In a critical match for Orange County SC’s season, the County Boys continued to rise up the table with a barrage of goals against longtime rival Phoenix Rising FC.
FIRST HALF:
No one can deny the center back pairing of Vuk Latinovich and Tom Brewitt has been absolutely crucial in the recent success of Orange County SC, with five shutouts in six matches. However, this week, Latinovich was absent, and Nico Benalcazar took his spot with big defensive shoes to fill.
The boys in orange and black continued to show their midfield dominance early in this match, which has been vital to the recent success. With a strong high press on the Phoenix defense and quick passing, they were able to create a handful of chances in the first ten minutes.
The best of these came after Ousmane Sylla rushed to win back the ball just outside the box and ended up earning a free kick for his team. Stephen Kelly sent a perfect ball into the center of the box, where Ethan Zubak connected with the header. Goalkeeper Patrick Rakovsky saved it, but the momentum was building.
The opposition had a few moments of their own that broke into OCSC's box; however, the defensive line was always up to the task and kept Phoenix from finding a single shot on target in the first half. Brewitt did exceptionally well under pressure, making some crucial recoveries and sliding tackles that undoubtedly prevented a goal.
The County Boys continued to push forward and maintained the most fruitful possession in the final third. It all came together in the 20th minute when Kevin Partida threaded the ball through the midfield to Chris Hegardt, who, in turn, quickly passed it to Zubak on the left side. Zubak dribbled into the box, cut from left to right, then fired a shot into the top bins to open the scoreline 1-0 Orange County SC.
Other than a phenomenal performance from the Orange County midfield, the first half showed how important captain Tom Brewitt has become to the success of the squad. In the 37th minute, he made a great shot from the top of the box that only narrowly missed the net, and a minute later, Phoenix got their best shot of the half that would have found the back of the net if Brewitt wasn't there to block the shot, keeping his team in the lead at halftime.
SECOND HALF:
Orange County SC started the second half with a sprint. In the 58th minute, Partida once again started the moment with a pass to Hegardt in the midfield. He passed it to Ryan Doghman and then to Zubak on the left, a move all too familiar from the first goal. This time, however, Zubak took the ball toward the end line and passed it back to Doghman in the middle for a quick shot in the far corner of the net for a 2-0 lead.
After the second goal, both teams decided to go to the bench. Phoenix brought on Ihsan Sacko while Bryce Jamison and Koa Santos stepped onto the pitch for Orange County.
It was the Phoenix substitute that made the first impact on the match. Darius Johnson received the ball on the left side, cut toward the center, and crossed in a beautiful pass over the head of Benalcazar. Sacko headed the ball down and into the net to bring his team back into it, now with a scoreline of 2-1.
The minor setback did not discourage the County Boys, though, and only a few minutes later, they were back on the attack. Another passing sequence in the midfield opened the defense to pressure from the outside. Hegardt passed the ball to Jamison on the right; he cut toward the center and took a low shot that curved around Rakovsky into the far corner, widening the lead by two once again.
In the 81st minute, some drama between the two sides led to a booking. Colin Shutler and Pape Mar Boye collided in the box as both went for the ball. Shutler made the catch but went to the ground hard, prompting a defensive reaction from the OCSC players to protect their keeper. A chaotic scuffle between the two sides led to a Boye receiving a hands-to-throat red card, giving Orange County a one-man advantage for the remainder of the match.
Pedro Guimaraes was subbed on to give Hegardt a rest and, in the final minute of regulation, found a goal of his own after an excellent assist from Jamison to seal the Orange County SC victory at 4-1.
OVERVIEW:
Another four-goal victory at home continues Orange County SC’s rise up the table from eighth to fifth place in the Western Conference, providing some hope that this season is heading in the right direction.
One of the most significant issues that led to OCSC's inconsistent results was an inability to finish; however, in the past three matches, they have scored nine goals, with six different goal scorers.
The offense has finally found their finishing touch, but in reality, the recent success is on the shoulders of the fantastic midfield display the team has been showcasing the past few weeks. Ousman Sylla, Chris Hegardt, and Kevin Partida, especially, have been clinical in their passing and hold-up play that has allowed the team to dominate matches as of late.
Tom Brewitt has also found his stride as a leader of this squad, especially in keeping the opposing teams from finding shots on target. With two blocked shots, five clearances, and a 94% passing percentage, he was a massive reason for the night’s victory.
The squad will now have a much-deserved break with the next match on the road against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on Saturday, August 9th at 4:00 PM PST.
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