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GAMEDAY REPORT: 10-Man Energy FC Holds Austin to Draw

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 08/30/20, 8:11PM EDT

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Potential winner for Bold FC’s Forbes ruled out for offside as honors end even

OKLAHOMA CITY – OKC Energy FC held on for almost 40 minutes down to 10 men to earn a 1-1 draw with Austin Bold FC on Sunday night at Taft Stadium, a result that saw Austin move three points ahead of FC Tulsa for second place in Group D of the Championship standings.

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.

In the game, Bold FC took the lead in the 14th minute as the visitors worked possession down the right to Jorge Troncoso, who delivered a low cross to the center of the penalty area that found Billy Forbes. The Turks and Caicos international controlled with his first touch and then rifled a low shot into the right corner of the net for his sixth goal of the season.

Energy FC almost responded 12 minutes later as Joe Amico wove in from the left past two defenders and cut back a pass to Arun Basuljevic, but his finish was blocked by Bold FC defender Ish Jome before the visitors cleared. The hosts again went close six minutes before halftime as Jaime Chavez headed just wide of the left post off a corner kick by Rafael Garcia.

Two minutes later, though, Energy FC drew level. Zach Ellis-Hayden picked up possession on the right side and delivered a cross that Chavez snapped home with a header from just inside the six-yard area into the bottom-left corner of the net.

Bold FC almost regained the lead deep in first-half stoppage time as a diagonal pass by Ema Twumasi found Xavier Baez alone in the right side of the penalty area, but Baez’s finish flashed just wide of the left post. Six minutes into the second half, however, Austin gained a man advantage as OKC’s Garcia was sent off for his second yellow card of the game.

The visitors took a while to truly threaten after going up a man, but with 17 minutes to go it appeared they had regained the lead as a corner kick was directed goalward by Twumasi. Forbes redirected the ball into the net inside the six-yard area but was ruled offside to keep the game level.

Despite being down a man, Energy FC almost grabbed a late lead as a short corner found Basuljevic into the top-left corner of the penalty area, but his low shot to the right corner of the net was denied by Bold FC goalkeeper Diego Restrepo. But despite applying late pressure, Bold FC was unable to find a decisive moment in the closing stages and stoppage time as the sides shared the points.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Joe Amico, OKC Energy FC – Amico was solid down the left side for Energy FC, winning 11 of 13 duels, and 3 of 4 tackles while completing 5 of 5 dribbles and recording one key pass as the hosts earned a draw.

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