OKC Energy (9 wins, 11 draws, 13 losses) is currently in 15th place in the Western Conference table, with 38 points from 33 games. That’s 37 points and 14 places behind Rising (23 wins, 6 draws, 4 losses), and six points behind the playoffs.
Oklahoma City’s road record isn’t great, and they come into tonight on a three game losing streak. In their last away game, away to Orange County, OKC failed to register a single shot on or off target.
Rising will need to watch out late in the match – OKC has scored almost half of its away goals in the last 15 minutes of matches.
Energy is slightly more likely to concede before the break than after, but the trend is not as clear-cut as their goalscoring record.
This is OKC’s first trip to Phoenix for a Dollar Beer Night. Here’s what Rick Schantz had to say when asked if the team’s record on Friday nights adds pressure:
LAST MEETING
Both sides last met in June at Taft Stadium. Rising came out as 4-1 winners.
Phoenix took a 2-0 lead in the first 20 minutes thanks to an own goal from Atiba Harris, plus a strike from Solomon Asante.
OKC must have fancied its chances after Joey Farrell was dismissed for a second yellow card, allowing Rafael Garcia to draw a goal back from the penalty spot.
However, Jon Bakero scored Rising’s third before Asante added his second and Rising’s fourth to take home three points from the Sooner State.
Despite the scoreline, OKC actually held a narrow advantage in possession (51.3%-48.7%), and in the air (54.8%-45.2%).
LAST XI
OKC’s last match was a 2-0 home loss against RGV last Sunday.
Cody Laurendi started in goal, as he has in all but one of the Energy’s games this year. He’s been a part of OKC’s squad since 2016, and in USL since 2014. This year, he has a 67.3% save success rate, and has kept six clean sheets.
Chris Duvall was the right-back against RGV. He joined OKC last month, after being released by Houston Dynamo in August. He’s since made three appearances for OKC, against Sacramento, LA and his former club last weekend. In six games this season, he’s proven himself to be a solid tackler (84.6% success), and an accurate passer (84.9% accuracy). Duvall previously played for two years for Montreal Impact, and for three seasons with New York Red Bulls.
On the left side was Jonathan Brown. Brown joined OKC in 2017, but left for Hartford Athletic over the winter. He re-joined the Energy in June. The former Cardiff City product has featured in 29 games between both clubs this season, scoring two goals and recording one assist from the back line.
Christian Ibeagha played in central defence against RGV. Ibeagha is strong in the tackle (74.3% success), and wins his fair share of duels on the ground (54.7%) and in the air (56%). This is his second season with the Energy. He has previously played with North Carolina, Colorado Springs and in the Czech Republic.
Ibeagha was partnered by Atiba Harris, who leads the team in clearances (139), blocks (41) and interceptions (59). He’s also an impressive player in the air, winning 68.4% of balls and scoring two headed goals. The Kittitian international is in his second season with OKC, after over a decade in MLS.
Callum Ross played in defensive midfield against RGV. He’s featured in 32 matches this season, but don’t expect him to be much of a threat in front of goal as he’s taken just eight shots all season and none of them were on target. Originally from Newcastle, Ross played in Sunderland’s youth academy before attending Wingate University in North Carolina. He went on to play for North Carolina FC, before moving to Oklahoma last season.
Rafael Garcia played alongside Ross on Sunday, but may pose more of a threat in OKC’s attack. Garcia has bagged six goals in 2019, and has created the second-highest number of chances on the team (26). Along with Harris, he also leads the team in another category: yellow cards (9). Garcia played for Las Vegas Lights last season, and is also a former captain of Los Dos.
Derek Gebhard replaced Garcia in the 63rd minute. Gebhard is a recent acquisition, joining from El Paso in August. He’s predominantly been a substitute this year, and scored two goals for El Paso back in March. Prior to El Paso, Gebhard featured for Jacksonville Armada in NASL and NPSL.
Christian Eissele featured as a more attacking midfielder against RGV. So far this season, he’s scored five goals while contributing two assists. He’s not too accurate a passer, though, with just 69.5% accuracy over his 28 appearances this season. Originally from Orlando, Eissele moved to Europe in an attempt to kickstart his professional career, signing for Finnish side PS Kemi in 2012. He also played for FF Jaro and Sweden’s IK Brage, before signing for Sacramento Republic in 2018. He joined OKC this season.
Cordell Cato played on the wing last Sunday. The Trinidadian international has scored three goals with his left foot this season, and also contributed four assists. That’s down from eight assists last year with Charlotte. Cato previously spent five seasons with San Jose, making over 100 MLS appearances, as well as a season with Seattle Sounders.
Ian McGrath replaced Cato against RGV, to make his first appearance of the season for OKC. He joined in September from the NISA’s Philadelphia Fury, who he’d joined just one month prior from Queen of the South in Scotland. McGrath played just 11 minutes, and didn’t record a single shot last weekend.
Owayne Omar Gordon leads the squad in assists (7) and chances created (31). He’s also scored five goals for OKC. This is Gordon’s first season with OKC, although he has had loan spells with Indy Eleven and San Antonio in recent seasons while under contract with Montego Bay United. He’s been capped 18 times for Jamaica, but his last call up came last year.
Deshorn Brown is OKC’s top scorer with 14 goals. It’s the most he’s ever scored in a season, although he has recorded double-digit seasons in MLS in the past. He’s also played in the Nowegian Tippeligaen and the Chinese League One. Brown is fairly versatile, recording five goals with his left foot, eight with his right, and a header.
OKC failed to name a full substitutes bench for their last match, despite being at home. Only four substitutes were named, out of a permitted seven.
MAN IN THE MIDDLE
Phoenix-native Dejan Susak will take charge of tonight’s match. This is the third time this season that he’s taken charge of a match at Casino Arizona Field, during his first season with the whistle at USL level. In those two matches, Rising has defeated RGV (3-1) and Austin Bold (6-0).
From The Ashes Prediction: Rising goes into the playoffs with a victory.