TUKWILA, Wash. – Ex-Seattle Sounders forward Sammy Ochoa rode into the Emerald City on Sunday night and punished Seattle Sounders FC 2 twice to give Tulsa Roughnecks FC a 2-1 victory over S2 at Starfire Sports.
The result snapped a four-game unbeaten streak for S2 and drops the club into last place in the Western Conference.
The first goal came early in the 8th minute when a hopeful Tulsa long ball took an awkward skip off the turf and found Ochoa at the edge of the area. Ochoa sent goalkeeper Tyler Miller the wrong direction as he slipped the ball back post while fighting off defender Brandon John.
“That early goal got to us and told us that we have to step up our game,” said forward Oalex Anderson.
Ten minutes later, that’s exactly what Anderson did. In the 18th minute, S2 pulled the game level when Anderson - who was playing down from the Sounders’ first team - finished off forward Myron Samuel’s free kick in spectacular fashion. The ball fell to him after taking a touch off a defender’s head deep inside box, which Anderson put away with a shoulder-height flying scissor kick.
“That’s what Oalex brings to you,” said head coach Ezra Hendrickson. “I thought he played a very good game besides the goal … That’s what we expect from the first-team players when they come down.”
Anderson scored four goals for S2 last season before signing a first team contract in March. Sunday’s goal was Anderson’s first for S2 in two appearances in 2016.
“It feels great,” said Anderson. “Every time you put the ball in the back of the net it feels great but to me it doesn’t count because we lost.”
Tulsa then scored the second and decisive goal of the evening in the 35th minute when Ochoa picked up a mishit back pass from John, took it in with Miller and passed it calmly into the back of net.
Ochoa scored three goals and added an assist in 17 appearances with the Sounders from 2011-2013.
“I think it was just two individual mistakes,” said Hendrickson. “[John] is a very good player, there’s a reason why we have him here. I think he’ll learn from this and get better.”
S2 will look to improve their standing on the road at Sacramento Republic FC on May 14.
