Sacramento Republic FC was only undefeated so far because they hadn't played Orange County SC. In a massive win at home, Orange County finally showed the changes needed to bring hope back to this 2023 season.
First Half
One hour before kickoff, OCSC fans were already getting excited at the potential for this match when the lineup was released. Most notable was a keeper change from Cody Cropper to Colin Shutler, who had played only one game so far this season before Cropper took over. This game allowed Shutler to fight back for the starting spot moving forward. The return of captain Markus Nakkim to center back was also a huge relief to see, as well as the first time both Seth Casiple and Owen Lambe made the starting XI, providing hope that the changes everyone has expected from the new head coach, Morten Karlsen, are finally showing on the pitch.
Those changes paid off immediately for Orange County in the 5th minute of the match after a fantastic long pass forward by Ryan Doghman found striker Marc "Sparky" McNulty, who beat the Republic back line and took it toward the box. Milan Iloski was not far behind, found perfect space at the top of the box, and opened himself up for the pass. He took one touch on it and followed through with a rocket of a shot right over the head of goalkeeper Carlos Saldana to open the game early for a 1-0 OCSC lead.
A near-catastrophic mistake from Shutler came fairly early in the match that could have changed the whole momentum of this match. He fumbled a pass backward from Lambe and lost the ball while falling over, leaving the net completely open for Sacramento to score. Luckily for the orange and black, Zeiko Lewis shanked the shot wide, allowing County to keep the advantage. It was rough to see Shutler's first moment back almost cost the team in a big way; however, as the game continued, it seemed that the mistake was just a little rust that he needed to shake off.
One of many questionable calls from the referee for this match came in the 23rd minute when Nakkim was given a yellow card for a weak tackle in the middle of the field. A central talking point in the stands throughout the whole game was the confusion behind the ref's inconsistency of what constitutes a foul.
Sparky almost got his first goal of the season after Casiple sent a brilliant low pass up the right line to Milan, who ran the ball into the box and found Sparky. Unfortunately, he may have taken one too many touches on the ball and ended up firing the shot far above the crossbar. However, the whole setup showed the changes in Orange Countyโs attacking strategy. The quick ball forward from Casiple completely caught Sacramento's back line off guard. This allowed the strikers in orange to find open space on the final third of the pitch, a perfect summary of what the midfielders were doing to keep OCSC so successful in the first half.
Republic did have a few moments of nearly finding the equalizer with two shots before the 30th minute. The first came from Jack Gurr, who took a far shot outside the box that hit the crossbar. Shortly after, a harmonious pair of passes in Orange Countyโs box opened Russel Cicerone to take a shot that narrowly went wide. Shutler was challenged by a dangerous cross that came into the box, but he made a diving punch to clear the ball away before Juan Sebastian Herrera could connect the header, ending the half with Orange County in the lead.
Second Half
A couple of half-time switches to the lineup for Orange County provided them with some fresh legs on the field. Bryce Jamison and Brent Richards replaced Sparky and Lambe, hoping to hold onto their lead. And the decision paid off as the first several minutes saw OC earn three corner kicks after some great passing plays and energy that opened Sacramentoโs defense for consistent early pressure.
Milan was eager to find a second goal as he took multiple shots on net any chance he got. His footwork in the box was a refreshing return to form from his Golden Boot run in 2022; however, the shots themselves were still rough around the edges, with a few missing the target high or wide while one went straight at the goalkeeper for an easy save. Nevertheless, even though he couldn't earn his brace this game, it was inspiring to see Milan's attacking awareness back in a big way.
In a scary moment in the 68th minute, Ashish Chattha got injured when it looked like his ankle either got stepped on or rolled after a push from Sacramento. Chattha had to come off the pitch and be replaced by Ashton Miles to bolster the defense.
Speaking of defense, Orange County looked better than they have had all season thus far. The center-backs held their line firm and trusted the midfielders to cover any loose balls in the box with calculated clearances to open some counterattack opportunities. The chemistry between the defense and the midfield during the game was crucial in holding back most of Sacramentoโs attacking strategies.
Shutler kept his shutout intact when Cicerone sprinted into the box to receive a headed pass and took a shot toward the far corner of the net. But Shutler denied the strike with a critical dive and knocked the ball out, keeping his team ahead and earning their second clean sheet and second win.
Overview
The difference between this match and the game against the Oakland Roots last weekend was night and day. For the first time this season, Orange County SC looked like an organized unit ready to put effort into all 90 minutes. It wasn't a perfect game, and there is still a lot to be desired regarding the offense's ability to finish in crucial moments, but the drive to start winning games is finally evident for this squad. The lineup and defensive strategy changes allowed OCSC to end Sacramento's undefeated record.
The boys in orange and black have a quick turnaround this week and will play again at home this Saturday, May 20th, against rival team Phoenix Rising. If they can keep the momentum from this win, the rest of the league must start preparing for a huge Orange County comeback.