May 5, 2023 – United Soccer League Championship (USL) – FC Tulsa News Release
HAMTRAMCK, Mich. – Two clubs looking to author a new chapter into its 2023 story square off in the Motor City on Saturday night when FC Tulsa makes its second-ever trip north to Keyworth Stadium, the home of Detroit City FC. With two additional matches against clubs currently out of playoff position on the horizon, Blair Gavin’s crew is aiming to recoup points lost over the first quarter of the season, starting in one of the most hostile environments the USL Championship has to offer.
FC Tulsa garnered a bit of momentum last weekend in its 1-1 draw with Sacramento Republic FC, holding one of the league’s top offenses to one goal while simultaneously becoming just the second squad to score against the Western Conference leaders in 2023. Brilliant play from goalkeeper Michael Nelson in net, a change in formation, and more late heroics highlighted an impressive shift put in by Tulsa that left plenty of positives for the club to build off heading into this weekend’s duel in Detroit.
The distribution continues to sparkle for FC Tulsa as six players have now registered an assist, an effort spearheaded by Milo Yosef and Rodrigo da Costa. Yosef’s two assists top the club, and although he was not credited with a helper last weekend on Moses Dyer’s 76′ minute goal due to a minuscule deflection, the rookie winger delivered the set-piece ball into the box that resulted in his side’s equalizer. Da Costa currently ranks fourth in the USL Championship with 18 chances created and sixth in xA (expected assists) with a mark set at 1.88.
FC Tulsa will need to utilize its playmakers and creativity to their full extent when taking on Detroit City, a side that has not allowed more than one goal in any match this season.
Fans of great goalkeeping are in for a Saturday night treat when two of the league’s best will square off. Michael Nelson has been fantastic for Tulsa between the posts, racking up 22 saves (4th-most in the USL Championship) and posting a 70% save pct. through his seven appearances. For Le Rouge, Nathan Steinwascher has been stingy in net dating back to last season when he finished fourth in the league with 87 saves. In 2023, Steinwascher has been called to stop 28 shots, the second-most in the USL-C.
These two sides matched up twice a year ago in DCFC’s inaugural USL Championship season. The home leg for Tulsa resulted in a 3-1 victory while the squads split the spoils in the road…