Orange County SC took to the road this weekend to face off against one of the best teams in the league, Sacramento Republic FC. In front of over 20K fans at an opposing team's stadium, Orange County proved once again that they can beat anyone, anywhere.

FIRST HALF:

Fans were prepared before this match for the absence of Milan Iloski due to a one-game suspension for yellow card accumulation. However, what shocked everyone as the lineup got released was the absence of goalkeeper Colin Shutler and, in his place, Juan Santana, an eighteen-year-old making his professional debut in one of the most challenging battles this season. As nervous as everyone probably was before the match started, the idea of a young goalkeeper making his mark at this stage of the season was also thrilling.

Sacramento came onto the pitch with a fire under their feet and completely controlled the first few minutes of the match. They were passing all around the OCSC midfield and pushing their momentum forward. So it was no surprise that the young keeper Santana got tested in only the 2nd minute of play. After a long ball sent up the field, Russell Cicerone had County's backline thoroughly beaten. Santana made a risky but intelligent move by running out of his box and clearing the ball away before Cicerone could make contact.

In the 8th minute, Thomas Amang used superior footwork to get around a few of the Republic defenders and pass it to Bryce Jamison at the top of the box for Orange County’s first chance at a goal. Jamison took the shot, but it went straight into the arms of Danny Vitiello.

With such a young, fresh goalkeeper in the box for Orange County, it was clear that Sacramento Republic's offense was trying to take advantage by shooting from any spot on the field. Both Jack Gurr and Lopez Salazar sent in shots from quite a few yards outside the box. Luckily, Orange County's defense was there to deflect one away, and the other attempt went wide. But the home team had a good strategy early on to test Santana as much as possible.

As one might have expected in a match between two top-class squads, the first half was a midfield battle. Sacramento did have most of the possession, but OCSC players Kyle Scott, Dillon Powers, and Ryan Doghman were crucial in challenging their opponents in the middle of the field to steal back some of the momentum. However, neither team could find their way past their opponent’s defense to make any pivotal attacks on goal, keeping the score nil-nil at halftime.

SECOND HALF

With no lineup changes made on either side during halftime, Morten Karlsen must have planned to adjust the current squad’s strategy to regain control from an overall dominant Sacramento Republic.  

The boys in black and orange came onto the pitch for the second half, looking more like the team we have seen in the past six games. Even when they didn't have the ball, they kept the aggression to win it back. When they made a mistake, players like Kevin Partida and Scott were there to cover each other and prevent Sacramento from gaining any vital attacking pressure.

A perfect example of this team’s cohesion came in the 54th minute when Partida won the ball back in their half and passed it up to Brian Iloski, who attempted a run up the right side. He lost the ball, and as Sacramento tried to push back, Scott was there to steal it back. A quick succession of passes between Scott, Powers, and Jamison opened up the space on the pitch for Amang to start his run. Scott sent the ball forward over the head of defender Conor Donovan, and Amang got around him for a one-on-one with Vitiello. He took the shot to the far corner and opened the scoreboard for Orange County, making it 1-0.

As soon as play resumed, Cicerone was eager to equalize things as he received the ball in the top corner of the box. He was patient and tried to find an opening, but brilliant space awareness from Markus Nakkim and Owen Lambe on defense prevented any clear window, and Cicerone ended up sending the ball high and wide of the net.

Cicerone wasn't done looking for his goal, though, and only ten minutes later, after a throw-in, Zeiko Lewis took the ball to the end line and passed it backward to Cicerone in the middle of the box. He took a strike that could get past any keeper in the sport, but Santana made the save of the match as he extended his body out and cleared the ball away from danger with his right foot, keeping his team in the lead.

Sacramento kept the attacks coming, looking with desperation for a goal to keep this match competitive, but Orange County’s defense has been better than every team they’ve faced, and this match was no different. The pair of Nakkim and Powers as center backs have been absolutely crucial in clearing away any danger in the box. Powers especially had so many moments throughout the second half where he ultimately killed Sacramento's forward push. He was the brick wall the team needed to keep ahead of such a strong opponent.

The coaches from both teams matched each other in subs throughout the second half, bringing on five fresh players each. Although Sac had more possession, Orange County kept up throughout the half and looked for a counter to seal their victory.

That brilliant moment came in the 84th minute after Powers came forward to the half line, won the ball back, and quickly passed it up to one of the key subs, Marc “Sparky” McNulty. Sparky got around Vitiello but didn’t have the right angle after his touch to take a shot on the open net. Instead, with perfect patience, he turned the ball around and passed it center, where Seth Casiple ran in to take a one-touch shot into the net. Orange County had a 2-0 lead that the Sacramento Republic couldn’t bounce back from, giving the black and orange their seventh consecutive win of the season.

OVERVIEW:

There is no denying the incredible form that Orange County SC is currently in. With a new club record of seven wins in a row, this team is now in third on the table with second and first place in their sights. The way this squad is playing under gaffer Morten Karlsen, they are undoubtedly the best team in this league right now.

Some absolute highlights of this match come from Juan Santana, making his professional debut by earning a shutout against the number one team in the Western Conference, and Dillon Powers, who locked down the defense and started the counterattack that led to the second goal.

Next weekend, they will look to make it eight wins in a row as they go back on the road to face off against Las Vegas Lights FC on Saturday, September 2nd.