Orange County SC drew, 3-3, with Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on Saturday, August 6 at Championship Soccer Stadium in Irvine, Orange County. OCSC was without July USL Championship Player of the Month Nominee Milan Iloski and had to rely on production from the rest of the team.
Both club’s defenses controlled the majority of the first half. The first shot on target was not registered until the 35th minute when Michee Ngalina sent the visiting Switchbacks into the lead 1-0 a curling shot that went by OCSC goalkeeper Patrick Rakovsky.
OCSC were dealt a helping hand when Colorado Springs defender Matt Mahoney was whistled for a handball inside his box in the 45th minute. Sean “Ugo” Okoli stepped up to the spot for the Orange and Black and made no mistake, beating Switchbacks goalkeeper Jeff Caldwell low and to the left and OCSC went into the halftime team talk level at 1.
OCSC kept their foot on the gas coming out of the locker room in the second half, as midfielder Seth Casiple whipped a corner into the box that defender Albi Skendi nodded on to the far post that was finished by midfielder Tommy McCabe for OCSC’s first lead of the night, 2-1 in the 46th minute.
Orange County was able to sustain periods of strong pressure and midfielder Dillon Powers in the 73rd minute saw to it that his side would capitalize on the momentum. After Erick “Cubo” Torres calmly controlled the ball with his chest at the top of the box, Powers unleashed a right footed effort that curled into the top corner for a 3-1 Orange County lead. It was Powers’s first goal since rejoining the team.
In what has been a recurring problem, OCSC could not see the match out to full time and let in two late goals in by Elvis Amoh and Hadji Barry. The latter scored his goal from the penalty spot in second half stoppage time after a handball.
OCSC will continue their homestand next Friday, August 12 as they face the Phoenix Rising FC during our second post-game fireworks show of the season. Tickets can be purchased here.
MILESTONES AND FACTS
Tonight marked Brian Iloski’s first start in the USL Championship this season
Patrick Rakovsky made his first start since June 18 @ Louisville City
Tommy McCabe scored his first goal with Orange County SC in 56 appearances
| TEAM | FIRST HALF | SECOND HALF | FULL TIME |
| COS | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| OCSC | 1 | 2 | 3 |
SCORING SUMMARY:
35’ Michee Ngalina (COS)
45’ Sean “Ugo” Okoli (OCSC)
46’ Tommy McCabe (OCSC)
74’ Dillon Powers (OCSC)
81’ Elvis Amoh (COS)
90+2’ Hadji Barry (PEN) (COS)
DISCIPLINE SUMMARY:
ORANGE COUNTY SC
54’ Kevin Partida
90’ Ian Hoffmann
COLORADO SPRINGS SWITCHBACKS FC
73’ Elvis Amoh
ORANGE COUNTY SC LINEUP:
Patrick Rakovsky (GK); Ian Hoffmann, Brent Richards, Albi Skendi, Michael Orozco (C), Alex Villanueva; Dillon Powers, Seth Casiple (Ahmed Longmire 83’), Tony Rocha (Tommy McCabe 46’), Brian Iloski (Kevin Partida 46’); Ugo Okoli (Cubo Torres 63’)
Unused subs: Colin Shutler (GK), Jonathan Gomez, Ivan Gutierrez,
Head Coach: Richard Chaplow
Possession: 34% | Shots: 7 | Shots On Goal: 4 | Corners: 1 | Fouls: 17 | Offsides: 2 |
COLORADO SPRINGS SWITCHBACKS FC LINEUP:
Jeff Caldwell (GK); Matt Mahoney, Cam Lindley, Jimmy Ockford, Isaiah Foster; Issa Rayyan (Dennis Erdmann 81’), Beverly Makangila (Elvis Amoh 57’), Stevie Echevarria (Aaron Wheeler 67’), Jairo Henriquez-Ferrufino, Michee Ngalina; Hadji Barry (C)
Unused subs: Christian Herrera (GK), Triston Hodge, Kharlton Belmar
Head Coach: Brendan Burke
Possession: 66% | Shots: 16 | Shots On Goal: 6 | Corners: 5 | Fouls: 18 | Offsides: 1 |
Orange County SC vs. Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
2022 USL Championship | Matchday 23
Date: August 6, 2022
Venue: Championship Soccer Stadium (Irvine, Orange County, CA)
Weather: OUR HOME. OUR COUNTY. ORANGE COUNTY.