Cody Laurendi was called upon early with a pair of saves from close range. Laurendi was able to deny Matthew Sheldon’s low attempt in the sixth minute and then just a minute later tipped Luca Lobo’s header onto the crossbar before it was cleared away to safety.

The Greens opened the scoring in the 17th minute. Kyle Hyland’s long throw from the left side touchline found Eissele at the top of the six-yard box, and the striker rose highest to nod the ball in the far post side netting.

Six minutes later, Tulsa equalized through fortunate circumstances. Laurendi and Atiba Harris collided while the former was trying to claim the ball and latter was trying to head it back to his goalkeeper. The ball fell to da Costa who made no mistake with the empty-net opportunity.

Omar Gordon nearly put the Greens back ahead in the 31st minute after controlling the ball in the box and juggling over Tulsa keeper Sean Lewis, but the defense was there to head the ball off the line and over the bar.

The visitors came close to taking the lead one minute into the first half when da Costa’s curling cross from the right wing found its way across the box and struck the far post.

The match changed in the 64th minute when Je-Vaughn Watson was given a second yellow card which forced the Greens to play with only 10 men for the remainder of the match.

Energy FC were still able to keep Tulsa’s attacking threat mostly at bay and nearly found the winning goal off a corner kick in the 91st minute, but Deshorn Brown couldn’t quite get his head on Rafael Garcia’s in-swinging cross.

The best chance of the second half for Tulsa came in the dying moments of the match, but Laurendi, as he’s done so often, came up big to deny Janu Silva from point-blank range in the 94th minute.

Energy FC Head Coach Steve Cooke was also dismissed from the match in the 88th minute.

The Greens are back at home next Saturday, August 10, as Fresno FC come to Taft Stadium. Kickoff for that one is set for 8 p.m. CDT, and tickets can be found at energyfc/com or by calling 235-KICK.

This Post-Match Report is presented by Southern Nazarene University. Learn more about SNU’s MASMA program here.

Scoring Summary:

OKC: 1-0: Eissele, 17’

TUL: 1-1:  da Costa, 23’

Disciplinary Summary:

OKC: Yellow Card (Watson, 27’)

TUL: Yellow Card (Hedrick, 33’)

TUL: Yellow Card (Rezende, 37’)

OKC: 2nd Yellow Card (Watson, 64’)

OKC: Yellow Card (Eissele, 74’)

OKC: Red Card (Cooke, 88’)

OKC Starting XI: GK: Cody Laurendi; D: Alvin Jones, Christian Ibeagha, Atiba Harris (c), Kyle Hyland; M: Cordell Cato (Callum Ross, 66’), Je-Vaughn Watson, Rafael Garcia; F: Jon Brown, Omar Gordon (Deshorn Brown, 68’) Christian Eissele (Mekeil Williams, 78’)

Substitutions Not Used: Bryan Byars, Alexy Bosetti, Amer Sasivarevic, Kal Okot

Tulsa Starting XI: GK: Sean Lewis; D: Matt Sheldon (Frantzly Zephirin, 85’), Cyprian Hedrick (c), Luca Lobo, Bryan Reves; M: Cristian Altamirano, Calvin Rezende, Manuel Gonzalez (Tobena Uzo, 78’), Matt Rodgers (DJ Dean, 73’); F: Janu Silva, Rodridgo da Costa

Substitutions Not Used: Mason Stajduhar, Yacoubou Wally, Jeff Addai, AJ Ajeakwa