August 21, 2022 – United Soccer League Championship (USL) – Indy Eleven News Release
TULSA, Okla. – Indy Eleven visited FC Tulsa for the Eastern Conference sides’ their first meeting of the season, and after trading chances throughout regulation neither team got on the board until the 90th minute, when Machuca scored on the cusp of stoppage time to give the home side a crucial 1-0 victory at ONEOK Field. The result extended Indy’s winless stretch to 12 games (0-10-2), a frustrating run that now includes seven losses by a one-goal margin.
Throughout the first 20 minutes of the contest, it was FC Tulsa keeping a hold of possession. Earning three corner kicks through the first 16 minutes, the home side put pressure on the Eleven, but goalkeeper Tim Trilk and Indy’s back line had no issues getting the ball out of their box. While the Black and Gold had the majority of the chances to open the match, Indy defender Jesus Vazquez made himself well known to the Tulsa team, clearing multiple balls out of the box.
Beginning to find their footing midway through the first half, Indy would force FC Tulsa to take the first yellow card of the game in the 28th minute, when Adrian Diz Pe pulled down Stefano Pinho as he streaked down the sideline. Six minutes later, Eric Bird earned Tulsa’s second caution when he struck Bryam Rebellon with an errant slide tackle.
FC Tulsa made Trilk earn his paycheck in the remaining 10 minutes of the half. The Indy netminder made three saves in total in the first half, including one on a point-blank shot blast from Lebo Moloto that was followed by a rebounded shot off the crossbar and over. Indy weathered the storm, with their defensive heroics sending the teams into the locker rooms at nil-nil.
Both teams came out firing at the beginning of the second half, but Trilk and his opposite number, Austin Wormell, would fend everything off. Indy earned multiple corners as well as a handful of free kicks in the first 20 minutes of the second half, but would repeatedly be denied by Wormell, whose stop of Justin Ingram’s diving header off a back post cross in the 65th minute forced him to sweat the most.
Looking to provide some late energy in Indy’s late push for a winner, Eleven Head Coach Mark Lowry subbed on Robby Dambrot and Wilfredo Rivera with four minutes remaining in regulation. The two players provided Indy with a fresh look when it came to the counterattack, but it would be Tulsa that scored late to earn the three points. On a counter…