Pro soccer: Union play Tulsa to scoreless draw
SEASIDE — Missed opportunities left Monterey Bay F.C. and 4,000 plus fans numb in the fog Saturday at Cardinale Stadium.
While a point was produced, the Union could’ve and perhaps should have manufactured three points after playing FC Tulsa to a scoreless draw.
Monterey Bay F.C., who slipped to seventh place in the Western Conference’s United Soccer League Championship, outshot Tulsa 12-8, missing a penalty kick in the 90th minute to keep the game scoreless.
The Union, who have failed to score a goal in eight matches this season and have just 18 goals in 20 matches on the pitch –have 26 points in the standings, which would put them in the postseason for the first time if the season ended today.
Despite going 2-1-1 in their last four matches to improve to 7-8-5, a week off couldn’t be coming at a better time for Monterey Bay F.C., who has been riddled all season by injuries, with seven players out against Tulsa.
The Union did welcome back goalie and USL save leader Antony Siaha, who made two huge stops in the second half to keep Tulsa off the board in producing his fifth shutout of the season.
With Carlos Herrera — who started for an injured Siaha — registering a shutout last week between the pipes for Monterey Bay F.C., the team has not allowed a goal in its last 231 minutes.
The Union squandered a scoring opportunity in the 90th minute of the match when Ousseni Bouda’s penalty kick was stopped by Tulsa goalie Johan Penaranda.
Bouda, who is on loan from the San Jose Earthquakes, produced the game-winning goal last week in the Union’s 1-0 victory in Pittsburgh, snapping a five-game road losing streak.
With the tie, the Union are now 4-2-3 at home this year. Seven of their last 14 matches in the USL are at home. Ironically, the last time these franchises faced each other at Cardinale Stadium in 2023, it was a scoreless battle.
Fighting to get back in the postseason chase, Tulsa is 2-1-2 in its last five matches after a 2-5-4 start, sitting in the 11th spot with 18 points.
The Union will return to the pitch on July 27 at Louisville City FC.
