TULSA, Okla. – FC Tulsa got an 88th-minute winner by Marlon before tacking on an insurance goal in stoppage time to earn a 3-1 victory against Birmingham Legion FC on Saturday night at ONEOK Field to break a four-game losing streak and reestablish its position in the playoff positions in the USL Championship’s Central Division.

Having scored in each of Legion FC’s last two outings, Junior Flemmings had the first chance of the game for the visitors in the sixth minute as JJ Williams found him on the left before he cut inside into the penalty area onto his right foot but didn’t get clean contact on the finish, which was gathered by Tulsa’s Sean Lewis. Tulsa then almost grabbed the lead as Lebo Moloto threaded a pass through for Jason Johnson, but the Jamaican forward’s first touch carried the ball too far past an onrushing Matt VanOekel as he left the Birmingham goal and saw the ball drift out of play.

The hosts took the lead in the 25th minute, though, as Johnson made an impact in his first start since his move from Austin Bold FC. After Matt Sheldon tried to find Johnson with a pass into the right channel that was intercepted, Johnson won possession back and after moving into the penalty area slipped a return pass to Sheldon, who shot home first time into the left side of the net for the first goal of his professional career.

Legion FC almost answered quickly as JJ Williams played a pass into Thomas Vancaeyezeele in the left side of the penalty area that saw his shot parried away by Lewis before Jonathan Dean’s follow-up was blocked. Tulsa then looked for a second late in the first half as Lebo Moloto tried a curling shot that was saved by VanOekel, and the South African also set up a chance for El Salvador international Joaquin Rivas as the game moved into stoppage time with a pass into the left side of the penalty area that Rivas pulled wide of the right post.

VanOekel needed to be sharp again six minutes into the second half as Tulsa’s Rodrigo da Costa fired a shot toward the top-left corner that the goalkeeper turned away. Two minutes later Dean also went close for the visitors with a shot that went just wide of the right post, but in the 65th minute Legion FC was awarded a penalty kick as Ryan James brought down in the penalty area. Neco Brett stepped up and fired home his 10th goal of the season into the left side of the net as Lewis went the opposite way.

Chances proved few following Birmingham’s goal, although Brett had another shot saved with nine minutes to go. Sheldon then looked to add his second of the night for Tulsa a couple of minutes later but had his effort blocked away to safety. With two minutes to go, however, the hosts grabbed a late lead as off a corner kick from the left the ball wasn’t cleared properly, and after Bradley Bourgeois took a swing at a shot the ball caromed to Marlon, who fired low into the right corner from 10 yards.

Tulsa put the game away a minute into second-half stoppage time as with Legion FC pushing for an equalizer the hosts blocked a shot and then quickly took off upfield. Breaking up the left side, Rivas delivered a cross-field pass near the halfway line for Kembo Kibato into the center of the field, and the young midfielder kept his composure to shoot low into the left corner and seal all three points.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Marlon, FC Tulsa – Marlon grabbed a last-gasp winner for the hosts, and had five shots overall while completing 12 of 15 passes and winning 7 of 13 duels in a crucial boost to Tulsa’s playoff hopes.

Scoring Summary
TUL – Matt Sheldon (Jason Johnson) 25’
BHM – Neco Brett (Penalty Kick) 66’
TUL – Marlon 88’
TUL – Kembo Kibato (Joaquin Rivas) 90+1’

Full Box Score