Orange County SC won their seventh match in a row, setting a new club record, in their 2-0 shutout defeat of Western Conference leading Sacramento Republic in front of 20,231 at Charles C. Hughes Stadium in Sacramento, CA. 18-year-old Next Wave goalkeeper Juan Santana made four saves in his first professional start and kept his first professional clean sheet.
Santana was tested early, with Sacramento earning the game’s first chance in the fourth minute. Defender Jack Gurr played a corner into the box that was headed on net by forward Russell Cicerone and cleared away by Santana.
Forward Bryce Jamison had the first chance for the Black and Orange later on in the eighth minute, but his shot from outside the box was saved by Sacramento goalkeeper Daniel Vitiello.
Santana was called upon again in the 25th minute after Cicerone played a through ball in the path of midfielder Keko Gontan. OCSC was able to quell the Republic attack after a nice piece of defending by defender Dillon Powers, who shielded Gontan and allowed Santana to slide in and collect the ball.
It was a rough and physical first half that did not produce many chances, one that likely left both sides feeling like the match was theirs for the taking.
It would be Orange County SC that would come out of the halftime break that took control of the match. After taking a knock a few minutes earlier, forward Thomas Amang capitalized on a defensive miscue from Republic defender Conor Donovan. Amang was then in alone on goal and beat Vitiello into the bottom right corner and the visitors led 1-0.
Sacramento looked to answer back in the 64th minute, when after a throw-in the ball found Cicerone in the box near the left post. The Republic’s leading goal scorer fired a shot low and to the near post, but Santana came up with a kick save to clear the danger.
The hosts had another chance in the 82nd minute, when substitute midfielder Christian Parano played substitute forward Luther Archimede behind the Orange County defense through on goal, but again Santana was equal to the challenge.
The Black and Orange would put the match on ice in the 84th minute after Powers made yet another critical play. The Orange County defender took the ball off Republic midfielder Keko Gontan, stopping a Sacramento attack in its tracks.
Powers then played a long ball into the path of substitute forward Marc “Sparky” McNulty and Sparky took a touch around the goalkeeper and centered the ball into the run of midfielder Seth Casiple who fired into an empty net and put OCSC ahead 2-0.
OCSC will look to make it eight straight when they head on the road to Cashman Field to face Las Vegas Lights FC on Saturday, September 2 at 7:30 PM. The Black and Orange will return home on Saturday, September 9 when they host El Paso Locomotive FC at 7:00 PM as a part of Heroes Night! Grab your tickets here today!
MILESTONES AND FACTS:
Tonight marked the first professional start for goalkeeper Juan Santana. Santana made four saves and kept a clean sheet in the victory.
Forward Thomas Amang scored his sixth goal of the season.
Midfielder Seth Casiple scored his first goal of the season, his first goal in an Orange County shirt.
Forward Sparky McNulty collected his third assist of the year.
| TEAM | FIRST HALF | SECOND HALF | FULL TIME |
| OCSC | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| SRFC | 0 | 0 | 0 |
SCORING SUMMARY:
55’ Thomas Amang (OCSC)
84’ Seth Casiple (OCSC)
DISCIPLINE SUMMARY:
ORANGE COUNTY SC
20’ Andrew Fox
84’ Kyle Scott
SACRAMENTO REPUBLIC FC
N/A
ORANGE COUNTY SC LINEUP:
Juan Santana (GK); Ryan Doghman, Markus Nakkim (C), Dillon Powers, Owen Lambe; Kevin Partida, Kyle Scott (Andrew Fox 66’), Seth Casiple (Ashish Chattha 87’), Brian Iloski (Kevin Lankford 66’); Thomas Amang (Sparky McNulty 77’), Bryce Jamison (Cameron Dunbar 77’)
Unused subs: Fernando Aguirre (GK), Brent Richards
Head Coach: Morten Karlsen
Possession: 41% | Shots: 5 | Shots On Goal: 3 | Corners: 1 | Fouls: 19 | Offsides: 1 |
SACRAMENTO REPUBLIC FC LINEUP:
Daniel Vitiello (GK); Lee Desmond (C), Conor Donovan, Jared Timmer; Damia Viader, Matt LaGrassa (Luis Fernandes 66’), Arnold Lopez, Jack Gurr; Russell Cicerone (Christian Parano 66’), Zeiko Lewis (Luther Archimede 66’), Keko Gontan
Unused subs: Carlos Saldana (GK), Juan Herrera, Rodrigo Lopez, Shane Wiedt
Head Coach: Mark Briggs
Possession: 59% | Shots: 19 | Shots On Goal: 4 | Corners: 6 | Fouls: 13 | Offsides: 3 |
Orange County SC @ Sacramento Republic FC
2023 USL Championship | Matchday 26
Date: August 26, 2023
Venue: Charles C. Hughes Stadium (Sacramento, CA)
Weather: You lost your 10th Anniversary match?? Can’t relate ¯\_(ツ)_/¯