FC Tulsa out after hard fight
EL PASO, Texas – FC Tulsa went down swinging. Down a man and with its backs against the wall, Tulsa fought to the very end but came up short on Saturday night, falling to El Paso Locomotive FC 2-2 (4-2) on penalties in the USL Championship Western Conference Quarterfinals.
Goals by Rodrigo da Costa and Callum Chapman-page turned an early 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 lead late in the second half, but an equalizer from El Paso in the 82' minute sent the match to extra time. Ten minutes into the extra session, Chapman-page was sent off, putting FC Tulsa down a man for the final 20 minutes of extra time.
While down a man, FC Tulsa rode its keeper Sean Lewis, who made five of his eight saves in extra time while Tulsa was at the disadvantage. That sent the match to penalties where El Paso slotted home all four, besting FC Tulsa's two makes out of its four attempts.
El Paso advances to the Western Conference Semifinals while FC Tulsa ends its 2020 campaign. GOALS
19' ELP - Leandro Carrijo
38' TUL - Rodrigo da Costa
68' TUL - Callum Chapman-page (Lebo Moloto)
82' ELP - Leandro
Carrijo (Dylan Mares)
Many might make the case that Sean Lewis was FC Tulsa's MVP in 2020. There was no doubt he was tonight at Southwest University Park in El Paso. His eight saves are his most in a match in 2020 and especially his work while down a man was world-class. Lewis finishes the season with 58 total saves, allowing just 18 goals.
Rodrigo da Costa found his form late in the 2020 season, scoring twice and adding an assist in his final two matches of the season. It was fitting that the forward scored in FC Tulsa's playoff defeat as he scored in both of the club's first
two matches to start the 2020 season as well.
“It was really good to be a part of this turnaround,” da Costa said of the past year here. “That’s why I didn’t leave, because I knew that this Tulsa could go far. I spoke with coach at the beginning of the year, and he told me that we had a good plan. With the new owners, the front office, I knew that things were going to change. I wanted to be a part of that. I love the community, I love Tulsa, so I wanted to be a part of that change. I’m going to give everything. Whatever this club needs me to do, I will do it. I really think that every year we can be better, and we are really put
ting Tulsa on the map.”
While FC Tulsa will have to wait another year for its first postseason win in franchise history, Saturday night's match closes a historic first season of the new era of the club. FC Tulsa set club records in win percentage, unbeaten streak, goals allowed per match to name a few.