TULSA, Okla. – FC Tulsa will play host to Austin Bold FC on Saturday at ONEOK Field in an interconference matchup between the Central and Mountain Division playoff contenders that could also rekindle memories of the race for last year’s postseason when the teams were going head-to-head in the Western Conference. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET.

@FCTulsa (12-9-2, 38pts) played to a 1-1 draw against division rival Birmingham Legion FC in its last outing as Dario Suarez converted a first-half penalty kick at ONEOK Field only for the visitors to level late on and take a share of the points. Suarez’s goal was his eighth of the season, moving the Cuban forward into a tie for first at the club alongside Rodrigo da Costa as he scored in his third consecutive outing. The draw brought an end to Tulsa’s recent winning streak but continued a six-game undefeated run that has put the side comfortably in third place in the division standings and on the way to a second consecutive trip to the playoffs. Tulsa’s playoff berth a season ago came at the expense of Bold FC as Austin’s challenge fell away late in the season, but the two sides played to three score-draws when then met head-to-head in 2020 and another tight game could be in store on Saturday.

@AustinBoldFC (8-6-8, 32pts) jumped into the playoff positions in the Mountain Division last Friday night as a late goal by Xavi Baez sent the side to a 1-0 win against New Mexico United and a point head of Rio Grande Valley FC for fourth place as this weekend’s action kicks off. Austin has claimed consecutive victories under new Head Coach Ryan Thompson, who was promoted from assistant two weeks ago to help lead a drive to the postseason. Bold FC announced this week the return of influential midfielder Sonny Guadarrama to the side after competing for Austin in its first two seasons, and he joins a group that has seen a new energy arrive with a new formation employing a three-man back line that has also seen Amobi Okugo move forward into midfield alongside Baez. The big key for Bold FC over its final 10 games could be forward Stefano Pinho, who has yet to find the net this season after success in the lower divisions in previous campaigns. If he can find a breakthrough soon, Austin could set up for a second postseason berth in three years at the end of the season.

FiveThirtyEight.com Match Predictor: FC Tulsa 41%, Austin Bold FC 31%, Draw 28%

Most Recent Lineups

FC Tulsa (4-4-2): Austin Wormell; Matt Sheldon, Bradley Bourgeois, Kevin Garcia, Jorge Corrales; Dario Suarez, Eric Bird, Rodrigo da Costa, Marlon; Jason Johnson, Lebo Moloto

Austin Bold FC (3-4-3): Elliot Panicco; Fabien Garcia, Jermaine Taylor, Gustavo Rissi; Omar Gordon, Amobi Okugo, Xavier Baez, Collin Fernandez; Stefano Pinho, Juan Pablo Torres, Beto Avila

Discipline

FC Tulsa – None

Austin Bold FC – None