By Tulsa Roughnecks FC,

The Tulsa Roughnecks FC suffered only its second loss since the beginning of July on Wednesday night, as Saint Louis FC rallied for a 2-1 victory at Toyota Stadium in Fenton, Missouri. In a tough second half, the Roughnecks could not protect a one-goal, halftime lead, surrendering the game winner in the 90th minute after receiving a red card 12 minutes earlier.

Front page photo of Bryan Byars by M.Guthrel/Saint Louis FC

The Roughnecks had beaten Saint Louis in Tulsa two weeks ago by the same score.

The loss leaves Tulsa with 33 points and a 10-10-3 record. Saint Louis, who was desperate for a victory to keep its playoff chances alive in the USL’s Eastern Conference, improved to 30 points with an 8-10-5 record.



It was a tale of two halves as TRFC controlled play throughout the first 45 minutes, but it was an entirely different story the second half.

The Roughnecks controlled most of the early play and had the first real chance of the match in the 12th minute. Ian Svantesson spun clear in the middle of the box, but his shot sailed high over the crossbar.

They kept the pressure on and had another chance to open the scoring in the 33rd minute. Joey Calistri’s shot was deflected by the keeper and caromed harmlessly off the post.

Ten minutes later, the pressure finally paid off, and it was Calistri who finished. Jaime Ayala sent in a corner kick that found the head of Mo Jadama, but his shot was blocked by a defender. Jadama was able to send the rebound forward where Calistri turned and fired a left-footed shot past STLFC keeper Devala Gorrick to give Tulsa a 1-0 lead. It was the seventh goal of the season for the Chicago Fire loanee.

After the break, it was a different match as Saint Louis dominated possession and pushed forward in search of an equalizer. It would come in the 55th minute as the Roughnecks could not clear a free kick cross from the left wing. The ball eventually found its way to Mats Bjurman who left TRFC keeper Bryan Byars with no chance, leveling the score line at 1-1.

STLFC continued to press forward, with the Roughnecks surviving the pressure, but hopes of escaping the match with a point were damaged in the 78th minute. Jadama, who was issued a yellow card just eight minutes earlier, pulled down a STLFC attacker deep on the right wing. It resulted in a second yellow for the defender, forcing Tulsa to play 10 versus 11.

The Roughnecks eventually fell under the pressure in the 90th minute. A delivery into the penalty area was flicked into the goal by substitute Seth Rudolph to give Saint Louis the 2-1 lead.

Tulsa had one chance in the seven added minutes to get an equalizer, but a shot from outside the box from Collin Fernandez was turned aside by Gorrick.

The defeat leaves the Roughnecks with a 0-1-1 record two games into a stretch of six straight away matches. Tulsa will now return home to prepare for a three-match trip to the Pacific Northwest that will include games in Seattle, Portland and Vancouver. The trio of games will begin next Wednesday night at Starfire Stadium against Seattle Sounders 2. Kickoff is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. CDT.

MATCH SUMMARY

Saint Louis FC 2 Tulsa Roughnecks FC 1

Wednesday, August 23, 2017

Toyota Stadium – Fenton, MO

Scoring Summary:

TUL – Calistri (Jadama) 43’

STL – Bjurman 55’

STL – Rudolph (Dalgaard) 90’

Misconduct Summary:

TUL – Jadama (caution) 70’

TUL – Jadama (2nd caution/red card) 78’

STL – Stojkov (caution) 82’

Saint Louis FC: Devala Gorrick, Konrad Plewa, Austin Ledbetter, Ryan Howe, Tony Walls, Dragon Stojkov, Ivan Mirkovic, Emmanuel Appiah (Sebastian Dalgaard 26’), Mats Bjurman (Tyler David 75’), Milan Petosevic (Seth Rudolph 60’), Christian Volesky.

Shots: 19; Shots on Goal: 6; Saves: 3; Fouls: 13; Corners: 3; Offside: 0.

Tulsa Roughnecks FC: Bryan Byars, Jorge Corrales, Modou Jadama, Bradley Bourgeois, Jaime Ayala, Collin Fernandez, Jacori Hayes (Paris Gee 86’), Joey Calistri (Francisco Ugarte 83’), Christian Thierjung (Jonathan Levin 89’), Joaquin Rivas, Ian Svantesson

Shots: 11; Shots on Goal: 4; Saves: 4; Fouls: 15; Corners: 4; Offside: 1.