Destiny In the Hands of the County
Let me set the stage. There are 10 games left in the regular season for Orange County. They are currently 7th in the Western Conference. They still have games in hand on every team above and below them except New Mexico. Of the remaining 10 games it is an even split between home and away games with six of them taking place against Western Conference opponents and nearly all of them against teams currently above OC in the table.
There should be no secrets to what OC has to accomplish. Anything less than a deep playoff run would be seen as a failure of a season. However it must be said that Orange County’s record is not a good representation of how well OC can play; for the most part. When Orange County plays to the best of their abilities they can beat anyone in the West, that part has been proven. However the question has been how often we see this OC team.
Orange County at home can score at will with a somewhat strong defense. But Orange County in road games has been a different story, especially when its Eastern Conference opponents. But OC will get another chance to get Danny Stone’s first win away against an Eastern Conference opponent when they travel to the hostile confines of Keyworth Stadium.
THE OPPONENT - DETROIT CITY FC
Detroit City FC in the USL era have yet to really lift off when it comes to postseason success. A prime example of this was in 2024 when they finished third in the Eastern Conference but crashed out in the first round on penalties to Tampa Bay. This is important for Detroit considering they have a whopping zero seasons where they have made it past the first round of the playoffs in the USL. Le Rouge are expected to make the postseason for a fourth consecutive season but it is looking like they will have to travel in the opening round.
The 2025 Detroit experience has been perfectly average to this point with Detroit having 7 wins and 7 losses to go with their 8 draws in league play. To really hammer home the point they also have a perfect goal differential of 0. In recent USL memory Detroit is known more for its defense rather than offense and while the 25 goals scored for them this season just hovers around league average it is considered low by Eastern Conference standards. Their recent run of form is indicative of this where Detroit has only registered two or more goals in just three games since June 14th. Detroit does still need results with ninth place Rhode Island being the biggest threat and also the last team to defeat Detroit a couple of weeks ago.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
It is perhaps the newest addition for Detroit City who has been their best in-form player. Having just played five games so far for Detroit City since joining from Las Vegas, Kobe Hernandez-Foster spent the majority of his USL time with Birmingham in 2025 where he made 15 appearances. However since joining Le Rouge he has already secured a goal and two assists in his last three games. This is already more than his entire 2025 with Birmingham. His first goal of the season was very important as it was the tying goal against San Antonio last weekend that kept Detroit’s unbeaten run of four games intact.
On the orange side of things, they have received their second loan of the season and the second loan from the Colorado Rapids system coming in the form of Malik Pinto. He is an American defensive midfielder which is perhaps the area of the pitch that had the least amount of depth for Orange County. Pinto in the 2025 MLSNP season with Rapids 2 has four goals, three assists in 23 appearances this season. Pinto does have MLS experience with FC Cincinnati last season but at 23 years old becomes another young player joining an already young OC team.
PREDICTED STARTING XI
Larry Butterfas gives us his insight into just how OC will line up when dealing with a number of players on international duty and injuries.
The biggest variation for this week will likely be at the left winger position with no Guimaraes or Bryce so Roberto Molina will get the start. Molina has just begun his second stint with Orange County and was brought into the midfield for much needed depth. This is also why Stephen Kelly will make his return after serving his suspension in his usual spot. Chris Hegardt who scored a goal last week will get rewarded with another start. As such the utilityman Nico Benalcazar will make a rare right back start giving Ciotta a break after a rough game last week.
THE MATCHUP
Not a common opponent for Orange County but DCFC has yet to even get points off of Orange County. Two matchups between the two clubs with OC having come out victors in both games. This is Orange County’s second time going to Keyworth Stadium. In 2023 they came away with a 1-0 victory. Looking at the bigger picture regarding the playoffs, Orange County is one point above the playoff line and eighth place New Mexico with both teams having played the same amount of games. The biggest threat to Orange County at the moment are the reigning champions Colorado Springs who are tied with New Mexico on points at 27. They have a good chance today to get points when they host last place Monterey Bay FC. Orange County is still within striking distance of Lexington SC for fourth place. The goal for September is to set themselves up for the final push and hoping to not have to rely on other teams.
WHAT TO KNOW
Game - @ Detroit City FC (USL Championship)
When - September 6th, 4:00 PM PST
Where - Keyworth Stadium (Hamtramck, MI)
OCSC Form - DLWDW
DCFC Form - DWDWL
All-Time Series - 2-0-0 (2 Games)
TV - CBS Sports Golazo, Paramount+, Prime Video, KCAL