New Mexico United was hoping for more in Tulsa. After a difficult stretch in July, the 5th-placed United needed something positive. FC Tulsa was trying to prove it belonged at the top of the West. Only one of those things came true on Saturday night. United failed to hold a halftime lead as they surrendered four goals in the second half en route to a 5-2 loss to FC Tulsa.
Despite a promising start to the evening for United, it was the home side that found the back of the net first. For the first fifteen minutes, United’s love of possession pushed FC Tulsa into a defensive shape, looking to go on the counter. After a few unsuccessful attempts to break down the defenders, Tulsa turned the tide in the 17th minute. Boubacar Diallo led the charge into the defensive third and managed to beat two United players, including Gedion Zelalem, at the top of the area. Zelalem tried to recover, but instead made contact with Diallo inside the area, giving up a penalty. Taylor Calheira was sent to the mark and calmly slotted the ball into the net as surprise starter Kris Shakes dove away from the oncoming ball, 1-0.
It took United until the 33rd minute of the match to put a shot on frame against FC Tulsa. Newcomer Valentin Noël had two chances fall to him, the first narrowly missed wide right and the second was right to goalkeeper Johan Penaranda. An easy save for the keeper to be sure, but it started to open things up for United.
A mistake at the back between Abdoulaye Cissoko and Lamar Batista gave a pressing Greg Hurst a chance to take advantage in the 34th minute. In what was close to an offside position, Hurst was able to take the ball away from the feet of Cissoko at the top of the box. With his footwork, he was able to draw out the keeper and then slide the ball into the open space, leveling the match, 1-1.
After a few weeks playing as a centreback, Ousman Jabang was lined up in his more natural role in the midfield against Tulsa. Even with some early struggles, Jabang had a direct impact on how the first half ended. Out of nowhere, Jabang found himself with the ball 20 yards out from goal. Without even facing the goal, Jabang lofted the ball toward the net and put it out of reach of Penaranda to take the lead, 1-2.
Momentum seemingly on their side, United took the lead into halftime, but failed to put the engine back in gear as play resumed. The opening ten minutes of the second half sucked all of the wind out of United’s sails as FC Tulsa stormed out of the starting block to score three times and take a commanding lead before the 55th minute.
FC Tulsa rained in goals in the 46th, 51st, and 54th minutes, leaving United dumbfounded.
In the 46th, an errant pass by Gedion Zelalem was intercepted and ended up with the goalscorer Calheira. Calheira left the ball for Kalil ElMedkhar, who had a shot blocked. The rebound fell to Harvey St Clair inside the area, and he cleaned it up for a shot to go into the net, 2-2.
The 51st-minute goal came by way of a brilliant strike by Marcos Serrato. Played across the top of the area, Serrato was given too much space after Zelalem failed to close down on him, and put the ball into the top corner, 3-2.
The third of the trio of scores came in the 54th minute when Tulsa played long up the left for Owen Damm. Damm ran free up the left wing and crossed the ball into the area where ElMedkhar and Calheira were waiting. Calheira slid the ball to ElMedkhar, who beat Shakes for the fourth time, 4-2.
A fifth goal would be added for Tulsa in the 83rd. With all the momentum, Tulsa wanted to continue making a statement, while United just wanted to leave the pitch. Damm looked ahead and found Alexander Dalou outside of the area. Dalou lined up his shot, and while on its trajectory, Talen Maples turned in order to clear his hands from a potential handball, and as he did, the ball deflected off of his hip and went the opposite direction from where Shakes was headed. With no one in its path, the ball found the net again, 5-2.
Player of the Match
Taylor Calheira – One goal, one assist, two chances created. Not a bad stat line for Calheira, who was a key piece in Tulsa’s win. United struggled to control the forward, and it showed as they were pushed around all night.
Up Next
After a lengthy month of July, United finally returns to The Lab next weekend. With any luck, it will play to United’s benefit to be back at home, where they’ve been at their best this season. On Zozobra Night, United will play host to Las Vegas Lights FC on Saturday, August 16. That match is scheduled to kick off at 7 P.M. (MT) from Isotopes Park.