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GAMEDAY REPORT: Honors End Even Between Tulsa, San Antonio

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 08/12/20, 10:07PM EDT

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Scoreless draw in FCT home opener leaves both sides still undefeated in 2020

TULSA, Okla. – FC Tulsa and San Antonio FC entered their showdown at the top of Group D undefeated.

Both sides left with their records intact after a 0-0 draw in Tulsa’s home opener at ONEOK Field that produced entertaining passages from both sides, and helped confirm the hosts as a potential playoff candidate as the Championship season progresses.

Looking to add to their lead in Group D, San Antonio created the first big chance of the game in the 10th minute when Cristian Parano played Luis Solignac into space in the right side of the penalty area, but his shot was palmed over the crossbar by Tulsa goalkeeper Sean Lewis for a corner.

The visitors threatened again in the 17th minute when a good ball by Callum Montgomery down the left sent Blake Smith into space. Smith’s cross from the left picked out Ignagio Bailone, but he couldn’t make clean contact on his first-time finish and the ball dribbled wide of the right post as Lewis sheparded it to safety.

The first big chance for Tulsa didn’t arrive until four minutes before halftime, but it almost produced the opening goal. A good pass over the top by Vangjel Zguro – making his first start in the Championship after earning All-League honors in USL League One a season ago – found the run of Dario Suarez in behind the defense, and his low shot forced a good save by SAFC goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair to keep the ball from finding the bottom-right corner of the net.

Half-chances arrived for both sides before the hour-mark in the second half as San Antonio’s Jose Gallegos couldn’t quite find the angle on a shot from the left side of the penalty area that went wide of the near post. Tulsa’s Christhian Altamirano also hit a shot just high and wide after a mis-hit effort by Eric Bird in the 56th minute.

SAFC’s Gonzalo Di Renzo then almost broke the deadlock in the 64th minute with a powerful shot from 25 yards. Lewis made a diving stop to turn away the effort from the left corner of the net, and then denied the Argentine again five minutes later on a free kick from 20 yards.

Tulsa almost grabbed victory in the final minutes of the game as Marlon got into the left side of the San Antonio penalty area in the final minute but couldn’t find a finish or a pass. Ariel Martinez then had a final chance from a free kick in stoppage time from 20 yards, but his shot couldn’t find the target to leave honors even.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Matt Sheldon, FC Tulsa – Sheldon won 8 of 9 duels, made six recoveries and two clearances and completed 29 of 35 passes while helping his side earn a shutout in its first home game of the season.

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