Swope Park Rangers Head Coach Paulo Nagamura
On preparing for today’s game and the team's win streak…
Well, the mindset was that we were playing at home and we had a tough week as well with three games in one week, so we have to make those home games count and this is definitely one of those games. We had momentum on our side after beating San Antonio and Tulsa.
It was just a matter of playing our game, our style, and not giving OKC any chances to come into the game. I think we did a very good job of that in the first half by keeping the ball, being patient and creating chances and actively defending to deny OKC to create anything. In the second half, OKC stepped up and tried to press us more so it was a little more difficult, but I think at the end of the day the guys did really well defensively. They kept it tight and we minimized their chances to come back into the game.
On SPR's chances created today…
I think we created a lot of chances today to score. In the start of the season, we created a lot of chances and we did not put them away and now we are suffering. There is pressure and the team is fighting for the tying goal or to come back into the game and we just need to get better there. We had chances to put those games away. Now we are driving the game and managing the game with two or three goals.
Final thoughts…
I want to finish up saying that I think the guys did really well after this tough week. They found energy and they fought for 90 minutes and they didn’t give anything away and I am proud of how they fought.
Swope Park Rangers forward Hadji Barry
On his personal record of 12 goals, including goals in four straight games…
It feels good. I am doing something for the team, but my main focus is just trying to get three points every game that we come out to. It was great to finish out this week with three (wins) in a row. We just have to keep it moving, especially in these home games.
On next Sunday’s game…
We can enjoy this one and get a few days off and come back to training and start working hard. Every team we are playing right now are pushing for the playoffs, so we cannot let down. We cannot think that we are home and slow down. We have to keep going and not lose momentum and keep us going forward.
OKC Energy FC Head Coach Steve Cook
On coming off the winning streak and how he prepared the team for today…
Like we always do. I think the Swope Park Rangers are a very good team. I think they have good players with and without the ball. We know they are a threat, especially when they have some pace in the counter attack. I think, in a relatively even game, they took the one chance that they had and we had some chances and we didn’t. It came down to whoever scored that goal.
On the upcoming match against Orange County…
They are a very good team. We have to go there and with no loss of confidence from today. We go there in absolute confidence knowing that if we perform like we have done many times, it is good enough to win a game. Just the same as always.
