Orange County SC scored a stoppage time goal to draw New Mexico United, 1-1, on Saturday, March 26 at Isotopes Park in Albuquerque, NM. The stoppage time goal comes a week after forward Ugo Okoli scored the winner in the 90+9’ during OCSC’s home opener.
Forward Milan Iloski scored a close range header in the 90+1’ off an assist from Erick ‘Cubo’ Torres following a corner kick whipped in by midfielder Daniel Pedersen. Both Iloski and Okoli lead the team with two goals through the first three matches.
For the third consecutive match, head coach Richard Chaplow trotted out a different starting 11 with defender Kobi Henry away on international duty with the USMNT U20 in Argentina. It also marked OCSC captain and defender Michael Orozco’s 400th professional club appearance which spans the USL Championship, Liga MX and MLS.
Defender Albi Skendi slotted into the backline and was key in fending off New Mexico’s attacks in the first half. Goalkeeper Patrick Rakovsky was busy early on having to save New Mexico’s long range shots making three saves overall.
As OCSC settled into the match, the attack took shape with balls being swung into the box and their own shots from long range. Iloski had the best of two early OCSC chances with one of them being a long range shot on frame and the other dribbling just wide of the goal.
After much build up in the second half, New Mexico bagged the first goal with a header from very close range by Harry Swartz off a cross from Daniel Bruce with nearly 20 minutes left in the match.
The USL Championship title holders pushed forward looking for an equalizer by stretching the field wide and moving the ball onto the feet of their attackers. Both Cubo and Iloski had more opportunities in the attacking third, with the latter nearly connecting on a diving header. It was Cubo’s header in the 90+1’ from forward Korede Osundina’s cross that forced the New Mexico goalkeeper into an acrobatic save leading up to the decisive corner kick.
OCSC has a break from USL Championship play as it enters the second round of the 2022 U.S. Open Cup when they host NISA side LA Force on Tuesday, April 5 at 7:30pm PDT at Championship Soccer Stadium in Irvine, tickets are on sale here. OCSC will continue at home in a rematch of the 2021 Western Conference Final against San Antonio FC on Saturday, April 9 at 7:00 PM, tickets can be purchased here.
TEAM | FIRST HALF | SECOND HALF | FULL TIME |
OCSC | 0 | 1 | 1 |
NMU | 0 | 1 | 1 |
SCORING SUMMARY:
78’ Harry Swartz (NMU)
90+1’ Milan Iloski (OCSC)
DISCIPLINE SUMMARY:
ORANGE COUNTY SC
50’ Mikko Kuningas
72’ Albi Skendi
90+1’ Milan Iloski
NEW MEXICO UNITED
38’ Will Seymore
ORANGE COUNTY SC LINEUP:
Patrick Rakovsky (GK), Alex Villanueva (80’ Danny Acosta), Michael Orozco (C), Milan Iloski, Seth Casiple (79’ Korede Osundina) Cubo Torres, Daniel Pedersen, Tony Rocha (66’ Kevin Partida), Albi Skendi, Mikko Kuningas (66’ Ugo Okoli), Hunter Gorskie
Unused subs: Colin Shutler (GK), Blake Malone, Tommy McCabe
Head Coach: Richard Chaplow
Possession: 48.4% | Shots: 12 | Shots On Goal: 5 | Corners: 2 | Fouls: 19 | Offsides: 0 |
NEW MEXICO UNITED LINEUP:
Alex Tambakis (GK), Alexis Souahy, Will Seymore, Rashid Tetteh, Daniel Bruce, Harry Swartz, Sam Hamilton (C), Justin Portillo, Chris Wehan, Neco Brett (88’ Ilija Ilic), Preston Tabort Etaka (45’ Sergio Rivas)
Unused subs: Ford Parker (GK), Raddy Machel Ovouka, Micheal Azira, Jerome Kiesewetter, Cristian Nava
Head Coach: Zach Prince
Possession: 51.6% | Shots: 14 | Shots On Goal: 4 | Corners: 6 | Fouls: 6 | Offsides: 1 |
Orange County SC vs New Mexico United
2022 USL Championship | Matchday 3
Date: March 26, 2022
Kickoff: 4:06 MT (3:06 PM PDT)
Venue: Isotopes Park (Alburquerque, CA)
Weather: Nice.