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Matchday Report: Tulsa Holds off SKC II Rally to Claim Seven-Goal Thriller

By USLChampionship.com Staff, 06/16/21, 10:19PM EDT

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Da Costa notches goal, assist for hosts in 4-3 win as Freeman bags two late as visitors’ rally comes up short

TULSA, Okla. – FC Tulsa snapped its three-game losing streak on Wednesday night but had to hold on for a 4-3 victory against Sporting Kansas City II at ONEOK Field after holding a three-goal lead midway through the second half.

Having split their first two meetings of the season, Tulsa almost grabbed an early lead as a low cross from the left was cleared as far as Lucas Coutinho 25 yards from goal, who controlled and then struck a shot that clipped the crossbar just above the top-right corner of the net for the hosts. It was Sporting that took the lead, however, as Tulsa’s Kembo Kibato was caught in possession just outside his penalty area which allowed Rojay Smith to gain possession, and without a defender to cover he fired low into the right corner of the net.

The hosts quickly regained control of the flow of the game, and almost leveled just past the half-hour mark as Marlon fought off a defender on the right and delivered a pass centrally for Dario Suarez to move in on goal, but SKC II defender Alljaz Dzankic produced a big challenge to deny the chance to shoot. But Tulsa’s control saw it take the lead in quickfire fashion in the five minutes before halftime. Coutinho set up the first, playing an unmarked Rodrigo Da Costa into the left side of the penalty area for a low shot to the bottom-right corner of the net in the 42nd minute.

Da Costa’s movement in behind the Sporting back line paid off again three minutes later as he was slipped in by Suarez, and while SKC II goalkeeper Brooks Thompson got a piece of his shot this time, Marlon was on hand to tap in from close range as the quickest to react to the ball.

Tulsa got the chance to add to its lead from the penalty spot just past the hour-mark as Suarez got in behind the Sporting defense and was brought down by Kayden Pierre as both he and Thomson converged on the forward. Suarez took the penalty kick himself and sent it straight down the middle to add his name to the scoresheet.

Joaquin Rivas then marked his return from international duty with El Salvador with a goal with 18 minutes to go. Coming on as a second-half substitute, Rivas played a clever give-and-go with Da Costa that sent him into the left side of the penalty area to deliver a low shot to the far corner for his fifth goal of the season.

Sporting pulled a goal back with three minutes to go as Smith added an assist to his early goal, pulling down a crossfield ball in Tulsa’s half on the right and delivering a cross that was volleyed in nicely by Tyler Freeman in the center of the penalty area. The visitors then got within a goal in second-half stoppage time as Freeman delivered again, this time on a free kick from just outside the top-left edge of the penalty area that he delivered into the top-left corner of the net. The comeback fell short, however, as time ran out on the visitors allowing Tulsa to hold on.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Rodrigo Da Costa, FC Tulsa – Da Costa recorded a goal and assist for the hosts, had two key passes and completed 19 of 26 passes overall to set up a cushion SKC II was unable to overcome late.

Scoring Summary
SKC
– Rojay Smith 7’
TUL – Rodrigo Da Costa (Lucas Coutinho) 42’
TUL – Marlon 45’
TUL – Dario Suarez (Penalty Kick) 62’
TUL – Joaquin Rivas (Rodrigo Da Costa) 72’
SKC – Tyler Freeman (Rojay Smith) 87’
SKC – Tyler Freeman 90+4’

Full Box Score

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