INDIANAPOLIS – FC Tulsa clinched its second consecutive trip to the USL Championship Playoffs on Saturday night as Jason Johnson’s equalizer with 12 minutes to go earned a 1-1 draw with Indy Eleven at Michael A. Carroll Stadium and moved the visitors clear of fifth-placed OKC Energy FC with one game remaining in the campaign.

Indy opened the game with more possession and in the 16th minute the hosts turned that into the first good look on goal as Peter-Lee Vassell turned into space in the Tulsa half as he received a pass and set up for a shot from 25 yards that was comfortably saved by visiting goalkeeper Austin Wormell.

Tulsa first chance came in the 28th minute when Joaquin Rivas produced an outstanding effort that almost put the side ahead as he broke onto a ball over the defensive line by Jason Johnson and reacting to Indy goalkeeper Jordan Farr charging beyond his penalty area to challenge quickly lifted a shot from 35 yards over the goalkeeper, only to see it hit the left post and rebound to safety where Indy’s defense cleared. Rivas then provided the delivery for another good chance for the visitors in the 31st minute as his free kick from the right was headed on target by Bradley Bourgeois but turned over the crossbar by Farr.

Rodrigo da Costa also tested Farr four minutes before halftime with a snap-shot from 22 yards the Indy goalkeeper parried before his defense cleared, while nine minutes after the break Johnson set up a chance for Marlon that the Brazilian stabbed over the crossbar with a first-time finish. With 19 minutes to go, however, the hosts took the lead as Ayoze found Vassell with pass in from the left flank and the Jamaican international delivered a brilliant strike into the top-right corner of the net.

But seven minutes later Vassell’s fellow Jamaican struck for the visitors as off a free kick by Lebo Moloto 35 yards from goal, the defense was unable to clear as it deflected off Marlon and sat up nicely for Johnson to record his second goal in as many games with a first-time finish to the right side of the net.

Vasell tried to break through for a second time with six minutes to go as he drifted in from the left side and fired a low shot the near post that was saved by Wormell, while a few minutes later Da Costa flicked a shot just wide at the near post after a ball in from the right by Marlon, but the visitors were able to see out the closing stages to clinch a place in the postseason and set up a duel with Memphis 901 FC next Wednesday night for third place in the Central Division.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Peter-Lee Vassell, Indy Eleven - Vassell was impressive for the hosts with a fine long-range finish and another chance that was denied late to finish with four shots and one key pass while completing 42 of 47 passes overall.

Scoring Summary
IND – Peter-Lee Vassell (Ayoze) 71’
TUl – Jason Johnson (Marlon) 78’

Full Box Score