FIRST HALF
The worst way to start a match is by allowing a goal within the first minute, which is precisely what Orange County SC did last Saturday. Only 16 seconds from kickoff, Rodrigo Lopez won an interception on the left side and took the ball to the corner. He sent a cross into the box, where Trevor Amann jumped over the defenders to head the ball into the crossbar, bouncing into the side of the net to give the visitors the lead.
Orange County SC was clearly deflated after such a quick goal. High pressure from Sacramento kept Orange County from getting into any attacking situations. It seemed as if the midfield was unsure whether to push forward into the final third or sit back to assist in defending their opponent’s constant pressure.
Sacramento capitalized on that lack of confidence in the 25th minute, finding an opening once again on the left side of the pitch. Jack Gurr crossed it to the far post, where Aldair Sanchez tried to volley a shot on target. It wasn't a clean shot, but due to an awkward bounce, the ball sailed over goalkeeper Duran Ferree's head and into the net, giving the visitors a 2-0 lead.
It took two goals against to get there, but the boys in orange finally started to look creative and confident in the final third. After a quick sequence of passing from Brian Iloski and Kyle Scott, the latter found Lambe on the edge of the box, and the fullback sent a low cross to the far post. Thomas Amang made a sliding attempt to connect with it and pull a goal back, but he missed by inches. Still, the moment was the best the squad looked all half and provided some hope for a potential comeback.
Yet, no additional ground could be found in the first half, and Orange County SC would remain trailing by two after 45 minutes.
SECOND HALF
The best thing a team can do after being down 2-0 in the first half is to come back onto the pitch with confidence, and Orange County SC did just that. Although they still lacked offensive pressure, their defensive prowess was back to its usual form, preventing Sacramento from taking any dangerous shots on target.
In the 54th minute, Morten Karlsen made the first two subs of the night, with Christian Sorto and Ethan Zubak coming on to replace Cameron Dunbar and Sofiane Djeffal.
Thomas Amang was inches from scoring on Saturday night. Photo courtesy of Orange County SC
Ferree was clearly more confident in the second half as well. Sacramento sent a long ball forward, and Amann collected the ball, giving himself a one-on-one with the young keeper. Most days, that would be enough for a goal, but Ferree was quick off his line and made a diving tackle to stop the striker from getting another attempt at goal.
Zubak had the best chance of his time with Orange County after Sorto sent a beautiful pass up the center. A flick from Amang was then collected by Zubak in the box, and he took a shot that just barely went wide of the net. It wouldn’t have counted anyway, as he was a half-step offside, but the moment looked fantastic and should hopefully provide some confidence moving forward.
Although the squad responded well in the second half, with huge improvements with their passing into the final third and creative plays down the center, they needed help finding offensive magic to get a goal. Sacramento held strong at the back, and OC couldn’t claw their way back.
The match ended, resulting in Orange County SC’s first loss of the season.
OVERVIEW
It can't be denied that Orange County SC's first-half performance was poor. Getting scored on after just 16 seconds of play can kill the confidence of even the best teams in the world. However, this squad's response in the second half shouldn’t be ignored, and just because the result was a loss, hope isn’t lost for this 2024 squad.
Brian Iloski and Owen Lambe were bright spots in the tough defeat. They never seemed to give up despite being down by two. Lambe was constantly trying to find space on the touchline and set up his team’s best chances on goal, while Iloski constantly put everything he had into each play he was part of.
It’s been talked about many times already, but something does need to change regarding OCSC's offensive strategy. The squad's attacking presence desperately needs confidence and chemistry, which could possibly come from changes to the lineup combinations. Luckily, it is still early enough in the season for experimentation to find the right recipe to unleash the forward line's potential.
The adaptability of Morten Karlsen's team has already proven to be a huge strength this season, and only one loss in seven weeks isn't something to stress about yet. As long as the boys in orange and black can return stronger next week, their chances of rising back up the table are high. Fans will see Orange County SC back at The Champ this Saturday, April 27th, at 7:00 pm PST, to hopefully earn three points against Monterey Bay FC.