“We didn’t give up. We pushed for that second goal but we just couldn’t find it. It’s disappointing.”

The Energy (10-4-11) picked up the equalizer in the 57th minute when reserve Daniel Gonzalez came up with a steal near midfield, battled through an STLFC tackle attempt and found the far corner with a low blast from about 30 yards out.

“You don’t mind a guy shooting from there, and it just bounces perfectly into the bottom corner,” a frustrated Musa said. “Things aren’t going our way at the moment; it’s as simple as that. At the other end, the balls just aren’t dropping for us. On another day, it could’ve been 3- or 4-1.”

STLFC goalkeeper Mark Pais took responsibility for the opponents’ goal.

“It’s a save I know I should make and if I make that we’re staring down three points at the end,” he said.

In an uphill battle to earn a playoff spot, STLFC nearly grabbed the lead in the fourth minute as Hardware laid the ball off to right back Richard Dixon. But Dixon’s shot went off the top of the cross bar.

Oklahoma City responded quickly, creating a pair of chances. A deflected shot went into the path of Danni Konig, who pushed it past Pais. Musa cleared it from the goal line.