Orange County Soccer Club vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2
2017 USL Regular Season (Week Twenty)
Orange County Great Park, Irvine, CA
Saturday, July 29 – 5pm PST
Orange County SC Extend Unbeaten Streak
Irvine, Calif. (July 29, 2017) During this seven game unbeaten streak Orange County have been able to put together dominating offensive performances as well as demonstrate resolute defensive resilience. The latter was necessary in the match up over the weekend as a very versatile Vancouver Whitecaps FC2 side came to the Orange County Great Park. WFC2 provided a fluid attack that at times pinned Orange County SC deep in their own territory, but in the end Orange County SC did not concede to the pressure. A mainstay in the recent OCSC success, apart from the continually improving defensive performances, has been their ability to put the opposition under pressure early in games and often scoring an early goal. Against Vancouver FC2 was no different as Orange County SC found the back of the net in the opening minutes.
It was another early goal for Orange County SC, as midfielder Victor Pineda propelled the home team into the lead in the 10th minute. Off the first corner kick of the match for either team, Pineda knocked home a rebound from close range after Salomon Wbias’ initial header was saved by keeper Spencer Richey. Orange County SC controlled the initial stages of the match but Vancouver FC2 slowly built themselves into the game finding a steady stream of chances. In the 20th minute Charlie Lyon was called to action after a free kick wasn’t fully cleared from the Orange County SC defensive area. Lyon was able to spread his body for the save to deny WFC2’s Cole Seiler from close range. Just before the halftime whistle Orange County SC nearly doubled its lead. Monday Etim found himself in a lot of space right on the edge of the WFC2 penalty box and launched his shot from distance towards the net. Richey was equal to the task and at full stretch made the save.
Orange County SC played much of the second half on the counter as WFC2 looked to find an equalizing goal. The substitutes Gustavo Villalobos and Dusan Stevanovic saw ample opportunities fall their way but each of them were either batted away by the keeper or beckoned wide. Vancouver pressed the entire match for an equalizer and saw a larger portion of the possession but Orange County SC stood to their task and prevented them from scoring for the duration of the match. In the 81st minute the goal scorer Pineda nearly put the game out of reach. OCSC nipped the ball from a Vancouver defender and countered. Pineda found himself 1-v-1 with Richey and danced around the keeper, but Francis De Vries was able to clear the effort off the goal line.
Orange County SC next travel to Carson, CA to face crosstown rivals LA Galaxy 2 in the I-405 Derby. The match is Wednesday, August 2 at the StubHub Center.
ABOUT ORANGE COUNTY SOCCER CLUB:
The Orange County Soccer Club is Orange County’s Professional Soccer Team. The club was one of 12 founding members of the new United Soccer League (USL) in its inaugural 2011 season. The predecessor club Orange County Blues were the 2015 Western Conference Regular Season Champions and have reached the Western Conference semifinals of the USL Playoffs in back-to-back seasons. The club’s brand-new owner, James Keston, is the Chief Investment Officer of LARO Properties, and will actively oversee all operations of the USL club in Orange County. Keston is dedicated to transforming the club into a world-class professional soccer organization that focuses on the fans, players, and youth clubs of Orange County.
For more information about Orange County Soccer Club or to purchase tickets, visit: https://sportsengine-staging.go-vip.net/orangecountysoccer.
Contact:
Kelly Salmieri: VP, Marketing & Community Relations, kelly@https://sportsengine-staging.go-vip.net/orangecountysoccer, 805.844.0856