• Tulsa Roughnecks haven’t enjoyed the best of starts to 2018 (0W 5D 3L) and currently lie in 16th place, 13 points less and 14 places below Rising in the USL Western Conference. However, do not underestimate the task facing Rising tonight.
• The Roughnecks have not lost a game since March 31 – their 5-match unbeaten streak equaling a club record. All 5 games have ended in draws, including points on the road at Fresno, Sacramento, and Las Vegas Lights. Most recently in midweek, the Roughnecks were held 1-1 at home to Reno.
• Argentinian 23 year-old forward Fernando Arce currently leads the shooting table for the Roughnecks with 14 shots in 7 games. Four of those shots have been on target, but he has still to open his goal-scoring account this season. The former Independiente reserve signed in January 2018, and has also played 24 times on loan to Gimnasia de Jujuy in the Argentinian Second Division.
• Salvadoran midfielder Joaquin Rivas has scored 4 of the Roughnecks 7 goals to date. Currently in his second season at ONEOK Field, Rivas played 19 times for Sacramento in 2015 and 2016. He also spent the 2014 season at USL PDL side Kitsap Pumas (13 apps, 6 goals).

• Rivas is one of 3 former Sacramento players on the Roughnecks roster. The others are defenders Nemanja Vuković and Enrique Montano. Vuković made 15 appearances for Columbus Crew in 2012, and has also played in Montenegro and Greece. Enrique Montano played 33 times for Louisville in 2015 and 2016, but failed to register a first team appearance for Sacramento in 2017.
• Defender Paris Gee is likely to be at the heart of any Tulsa goal, collecting his fourth assist of the season on Wednesday. This is the Canadian’s second season at ONEOK Field. Gee’s career to date includes 35 games for NK Rudeš in the Croatian 2. HNL (2014-2016).
• Claudio Muñoz is expected to line up at the back for the Roughnecks tonight. The veteran defender previously enjoyed a 14-year career in Chile, including 2 full international caps for La Roja against New Zealand in 2006 and Cuba in 2007 (both friendlies). This is his first season in the USL, and he is one of 4 Tulsa players to receive a red card this season.
• Francisco Ugarte, Michael Binns, and Riggs Lennon have also received their marching orders for Tulsa in 2018.
• Four players have featured in all 8 games for the Roughnecks this season – Rivas, Gee, and midfielders Ivan Mirković and Adriano Jusino. However, no player has clocked up a full 720 minutes.
• 17-year old Jesus Ferreira became the Roughnecks youngest player in midweek, when he made a 62nd minute debut against Reno. The son of former FC Dallas midfielder David Ferreira, he is currently on loan from FC Dallas. Ferreira already has one MLS regular season game appearance under his belt, scoring in a victory over Real Salt Lake in 2017.
• Four other Roughnecks players on loan from the MLS are defender Wyatt Omsberg, forwards Femi Hollinger-Janzen and Jon Bakero, and goalkeeper Stefan Cleveland.
• Omsberg has made one MLS appearance for Minnesota United this season, playing all 90 minutes against New York Red Bulls on March 24, but is still awaiting his Roughnecks debut.
• Hollinger-Janzen has previously played 32 games for the New England Revolution, scoring 2 goals. The Beninese man has clocked up 1 appearance to date for the Roughnecks, in the 2-2 draw away to Fresno on April 18.
• Forward Bakero and Cleveland are both on loan from Chicago Fire. Bakero’s father has played for FC Barcelona. He made his MLS debut this season, playing the final minutes of the Fire’s 1-0 loss to LA Galaxy; and the loanee also recorded an assist in his second half Roughnecks debut away to Fresno. Bakero and Cleveland have both appeared once for the Roughnecks this season.
• The Roughnecks are most likely to concede in the first 30 minutes or last 15 minutes of tonight’s game. They have still to concede a goal 15 minutes either side of half-time.

• To encourage more youngsters to ONEOK Field, the Roughnecks currently admit any youth soccer player ages 12 and under for $5, provided they wear their team jersey. This is a great initiative, worthy of replication by other USL clubs, to help grow the sport and the league.

 

From The Ashes Prediction: A closely fought game, with Rising earning another valuable point on the road