June 29, 2022 – United Soccer League Championship (USL) – FC Tulsa News Release
SAN ANTONIO, Texas – It may have taken an extra 50 minutes to get kicked off from San Antonio due to lightning and inclement weather across South Texas, but the skies finally cleared and the soccer gods said, “Let’s play.” It was a tale of two halves for FC Tulsa, and unfortunately, the final score didn’t go Tulsa’s way.
The action got off to an immediate start with a collision in the 1′ minute between FC Tulsa’s JJ Williams and the San Antonio keeper, Jordan Farr, on the first ball sent in by newly-acquired wingback Sean McFarlane. Williams came just inches away from connecting with the cross before making contact with Farr, and thankfully both walked away uninjured.
Just moments later, Lebo Moloto whipped in a brilliant corner kick that Williams was able to get on the end of, but his shot flicked off his head just wide past the far post. FC Tulsa continued to dominate possession and create the better scoring chances through the first 15 minutes of the match, but the tide then began to shift in favor of San Antonio. FC Tulsa set its defensive line high and kept its composure, biding its time and looking for the breakthrough.
That breakthrough would come in the 36′ minute, courtesy of none other than JJ Williams.
In his FC Tulsa debut, Sean McFarlane targeted Williams in the box with pinpoint accuracy, and Williams did what he does better than just about anyone else on the pitch – the 6’3” forward got airborne. Williams beat his defender in the air and headed the ball past the keeper to score his eighth goal of the season. Williams has now tallied three goals over his last two matches and has accounted for FC Tulsa’s last three goals.
The second half got off to a slow start, but two goals in 90 seconds for San Antonio quickly flipped the script of the match. The first score for the Texas side came in the 55′ minute following a buildup that took all of four passes to get from the San Antonio keeper into the back of the Tulsa net off the head of Ignacio Bailone. In the 57′ minute, a Tulsa turnover in the middle of the pitch left the defense scrambling out of position, allowing Samuel Adeniran to receive the ball and streak down the left side, putting his shot past Austin Wormell.
San Antonio FC nearly had a third goal in the 76′ minute from a set piece, but the goal was waived off for offsides.
FC Tulsa battled for a second goal late in the second half, but it would never…