Oklahoma City's Francis Atuahene (57) takes a shot against Tulsa goalkeeper Fabian Cerda (12) in the first half Saturday at Taft Stadium. [Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman]

A FC Dallas loanee, Atuahene earned the start for his professional debut. With the Energy already intercepting numerous Tulsa passes at midfield, the fourth overall pick in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft received a pass down the right wing, where just inside the box he bounced his shot past Roughnecks goalkeeper Fabian Cerda on the near post.

But his impact in the Black Gold Derby will remain in the rivalry's lore.

Atuahene loan agreement FC Dallas to bring him back at any point during the season, and his play Saturday night indicates his inevitable MLS callback will be soon.

His pace caused immediate issues for the Roughnecks backline, and his ball skills in tight spaces were also on display, for he created numerous scoring chances from inside the box. He had a point-blank backheel shot in the 10th minute that trickled past Cerda but tiptoed the goaline before Cerda spun around and jumped on the ball.

“Francis is a young man with a bright future ahead of him, another 15 or 16 years of playing,” OKC Energy coach Steve Cooke said. “He has to add a couple of pieces to his game, but as a professional debut there would have been some nerves and butterflies. To start off with a goal like that within seven minutes is nothing short of fantastic.”

Cooke won his Energy coaching debut in a match his club controlled for most of the match. The Energy finished with 51 percent possession, but it had much more ball control in the final third than the Roughnecks.