RENO, Nev. – USL leading scorer Dane Kelly was one of four different players to find the net as Reno 1868 FC took a 4-0 victory against Tulsa Roughnecks FC on Wednesday night at Greater Nevada Field. Kelly came close to adding to his league-leading goals tally in the 19th minute with a curling shot that went just over the crossbar. The Jamaican threatened twice more in the first half, but 1868 FC (3-3-2, 11pts) took the lead two minutes before the halftime break when Jimmy Ockford headed home a cross by Chris Wehan from the left into the left corner of the net. Kelly again went close two minutes into the second half, but finally notched his ninth goal of the season in the 57th minute as he put home the rebound of his own penalty kick after Roughnecks goalkeeper Bryan Byars had made the initial stop. Tulsa (4-5-0, 12pts) almost answered immediately as Juan Pablo Caffa's shot flashed just wide of the right post, but Reno’s Lindo Mfeka made it 3-0 in the 63nd minute with a good left-footed shot into the right corner from 20 yards, and Antonio Hoppenot added a fourth four minutes later with a strong finish from just outside the penalty area. The Roughnecks continued to push forward late to try and find an answer, but 1868 FC held on for a third consecutive shutout as it edged closer to the playoff positions.

Scoring:

43’ – RNO – Jimmy Ockford (Chris Wehan)

57’ – RNO – Dane Kelly

62’ – RNO – Lindo Mfeka (Dane Kelly)

67’ – RNO – Antoine Hoppenot (Chris Wehan)

Three Things That Matter:

1. Reno was playing well, but not getting results over its first five games of the season. Now with three consecutive victories, and 14 goal scored across them, the side is catching fire in the manner it appeared it could during an impressive preseason. While Dane Kelly has led the way with half of those goals in the past three games, 1868 FC is showing signs that it can drive at opposing defenses in waves, with Antoine Hoppenot and Chris Wehan both playing a major role on Wednesday night.

2. Kelly may have received the headlines, but the industry and skill brought to 1868 FC by Lindo Mfeka has also been a key influence since his arrival on loan from the San Jose Earthquakes. The former University of South Florida standout scored a beautiful finish for Reno’s third goal of the night, giving him two goals and two assists in three appearances for the side, but as impressively Mfeka has shown impressive consistency all over the field. The 5-foot-5 midfielder entered Wednesday’s game having completed 95-of-102 passes, and continued to link well as 1868 FC looked to transition from defense to attack.

3. The Roughnecks were unable to take a point from their two-game road trip to the West Coast over the past five days, and will now return home to ONEOK Field to try and get back in the win column against the Portland Timbers 2. Tulsa’s season so far has swung back and forth like a pendulum, with the side not recording more than two consecutive wins, or two consecutive defeats in its nine games. The side will be hoping for that trend to continue against T2, and keep the Roughnecks in contention in the Western Conference.

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match

Chris Wehan, Reno 1868 FC – Wehan provided two good assists to set up 1868 FC’s first and last goals as Reno took its third consecutive victory.