CARSON, Calif. (August 22, 2020) – Orange County SC picked up all three points against Los Dos on Saturday night.
On yet another muggy August evening, LA Galaxy II kicked off what would prove to be a very physical first half. Orange County SC pressed the hosts in the middle of the park, with Brian Iloski working hard against his former team.
CARSON, Calif. (August 22, 2020) – Orange County SC picked up all three points against Los Dos on Saturday night.
On yet another muggy August evening, LA Galaxy II kicked off what would prove to be a very physical first half. Orange County SC pressed the hosts in the middle of the park, with Brian Iloski working hard against his former team.
Both sides pushed for an early goal, but it would be OC with the first clear-cut chance. Iloski gathered a pass from Kevin Alston at the top of the box and fired his shot goalward, but his effort was right at Abraham Romero.
Just a moment later, Los Dos threatened as Iván Gutiérrez whipped a low cross through the Orange County box. Augustine Williams was unable to convert the chance.
The match quickly became a back-and-forth affair, with Iloski having another chance seconds later. The forward’s shot was blocked and went out for a corner, during which Romero and Nathan Smith collided as the fullback looked to score a bicycle kick.
After a couple moments of treatment, both players were up and moving and play resumed.
In the 14th minute, Aodhan Quinn pinged a free kick out wide to Rangers loanee Cammy Palmer, who floated his cross in towards Ugo Okoli. Okoli was waiting at the far post, and casually redirected the ball into the back of the net.
Los Dos wasted no time in looking for an equalizer. After a few minutes of sustained attacking, they won a dangerous free kick just outside of the OC box. Maurecio Cuevas stood over it, and the full back curled his effort over the wall. Aaron Cervantes got a hand to the ball, but it was not enough to keep the shot out and the hosts leveled the match in the 20th minute.
More open play followed, and Adam Saldana picked up the first booking of the game when he cut down Iloski on a counterattack. Five minutes later Quinn tried his luck from distance, but his effort was just wide of the near post.
Both sides continued to attack, but neither side was very successful in the final third, and both teams went into halftime level.
Los Dos had the first clear cut chance after the restart, but Augstine Williams’ attempted header was sent well over the crossbar. Seconds later, Nathan Smith was booked for a heavy challenge on the touchline. Against an organized OC defense, the hosts were unable to capitalize on the set piece.
Orange County then took control of the game, and after a good build up, Cammy Palmer again punished Los Dos. Just before the hour mark, the Northern Irishman fired a rocket of a shot into the top left corner to restore the lead.
Despite conceding possession to the hosts, OC looked confident of maintaining the scoreline. Nearly all Orange County outfield players were involved in denying the hosts an equalizer. With
15 minutes remaining, Palmer and Smith made way for Darwin Jones and Danny Crisostomo, with Kevin Alston moving across the pitch and taking over at left back.
Right after the hydration break, Cervantes denied Los Dos the opportunity to equalize twice. The young goalkeeper rushed off of his line to deny Augustine Williams a shot before pouncing on the rebound. The 18-year-old again continued to deny the hosts, picking up a save and punching a cross away from danger as time ran down.
Kevin Coleman replaced Edson Alvarado in the 87th minute. Three minutes into extra time, Kobi Henry made his debut for Orange County, coming on for Iloski.
Los Dos had one final chance in the dying seconds of the match, but Sebastian Nava’s shot from distance was well wide of the far post. It would be the penultimate kick of the game, as the referee blew for full time on the restart.
Scoring:
1-0: 14’ Ugo Okoli (Cammy Palmer)
1-1: 20’ Mauricio Cuevas
2-1: 59’ Cammy Palmer
Discipline:
25’: (LA) Adam Saldana (yellow)
50’: (OC) Nathan Smith (yellow)
72’: (OC) Cammy Palmer (yellow)
84’: (LA) Jesus Vasquez (yellow)
Both sides pushed for an early goal, but it would be OC with the first clear-cut chance. Iloski gathered a pass from Kevin Alston at the top of the box and fired his shot goalward, but his effort was right at Abraham Romero.
Just a moment later, Los Dos threatened as Iván Gutiérrez whipped a low cross through the Orange County box. Augustine Williams was unable to convert the chance.
The match quickly became a back-and-forth affair, with Iloski having another chance seconds later. The forward’s shot was blocked and went out for a corner, during which Romero and Nathan Smith collided as the fullback looked to score a bicycle kick.
After a couple moments of treatment, both players were up and moving and play resumed.
In the 14th minute, Aodhan Quinn pinged a free kick out wide to Rangers loanee Cammy Palmer, who floated his cross in towards Ugo Okoli. Okoli was waiting at the far post, and casually redirected the ball into the back of the net.
Los Dos wasted no time in looking for an equalizer. After a few minutes of sustained attacking, they won a dangerous free kick just outside of the OC box. Maurecio Cuevas stood over it, and the full back curled his effort over the wall. Aaron Cervantes got a hand to the ball, but it was not enough to keep the shot out and the hosts leveled the match in the 20th minute.
More open play followed, and Adam Saldana picked up the first booking of the game when he cut down Iloski on a counterattack. Five minutes later Quinn tried his luck from distance, but his effort was just wide of the near post.
Both sides continued to attack, but neither side was very successful in the final third, and both teams went into halftime level.
Los Dos had the first clear cut chance after the restart, but Augstine Williams’ attempted header was sent well over the crossbar. Seconds later, Nathan Smith was booked for a heavy challenge on the touchline. Against an organized OC defense, the hosts were unable to capitalize on the set piece.
Orange County then took control of the game, and after a good build up, Cammy Palmer again punished Los Dos. Just before the hour mark, the Northern Irishman fired a rocket of a shot into the top left corner to restore the lead.
Despite conceding possession to the hosts, OC looked confident of maintaining the scoreline. Nearly all Orange County outfield players were involved in denying the hosts an equalizer. With
15 minutes remaining, Palmer and Smith made way for Darwin Jones and Danny Crisostomo, with Kevin Alston moving across the pitch and taking over at left back.
Right after the hydration break, Cervantes denied Los Dos the opportunity to equalize twice. The young goalkeeper rushed off of his line to deny Augustine Williams a shot before pouncing on the rebound. The 18-year-old again continued to deny the hosts, picking up a save and punching a cross away from danger as time ran down.
Kevin Coleman replaced Edson Alvarado in the 87th minute. Three minutes into extra time, Kobi Henry made his debut for Orange County, coming on for Iloski.
Los Dos had one final chance in the dying seconds of the match, but Sebastian Nava’s shot from distance was well wide of the far post. It would be the penultimate kick of the game, as the referee blew for full time on the restart.
Scoring:
1-0: 14’ Ugo Okoli (Cammy Palmer)
1-1: 20’ Mauricio Cuevas
2-1: 59’ Cammy Palmer
Discipline:
25’: (LA) Adam Saldana (yellow)
50’: (OC) Nathan Smith (yellow)
72’: (OC) Cammy Palmer (yellow)
84’: (LA) Jesus Vasquez (yellow)