OKC Energy (5 wins, 7 draws, 4 losses) are in 7th position in the Western Conference on 22 points from 16 games. Rising (8 wins, 5 draws, 2 losses) are 7 points ahead in 1st place, despite playing a game less.
OKC have lost only one game at home this season – a 3-2 loss against Timbers 2 in early April. They’ve beaten Vegas Lights, Orange County, Tacoma, and the Switchbacks at Taft Stadium. However, they have been forced to share the points against Monarchs, Los Dos, and San Antonio.
Expect Energy to start tonight’s game in a 4-2-1-3 formation. It’s been their tactic of choice in 15 of their 16 USL league games this season.
Six of OKC’s ten goals scored at home have hit the net in the first 30 minutes of games.
Six of the seven goals conceded by OKC at home have been scored in the second half, including four in the last 15 minutes.
Two players have accounted for over 40% of Energy’s 126 shots this season – Owayne Omar Gordon and Deshorn Brown.
OKC will be without four key members tonight due to Gold Cup call-ups. Je-Vaughn Watson has joined Flemmings and Lambert in the Jamaican squad. Cordell Cato, Alvin Jones, and Mekeil Williams have all been called up by Trinidad and Tobago.
LAST TIME OUT
Last Saturday, OKC were held to a 1-1 draw by San Antonio at Taft Stadium.
Leading goalscorer Deshorn Brown spurned a 15th minute penalty after Green had fouled Harris in the box.
Midfielder Rafael Garcia, though, was not so profligate, successfully converting a 55th minute penalty after Jonathan Brown had drawn a foul from Lahoud.
These are the only penalties awarded to OKC this season. Both were struck low and towards the kicker’s left – something for Lubin or Woz to consider.
However, with San Antonio dominating both possession and the shot count, OKC eventually succumbed to a 91st minute equalizing free kick from Jack Barmby.
Puerto Rico international Cody Laurendi was in goal for OKC last Saturday, and is most likely to get the goalkeeper’s jersey tonight. Laurendi has played in all but one of Energy’s games this season, keeping three clean sheets with a 74.3% save success rate. He moved to OKC in 2016, when Austin Aztex withdrew from USL. Laurendi’s most recent cap for Puerto Rico came in a 2-0 CONCACAF Nations League Qualifying home loss to Grenada in March.
The full-backs against San Antonio were da Fonte and Harland.
Mike da Fonte needs no introduction to Rising fans, having played 31 games on loan for Phoenix from the Rapids last season. Da Fonte even scored for Rising against OKC in 2018 in a 3-0 win at Taft Stadium. His former clubs include Sacramento Republic, NY Red Bulls II, and two second division Portuguese clubs (S.C. Espinho and Pedras Salgadas). Released by Rapids in the close season, da Fonte has made 10 appearances in 2019 for OKC, and scored in the 3-2 home defeat to Timbers 2 in April.
Left-back Kyle Hyland has been at OKC since 2016. The 28-year-old former Indy Eleven player has featured in 11 OKC games this season, including six games as a starter. Very strong in the tackle (90.9% success rate), Hyland is also a good passer of the ball (77.6% success rate).
OKC’s two center backs last Saturday were Harris and Ibeagha.
Captain Atiba Harris was one of three players to appear in every OKC game in 2019 last Saturday. However, he is the only player to clock up all 1,440 minutes games time. The 6ft 3 veteran has two big claims to fame. He was the first St. Kitts player to sign for a Spanish club (Cadiz) in 2004, and the first St. Kitts player to sign for an MLS club (Salt Lake) in 2006. A 12-year MLS veteran, Harris also starred for Chivas USA, Galaxy, the Whitecaps, the Rapids, San Jose Earthquakes, and FC Dallas. Moving to Taft Stadium in June 2018, he helped OKC keep 5 clean sheets in 14 games last season, scoring one goal. Harris has also already found the net again this season – a stoppage time consolation goal away to RGV in mid-April. He is one of two OKC players most likely to draw a card from a referee (5 yellows to date in 2019).
Christian Ibeagha partnered Harris at the back against San Antonio. The former North Carolina center back moved to OKC in January 2018, and has made 12 appearances in 2019. A good passer of the ball (80.8% success rate), Ibeagha previously played on loan at FC Suðuroy (Faroes) in 2015 and the Switchbacks in 2016. He also scored for OKC against Rising last season.
Ross and Garcia sat directly in front of the OKC defense last Saturday.
Newcastle-born Callum Ross has featured in all 16 games for OKC this season, including 15 starts. Strong in the tackle (77.3% success rate), the former North Carolina midfielder also wins two out of every three interceptions. Ross scored twice and contributed four assists last season, but has still to get off the mark in 2019.
Rafael Garcia is a hard-working central midfielder who can also deputize at right back. Acquired from Vegas Lights in the close season, he has previously played 45 MLS games for Galaxy (2012-2017) and 27 USL games for Los Dos (2014-2017). Garcia has already scored twice for OKC this season, including a penalty against San Antonio, but joins Harris on 5 cautions.
Brown, Eiselle and Gordon were expected to offer the creative spark against San Antonio defense last Saturday.
29-year-old midfielder Jonathan Brown was re-signed by OKC earlier this month from Hartford Athletic. The former Cardiff City youth academy product has played alongside Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey for Wales U-17s, U-19s and U-21s. Brown was previously on OKC’s roster in 2017-2018 (37 appearances, 1 goal). He has also played for Bangladesh Premier League side Abahani Limited Dhaka, and spent four seasons in the Vanarama National League (England).
Former Sacramento midfielder Christian Eissele has also featured in 12 OKC games this season, scoring once. The 26-year-old Florida native previously spent five years in the Finnish and Swedish leagues, at PS Kemi (twice), IK Brage, and FF Jaro, scoring an impressive 78 goals in 155 league and cup appearances. In 2018 at Republic, Eissele scored five goals and provided three assists in 25 appearances.
Pacey right winger Owayne Omar Gordon is one of several Jamaicans on the OKC roster. Signed from Montego Bay United this season, Gordon previously spent time on loan at San Antonio. Gordon played in all six of Jamaica’s games at the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup, including the final against the United States. He has started all 16 games this season, but been subbed off on five occasions. In 2019, Gordon has contributed four goals – three with his right foot, and one with his head – and six assists (the most at the club).
Midfielder Kalokwear Okot was the only substitute to see any game time last Saturday. He replaced Omar-Gordon in the 79th minute, to make his second appearance off the bench this season. This is Okot’s first professional contract. He previously played 13 semi-professional games for Forest City London in Ontario (Canada).
The main threat at OKC, though, is another Jamaican – Deshorn Brown. The 6th overall pick in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft, Brown scored 20 MLS goals in 62 appearances for the Rapids, and two goals in 16 games for DC United. He has also played for Vålerenga (Norway), Shenzen (China) and Lorca (Spain). Brown moved to Taft Stadium in September 2018. He has successfully converted eight of his 25 shots this season.
REST OF THE ROSTER
Striker Alexy Bosetti began his professional career in France with OGC Nice in 2012, scoring 10 goals in 75 appearances. He has also played on loan at Tours FC and Sarpsborg 08 FF before securing a move to Laval in 2017. A winter capture, he was a member of the French squad that won the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2013. Bosetti has created the most chances (31) at OKC this season, and is joint-second for assists (3). He also comes from a very musical family – his great-uncle was a composer and pianist; his great-aunt an opera singer.
Backup keeper Bryan Byars has played once for OKC this season – a 4-1 defeat away to Sacramento in March. The 27-year-old OKC native is in his second season at Taft Stadium. He previously played seven games for the Roughnecks in 2017, and twice for Rayo OKC (NASL) in 2016.
Midfielder Josh Garcia is another local player. He joined the first team after captaining Energy’s U-23 side in 2018, but is still awaiting his first team debut.
Amer Sasivarevic is a 24-year-old German defender with links to the Valley. A 3rd round draft pick by FC Dallas in 2018, he played 50 games for Grand Canyon University (2014-2017). Sasivarevic has made two appearances to date for OKC.
Right-back Max Gunderson returned to OKC in 2018, having previously played for the club in 2014. His other clubs were Austin Aztex and San Antonio.
From the Ashes Prediction: While Rising will want the winning run to continue, it’ll be tough away to OKC. I think this will end in a draw, with a missed chance that will haunt.