TULSA, Okla. – Joaquin Rivas’ goal in first-half stoppage time from the penalty spot set up FC Tulsa’s 3-1 victory against Birmingham Legion FC in its home opener on Saturday night at ONEOK Field as Tulsa’s Sean Lewis recorded a five-save performance to hold off a positive display by the visitors.

Tulsa made an ideal start as Rodrigo da Costa put the hosts ahead in the 11th minute, putting home a first-time finish off a sweeping cross by Petar Cuic from the right after Birmingham had half-cleared a corner kick from the left. Legion FC’s Enzo Martinez had a chance to level just past the half-hour mark as he snapped a shot on target from a deflected near-post cross but was denied by a good save from Tulsa’s Sean Lewis. There was little Lewis could do four minutes before halftime, however, as Prosper Kasim lashed home a shot after the ball ran to him in the penalty area after a sliding challenge on Martinez as he prepared to shoot.

The hosts regained the lead in first-half stoppage time when Rivas was played into the penalty area, and as he tried to go over a sliding Matt VanOekel, Rivas was brought down by the veteran goalkeeper. The El Salvador international stepped up to the spot himself and shot past the stretching VanOekel into the right corner of the net. Legion FC had a chance to level again midway through the second half when Bruno Lapa’s narrow-angle shot was turned wide of the near post by Lewis, while former Tulsa player Marlon almost struck for the visitors soon after only to send his finish wide of the right post.

Kasim had a chance to bag his second of the night with 16 minutes to go, but his side-winder finish crashed into the right post and out to safety. The visitors were reduced to 10 men in the 78th minute, however, when Alex Crognale received his second yellow card of the game, and as Birmingham threw everything forward in stoppage time, Tulsa put the game to bed as Machuca scored into an open net on a breakaway.

USLChampionship.com Player of the Match

Joaquin Rivas, FC Tulsa – Rivas earned and then converted the penalty kick that proved the difference for the hosts and completed 21 of 29 passes while winning 5 of 5 duels in a strong all-around display.

Scoring Summary
TUL – Rodrigo da Costa (Petar Cuic) 11’
BHM – Prosper Kasim 41’
TUL – Joaquin Rivas (penalty kick) 45+4’
TUL – Machuca (Dario Suarez) 90+5’

Full Box Score