As far as Loudoun United seasons tend to go, last year’s started good, with 2 wins and a three game unbeaten streak to start their 2022, and they were looking to do it again Saturday night. Like Week 1’s win over Memphis 901 FC, it was on the road, and like Week 1, they found themselves again on a baseball field, this time against FC Tulsa. The results were markedly different this time, as they were downed 3-0 by a Tulsa side opening their home campaign, extending Loudoun’s record against the team to winless in all three appearances. So, is this 2023 blanking like those in years past?
Two things I liked
Everyone has a plan until they’re punched in the mouth.
And Loudoun responded kind of like Michael Spinks? To be blunt, goals in the last minute of the first half and first minute of the second half are in the ‘not great, Bob’ class, but they kept going after those, and Tommy Williamson almost pulled them back to within a goal with about 25 minutes to go.
Cole Turner, Cole Turner, Cole Turner
Did I like a centerback who was on the other end of a 3-0 loss? You’re goddamn right I did. 59/70 passing (84% accuracy), 8/13 duels won, 3 tackles, 3 interceptions, 2 clearances, already 3rd in Goals Added among all (yes, all) via ASA, something I jabbered about last week. This sequence may sum it up, where he smoothly intercepts, makes a progressive pass (usually short but in this case short and upfield) that leads to an albeit unsuccessful cross into the Tulsa box:
There’s a conflicting number below that could portend to bigger trouble, but individually I’m liking the Cole Turner at centerback experience.
One concern I have
Chances are coming, but they’ve gotta get finished.
I complained last week about what’s going to happen with Ryan out and zero goals was what the simplest, accurate fear. And as a team they are overperforming their xG (4 actual to 3.24 expected). But if you take Ryan’s work out of the mix, Loudoun has 1 actual to 2.21 expected, and for a team that’s usually had problems in that category, they’ll need to work on that promptly.
Check this Stat
6.09 – The Expected Goals Allowed by Loudoun after three games this season. Granted, ASA had Tulsa pretty much dead on for Expected to Actual Saturday, but that’s the highest total by more than a goal over 2nd place Hartford. Will wait to see how the goalkeeping shakes out over the coming weeks (his defense did him little wonder on two of those goals), but could be cause for future concern.
Highlights
Match Summary
Loudoun United FC 0 – FC Tulsa 3
Scoring Summary
TUL – Blaine Ferri 45+1′
TUL – Milo Yosef 46′
TUL – Marcus Epps (Rodrigo Da Costa) 90+5′
Misconduct Summary
TUL – Moses Dyer (caution) 28′
LDN – Cole Turner (caution) 29′
LDN – Tommy Williamson (dissent) 35′
TUL – Jorge Corrales (caution) 53′
TUL – Bradley Bourgeois (caution) 90+3′
Loudoun United FC starting lineup (4-3-3):
Starting XI: Hugo Fauroux, Koa Santos, Yanis Leerman, Cole Turner, Gaoussou Samake, Panos Armenakas, Aidan Rocha (Juan Ramirez, 67′), Houssou Landry (Jeremy Garay, 46′), Kalil ElMedkhar, Tommy Williamson, Abdoul Zanne (Wesley Leggett, 46′)
Unused Substitutes: Dane Jacomen, Abdoul Koanda
FC Tulsa starting lineup (4-2-3-1):
Starting XI: Justin Malou (Bradley Bourgeois, 61′), Ruxi ( Siad Haji, 78′), Blaine Ferri (Christopher Pearson, 70′), Marcus Epps, Collin Fernandez, Rodrigo Da Costa, Rashid Tetten, Jorge Corrales, Milo Yosef (Brett Levis, 61′), Michael Nelson, Moses Dyer (Dario Suarez, 70′)
Unused Substitutes: Angel Bernal, Austin Wormell
Cole Turner is a good prospect. Would love to see him come through to the 1st team if we can still do that easily. Especially as Pines contract is running out and he’s not exactly getting the minutes to gain confidence in his technical ability.
[…] imagine that when one goes from a 3-0 road loss last week to a 1-0 home loss this week, aside from it being less of a loss that one could say that it’s still the same result, […]