TULSA, Okla. – Dario Suarez scored the lone goal with 13 minutes remaining as FC Tulsa took a 1-0 victory against San Diego Loyal SC on Wednesday night at ONEOK Field, handing the visitors their first defeat of the 2022 USL Championship season.

San Diego had the first good look in the fourth minute as Evan Conway forced a low save by Tulsa’s Sean Lewis in the fourth minute. Lewis was called into action again in first-half stoppage time to parry a free kick by SD Loyal’s Charlie Adams from the left edge of the penalty area over the crossbar, but the game went to the halftime break scoreless. Tulsa went close to taking the lead early in the second half when Brian Brown created space for a shot in the left side of the penalty area that went beyond SD Loyal goalkeeper Koke Vegas but was calmly controlled and cleared inside the six-yard area by Elijah Martin.

Another set piece provided another opportunity for the visitors with just over 15 minutes remaining as Andrew Carleton fired a shot on target that Lewis punched away, but in the 77th minute the hosts took the lead as Suarez produced an outstanding volleyed finish off a chipped cross from Gabriel Torres on the left that the Cuban directed back across goal and just inside the left post. SD Loyal had one final chance to level deep in second-half stoppage time as a clever piece of interplay set up Thomas Amang, but his finish from the top of the six-yard area spun over the crossbar and onto the roof of the net as Tulsa held onto victory.

USLChampionship.com Player of the Match

Gabriel Torres, FC Tulsa – Torres provided the assist on Dario Suarez’s goal and recorded four chances created overall and defensively recorded seven clearances and eight recoveries in a second consecutive strong outing.

Scoring Summary
TUL – Dario Suarez (Gabriel Torres) 77’

Full Box Score