TULSA, OK – On a rainy and windy Sunday, Tulsa Athletic defeated Demize NPSL 6-0 to secure their spot in the postseason.
“It was the exact victory we needed heading towards the end of the season,” said Matt Boullt, Tulsa General Manager. “We needed to make a statement and we accomplished that today.”
Tulsa Athletic opened the scoring in the sixth minute. Tulsa Athletic leading goal scorer, Gustavo Vargas, headed home a throw in from Nick Downs to give the home side the early lead.
The two teamsbattled in the light rain for the entirety of the first half, but in the closing minutes the Missouri side received their first of two ejections on the match. Dave Chesterman had a dangerous and late tackle on forward Aaron Ugbah, garnering a straight red.
After the halftime break, Tulsa capitalized on their man advantage. In the 53rd minute, substitute Adam Habib curled a through ball in for forward Damieon Thomas. Thomas took it on the chest and hit a shot past the Demize keeper to double the lead.
7 minutes later, it was Vargas again to add to the score sheet for Tulsa Athletic. Joe Garcia sent in a curling corner and Vargas’ initial header has deflected to the feet of Ryan Alpers. Alpers took a touch and shot it, but the ball landed back to the feet of Vargas who buried it home. 3-0 Tulsa.
Immediately after the kickoff, the visitors suffered another set back. Forward, Marcelo Monteiro received his second caution of the match after a late tackle from behind on Joe Ruiz. Demize would play the remainder of the match down two men.
Veteran forward Levi Coleman found the back of the net in the 76th minute. Habib sent another through ball, this time for Coleman. Levi then beat his defender and finished the one on one with Daledovich, the Demize keeper.
Five minutes later, midfielder Joe Garcia netted his second free kick of the season. From top of the box, Garcia struck the set piece into the upper left 90, leaving Daledovich with no chance.
In the closing minutes of the match, Santiago Erazo would notch the last goal for the home team. Adam Habib dribbled through the back line, and sent in a cutting ball across the line. Erazo was there to crash the box and tap it home.
Tulsa heads on the road for the final two matches of the regular season. First up is at Ozark FC on Saturday June 30th before heading to Little Rock to face the Rangers on Saturday, July 7th.
2018 NPSL Season
Heartland Conference
Tulsa 6 : 0 Demize
Sunday, June 24th
Tulsa, OK – Veterans Park
Scoring
TUL: Gustavo Vargas (Nick Downs) 6′
TUL: Damieon Thomas (Adam Habib) 53′
TUL: Gustavo Vargas 60′
TUL: Levi Coleman (Adam Habib) 77′
TUL: Joe Garcia
TUL: Santiago Erazo (Adam Habib) 90′
Discipline
TUL: Jono Woods 15′
DEM: Marcelo Monteiro 23′
DEM: Erik Soares 35′
DEM: Michele Allou 42′
DEM: Dave Chesterman 43′ (Ejection)
DEM: Marcel Monteiro 61′
TUL: Levi Coleman 79′
Lineups
Tulsa
Austin Wormell (Ryan Davis, 79′); Jake Schmoker (Santiago Erazo, 63′), Ryan Alpers, Gustavo Vargas, Jono Woods (Lucca Rodrigues, 66′), Nick Downs (Levi Coleman, 53′); Ricky Chavez (Adam James, 63′), Joe Garcia, Joe Ruiz (Ben Barkley, 66′); Aaron Ugbah (Adam Habib, 45′), Damieon Thomas
Demize
Kyle Daledovich; Jaxn Rogers (Petar Araya, 66′), Athos Monteiro (Yan Caires, 70′), Vinicius Albino, Dave Chesterman; Marcelo Monteiro, Dani Van Steijn (Kristian Gecaj, 63′), Kyler Moore (German Romero, 59′), Erik Soares, Michele Allou (Guilherme Candatten (Luis Albano, 75′), 45′); Alexandre Novas (Jeffery Darko, 45′)
