TULSA, Okla. – Sporting Kansas City II got a second-half winner by Wilson Harris in 2-1 victory against FC Tulsa at ONEOK Field that saw the hosts have a potential stoppage-time equalizer ruled out for offside in a dramatic conclusion on Saturday night.

With the game deep in stoppage time and the hosts trailing by a goal, Tulsa was awarded a free kick on the right side and sent almost all of its players upfield to try and find an equalizer. A ball into the penalty area by Vangjel Zguro found Dario Suarez, and his header appeared to have brough the side level, only for the goal to be ruled out, allowing Sporting to take three crucial points for its own playoff chances.

Following the opening minutes of the contest, between 7:00 and 8:46 of the match, players from both sides came together at the center circle, united against racism, and in support of equality, diversity and compassion.

Prior to the late drama, Suarez almost found the opening goal of the game when he tried to nick the ball off SKC II goalkeeper Brooks Thompson and almost succeeded, only for Thompson to regather the ball just in time. In the 20th minute, though, it was Sporting that struck first as Dillon Serna received possession on the left and delivered a back-post cross to Fredlin Mompremier that the forward volleyed home sweetly with a side-footed finish.

Suarez almost answered three minutes later with a free kick from 23 yards that skimmed the top of the net and in the 26th minute he tried again, this time from a free kick outside the left edge of the penalty area that Thompson punched over his crossbar after Suarez sent his delivery on frame.

The Cuban was then denied by an outstanding last-gasp block from Sporting’s Kaveh Rad, who covered just in time after Suarez had gotten in behind the SKC II defense and rounded Thompson, only to see his finish toward the open goal cleared to safety by the last man. Six minutes before halftime, however, Ariel Martinez found the equalizer for Tulsa as a short back-pass by Petar Cuic allowed Martinez to steal in and lift his finish past Thompson to make it all square at the break.

Sporting regained the lead 10 minutes into the second half with Serna again part of the buildup. A pass by Christian Duke into the left side of the penalty area found Serna, and his low cross to the near post was flicked home by Harris for his fifth goal of the season.

Tulsa again tried to fight back as Rodrigo Da Costa headed on goal off a long throw-in by Matt Sheldon from the right with 19 minutes to go. Mfon Udo then also forced Thompson into a good diving save in the 78th minute with a shot from 20 yards that was headed to the right corner of the net. Tulsa’s last gasp equalizer would be denied by the official’s flag, however, as Sporting took its second consecutive victory against opposition from Oklahoma in the last two weeks.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Dillon Serna, Sporting Kansas City II – Serna recorded assists on both Sporting goals and completed 25 of 32 passes overall with three key passes.