FC Tulsa ready in home opener for defending USL champion Phoenix Rising
A fast start will be stressed more than usual for FC Tulsa in Friday's home opener. FC Tulsa is preparing for their home opener against defending USL champion Phoenix Rising FC at 7:30 p.m. at ONEOK Field, with Stefan Stojanovic making an impact in his first season with FC Tulsa. The team is looking for a strong start in their next match against Phoenix Rising, which is defending champion. New FC Tulsa coach Mario Sanchez also plans to make his home debut. Despite a slow start last week in a 1-0 loss at Orange County, Sanchez believes that the slow start was due in part to injury to 2023 scoring leader Philip Goodrum. The defense has been solid in the first two matches, with only two goals allowed overall.
Published : 4 weeks ago by Barry Lewis Tulsa World, barry lewis in Sports
Stefan Stojanovic didn't take long to make an impact in his first season with FC Tulsa.
Stojanovic scored in the 11th minute of the team's opener March 16 at Las Vegas and was a spark in a 3-1 victory.
On Friday, Stojanovic and his teammates are looking for a similar fast start in their home opener when they face defending USL champion Phoenix Rising FC at 7:30 p.m. at ONEOK Field.
"I think everybody's really excited," Stojanovic said after practice Thursday about the home opener. "They will be a good team. We've watched quite a bit of video on them. But I think we have a good game plan. We're just gonna implement our style, and hopefully score a lot of goals, get a clean sheet and celebrate with the fans."
New FC Tulsa coach Mario Sanchez also will be making his home debut.
"We need to start real aggressive and on a positive note," Sanchez said. "Every game you want to start off quick, so (Friday) is no different. At Vegas we had a great start and that built momentum. It's important every game we play, it's something we talk about, but especially we talked a little bit more (Thursday) about making sure from the first whistle we're ready to roll."
FC Tulsa had a slow start last week in a 1-0 loss at Orange County. But Sanchez believes that was due in part to 2023 scoring leader Philip Goodrum's injury at the end of warmups that knocked him out of the lineup.
"The second half is what we wanted, we definitely should have got a goal or two," Sanchez said. "First half, the late-minute scratch with Phil, that definitely threw us off a little bit. Proud of the character the guys showed in the second half."
Without Goodrum for the home opener, Stojanovic will be counted on even more. Stojanovic played college soccer at Saint Louis and Georgetown. While at Saint Louis, he had an assist in a 1-0 win over the University of Tulsa in 2019.
Stojanovic was the 57th overall pick in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft by the Philadelphia Union and returned for a second season with the Philadelphia Union II of MLS Next Pro in '23. He led the team with 10 goals and had four assists. Stojanovic has four goals in 11 appearances with the U.S. Youth National Team.
His transition to FC Tulsa has been smooth as he followed up a strong preseason with a goal in the opener.
"It's definitely a different environment, a really good environment," Stojanovic said. "More physical, experienced players. I'm really happy to be here."
Tulsa's defense has been solid in the first two matches with only two goals allowed overall.
"We learned a lot from the first two games about our identity and who we want to be this year," said USL veteran defender Alexis Souahy, who will make his FC Tulsa home debut.
Phoenix is 1-3, but previous slow starts haven't kept the Rising from great seasons. Last year, Phoenix was 0-1-1 in March and in 2019 set a league record with 20 consecutive wins after opening 0-0-3. Phoenix also is coming off a 1-0 loss, at home against New Mexico. The teams played to a scoreless draw at ONEOK Field in their lone 2023 meeting on Sept. 9.
"Phoenix is very technical, they play really nice soccer, one thing that is impressive about them is they're going to stick to their identity, and try to play through pressure," Sanchez said.
"We're kind of where I thought we'd be, growing. Overall, I'm happy with where we're at and happy with the progress I'm seeing. To open up the (home) season with the returning champs is always fun and again it will give us another opportunity to see where we're at."
Looking ahead
Pairings were announced for the 16 games in the 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup's third round. FC Tulsa will host the Northern Colorado Hailstorm on April 17. Northern Colorado defeated Tulsa Athletic 4-1 in the first round.
A USL Championship rule change allows home clubs to add two players under the age of 18 to their matchday roster, bringing the total number of players available for selection in home matches to 20.