TULSA, Oklahoma, CMC – Kazaiah Sterling, a 25-year-old forward who qualifies to represent Jamaica’s Reggae Boys, scored late to complete Pittsburgh Riverhounds’ comeback as the visitors rallied to earn a 2-2 draw against FC Tulsa on Saturday night.
Trailing 2-0 just after the half-hour mark at ONEOK Field following a 12th-minute penalty from Phillip Goodrum and a 33rd-minute strike from Boubacar Diallo, Riverhounds staged a remarkable comeback with a strong second-half surge, adding a layer of drama to the match.
The match took a thrilling turn when Daniel Griffin started the comeback with a 64th-minute penalty. However, it was Kazaiah Sterling, the England-born forward, who truly stole the show. Coming off the bench in the 72nd minute, he made an immediate impact, netting a crucial goal five minutes from time and leaving the audience on the edge of their seats.
Pittsburgh is currently on an impressive unbeaten run of six outings, a testament to their strong form. They are now placed sixth in the Eastern Conference with 12 points, a position that reflects their consistent performance, while Tulsa is seventh in the Western Conference with 10 points.
The home side took the lead when Edward Kizza fouled Goodrum just inside the box, and the 26-year-old squeezed the resulting spot kick just past goalkeeper Gabriel Perrota.
The lead was doubled when Goodrum raced down the right and squared a pass into the box for the unmarked Diallo to stroke home confidently.
Staring at defeat, Riverhounds found a way back from the spot, Bradley Bourgeois fouling Junior Etou in the box and Griffin sending goalkeeper Michael Creek the wrong way.
Sterling, the hero of the match, was on the field for only 13 minutes. He was in the right place at the right time, ready to bundle home his finish from close range after Creek had quickly saved from Kizza and Robbie Mertz, showcasing his agility and quick thinking.
and then 