goal against FC Tulsa in the Third Round of the 2022 US Open Cup. Photo: Jessica Tobias | FC Dallas

Two time US Open Cup winners FC Dallas moved into the Fourth Round of the tournament with a 2-1 win over FC Tulsa at Toyota Stadium on Tuesday night.

“The players were on edge, they gave a lot and I think they deserve a lot of credit,” said FC Tulsa head coach Michael Nsien. “You see some of the guys that played 90 minutes were going nonstop and were spent after the match. It is hard to take moral victories because we are professionals and we are competitive people, but in terms of what game speed is supposed to look like, I think we’ve seen today what we expect from our players, and we just need that continuity now.”

Franco Jara opened the scoring for the hosts just after the half hour from the penalty spot. The Argentine was felled by a clumsy challenge by Johnny Fenwick, before rolling the ball calmly down the middle of the goal.

Schön ➡️ Jáder with ease.pic.twitter.com/LcBrPCy44K

— FC Dallas 🙂 (@FCDallas) April 20, 2022

The lead would only hold for ten minutes. Rodrigo da Costa sent in a corner, flicked on by Ronald Rodriguez, wasn’t dealt with by Lucas Bartlett in the Dallas back line. After a couple of stabs at the ball by the rookie, Bradley Bourgeois swiped the ball home from inside the six yard box.

Tulsa threatened a vastly changed FC Dallas side, pressing high and playing positively.

“I like what they proposed,” said FC Dallas head coach Nico Estevez. “They tried to play, they have tools and resources to build from the back, and it makes it more difficult when a team wants to come here to play because you have to be worried about how you’re going to press and win the ball.”

Jader Obrian restored FC Dallas’ lead in the 66th minute. Szabolcs Schon broke down the left, crossing from deep for Obrian to meet at the back post with an acrobatic volley.

Jimmy Maurer, a veteran of the New York Cosmos teams that knocked out New York Red Bulls and New York City FC in back to back Open Cup seasons, was called into action early by Joaquin Rivas. Brian Brown should have restored parity in the 71st minute, with the hosts again struggling at a set-piece, but the substitute could not control his close range header.

Papa Obrian pic.twitter.com/B6GGAF4hN6

— FC Dallas 🙂 (@FCDallas) April 20, 2022

The MLS side began to bring in more familiar faces with the likes of US Men’s National Team striker Jesus Ferreira and franchise record signing Alan Velasco.
Ferreira – tied for leading scorer in Major League Soccer – had the ball in the net in the final minute, finishing off a pass from Jader Obrian, but the former Tulsa Roughnecks loanee was judged to be offside.

FC Dallas wins their opening round game in the tournament for the eighth year in a row. With the victory they advance to take on Sporting Kansas City on the road on May 11.