Loanees shine in third round of US Open Cup

Chicago Fire USL affiliate Tulsa Roughnecks FC are headed to the fourth round of the U.S. Open Cup to take on FC Dallas, the club’s first-ever match against an MLS side.

The Roughnecks advanced in dramatic fashion, defeating USL Western Conference leaders San Antonio FC 7-6 on penalty kicks last week in the Third Round, with Fire loanees Joey Calistri and Collin Fernandez leading the charge.

Their efforts were especially crucial after 120 minutes could not separate the two teams. When the two USL teams entered the shootout, Calistri was tapped to take the first shot of the endeavor. The former Northwestern Wildcat did not disappoint, converting from the spot and setting the tone for the rest of the shootout.

Fernandez further applied the pressure in the seventh round of the shootout, when he also finished in the shootout. The 20-year-old was cool, calm and collected throughout the whole match, and Fire head coach Veljko Paunovic should be impressed by the young midfielder’s performance.

“I am very excited for our guys who get a chance to go play FC Dallas. It was our seventh game in the month of May, and we won five of them,” Tulsa Head Coach David Vaudreuil said after the match; Calistri and Fernandez had a large role in the team’s success.

Tulsa had the weekend off, but will return to action against Swope Park Rangers in Kansas City on June 11.