Orange County SC will return to play after 132 days as they host Phoenix Rising FC on Thursday night. It will be the first match in Group B play for OC.
Orange County fought to a goalless draw with El Paso Locomotive in their first and only match of this season.
Phoenix have scored 10 goals in just two games to start their campaign, beating fellow Group B side LA Galaxy II 4-0 on July 11.
Michael Orozco in action against El Paso in March. The captain will have a difficult job on Thursday. Photo courtesy of Liza Rosales.
Against a potent offense, the OC defense will look for another shutout performance. The signing of Kobi Henry bolstered a defense that features a mix of current and former internationals, including Michael Orozco and Blake Malone.
Kevin Alston, Thomas Enevoldsen, Danny Faundez, Chandler Hoffman and Matthew Shiels are unavailable. Phoenix Rising have no selection issues.
Without Enevoldsen and Hoffman, OC are unlikely to play in their usual shape. Cloutier has shown a preference for playing a 4-4-2 in emergencies, and it is likely what OC will play with.
The match kicks off at 6 p.m. Pacific at Championship Soccer Stadium at the Orange County Great Park. However, fan attendance is currently prohibited due to state mandates concerning COVID-19.
The match will not be broadcast on ESPN+. Instead, this match will be broadcast live on ESPN2 in the United States. Viewers will need access through a traditional TV provider to watch the match. International viewers will be able to watch live on the USL Championship YouTube channel.
Orange County SC and club partner Rangers FC will also feature the original documentary “Path to Glory” at 5:30 p.m. on ESPN2. The documentary will then be available on the ESPN FC YouTube channel for 48 hours.
It’s a tough ask… give us your score predictions below!