MATCH RECAP: ATHLETICS IN CAMO DEFEAT DALLAS

The Tulsa Athletics seemed to have found their stride in Saturday’s victory over Dallas City FC on Memorial Day weekend.  Tulsa doubled their winning streak and became 3-1-1 all-time against the Texas side.

The A’s came out of the gate firing.  After grinding a win against Joplin two days prior, Tulsa was intent on dictating the pace with two corners in eight minutes and Jordan Schmoker getting a clean look on goal from a good combination play just outside the box in the sixth minute.  Schmoker, continuing his magical ways from last match, found the back of the net when Lesley Nchanji hit a good ball across the goal mouth.  It would be an early 1-0 lead for Tulsa.

The Advanced Alarms “Safe Keeping” Defensive Player of the Match, A’s goalkeeper Michael Kluver, was called into action in the 17th minute when he saved a shot headed for the upper 90 by Brian Leyva.  Immediately after, Tulsa doubled their lead when Nchanji again played a through ball, this time to Dave Leung, who finished the play for his second goal of the season.

A spell of sloppy play and rising tempers resulted in two cautions for Tulsa’s Frank Gibson and Michael Mitrik in a three-minute span.  Things cooled off when Tulsa put the game away with yet another goal.  Off a set piece, Dave Leung chipped a ball over the wall to an oncoming Frank Gibson, who settled it and was immediately brought down by Justin Welge.  He was awarded a penalty kick.  As the seconds in the half ran out, Jake Schmoker hit the upper 90 post and into the back of the net on the ensuing kick.  This would be his sixth goal in six games.  Tulsa entered halftime up with a comfortbale 3-0 lead, unfamiliar territory in the 2016 campaign.

The A’s would play conservatively for the remaining 45 minutes of the game, only conceding a goal after Antonio Herrera hit a brilliant free kick in the 57th minute.  The rest of the match see few chances but none finished.  Tulsa would take the three points and ready themselves for next week.

Tulsa travels to Houston to take on the Regals on Friday at 7 pm and the Dutch Lions on Sunday at 7 pm.  Both games will be streamed live on YouTube.