@DJRaySamora (Orange County SC) led his eUSL side to an emphatic 3-1 victory over @niiaosd (Sporting KC II) on Friday evening.
OC started the twelfth match of the year with a new look as manager Ray Samora rolled out a 3-5-2 formation. It was a shaky start, with a threadbare back line getting caught in possession a few times. Much of the first half hour saw the two sides trading possession in the middle of the park, with only a couple of clear chances for either team.
It took over thirty minutes for the teams to settle down, and OC created a chance against the run of play in the 36th minute. Sebastian Giovinco found space in the box and rolled his pass to Frenchman Bafétimbi Gomis, who fired his shot into the back of the net from just in front of the penalty spot.
Five minutes before the half, Carlos Eduardo was bowled over inside the box and Orange County were awarded a penalty. Gomis stepped up and side-footed the ball into the bottom right corner, beating the outstretched hands of Cican Stanković.
Giovinco nearly added a third after 42 minutes, but the Italian’s curler was punched over the bar by Stanković.
OC went into the half up 2-0 courtesy of the Gomis brace.
Following the restart, OC looked content in possession, taking a more cautious approach into the attacking third. Samora switched his side back to the familiar 4-2-3-1, looking to grind out the win. After 70 minutes neither side looked close to scoring until Giovinco shot just wide from the top of the box.
KC II looked dangerous from the restart, slicing through the OC midfield. Goalkeeper Abdullah Al-Mayouf failed to clear his lines and KC II immediately punished the mistake, with Patson Daka firing his shot across his body, beating Al-Mayouf at the near post.
With 15 minutes remaining, the game was a frantic affair as both sides looked to score. OC again changed formation, to an even more defensive 4-1-4-1. KC II sliced through the defense and Masaya Okugawa looked certain to score, but the midfielder rushed his shot and sent it wide.
OC restarted and beat the high press with two clear chances in the final five minutes. André Carillo found himself free in the box and attempted a volley from 15 yards, but sent his attempt high into the stands. Two minutes later, Gomis completed his hat trick, blasting his effort from six yards past Stanković at the near post.
It was a sigh of relief for manager Ray Samora, who bounced back after a big loss in matchweek 11. “The back three worked out really well for us,” said Samora. “We decided to try that out to start the match, and I feel like it really helped out… it allows me to put another person up top which helps open things up.”
Samora’s donation to Relay for Life of South Orange County totaled $3 for this match.