The Inseparable Clubs Rekindle Old Rivalry
The 2026 season is underway for Orange County as they will make their first away trip of the season. Orange County SC will head to the state of Arizona and face up against Phoenix Rising FC. This will be the earliest matchup of the season for OC-PHX since the 2020 COVID season which gives this game a bit of a different feel than previous seasons.
What will be the case for this game is the fact that both teams are in a bit of a competitive lull. For a pair of teams who both have championship pedigree, 2026 could be a bit of a trying year for both. This was much the case in both opening games for OC and Phoenix with neither side able to win their games. While Orange County conceded a late equalizer, Phoenix conceded early in the beginning of both halves en route to a 1-2 defeat to San Antonio FC.
Orange County SC to put it lightly were downright awful in away games in 2025. Across all competitions, they went a putrid 4-4-12 with a goal differential of -9. This was a club that did not win their first road game of the regular season until the middle of June. If OC just does average on the road then they do not have to go to Sacramento or New Mexico in the playoffs. It has been an issue for the last couple of seasons now of not only scoring on the road, let alone winning. They will get their first crack at it at a place they have not had much success in as well.
THE OPPONENT - PHOENIX RISING FC
The 2023 USL Championship winners got their success last season from their offense that scored a lot more goals than they were expected to. It was Phoenix that rode their offense to a 5th seed appearance in the postseason. I mentioned that both clubs were perhaps not performing to the standard that they have set for themselves in the league. Orange County this is definitely the case but Phoenix last season actually had their best finish in the regular season since 2021. So take a team who did a great job on offense last season in spite of an okay defense and they go ahead and sign a lot of depth pieces on both ends of the field. They kept defenders Pape Mar Boye and Collin Smith from last season. If Phoenix are going to win games then they will have to score in bunches at the expense of conceding goals.
It is the second season in charge for manager Pa-Modou Kah and he will definitely have no shortage of players to plug into his systems which will adapt and evolve into different shapes as the game moves along. You can expect Phoenix to go from back four lineups to back threes and offense that can go both through the lines and be based on solo efforts. Phoenix will be an interesting team in 2026.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
The best player for Phoenix last season who is returning for 2026 as well is midfielder Hope Avayevu. All-team Second Team honors last season was the culmination of a great season for the playmaker who was in contention for the Golden Playmaker award as well with his 10 assists and 51 chances created. His six goals scored last season are nothing to scoff at either. Avayevu is only 23 years of age as well so the upside is definitely there. Avayevu for OC’s sake was actually a member of Ventura County FC for a bit and is another example of MLS trialists going to the USL for bigger opportunities. Last week in their loss to San Antonio, Phoenix was able to score off a penalty from John Searce.
On the orange side of things, Lyam MacKinnon might as well be a new player for Orange County. The former USL League One Golden Boot winner joined the Orange & Black last season and was only able to make 15 appearances across all competitions before an injury ended his season early. MacKinnon was perhaps the most exciting transfer for OC last year. The prior year he was able to score a league high 22 goals for Greenville Triumph SC which won him the aforementioned Golden Boot. His 2026 season is off to a great start as he opened the scoring for OC against Las Vegas on a through ball. He is a forward that does not need the ball at his feet constantly to make things happen and will look to return to his usual form.
PREDICTED STARTING XI
The starting XI from last week was nearly the exact same from what we saw in the final preseason game for OC against UCLA. Not exactly what I predicted but it did make sense.
First lets talk about the injury concerns that we are aware of. Ousmane Sylla did not suit up in the last game for Orange County for an injury that we are not exactly aware of. The second one is Grayson Doody who like MacKinnon saw his first season in Orange County decimated by injury. Expect both those players to return to the starting lineup when they are ready to go. I do not foresee much if any change to the lineup from the last game. The lineup did not do terrible but it can definitely improve.
THE MATCHUP
Orange County and Phoenix have quite the colorful history with one another. This rivalry dates back to the 2014 season which is ancient for USL terms.
Multiple playoff meetings and a USL title to both teams credit makes this a true rivalry. Also take into consideration that historically teams that OC have had derbies with do not last long. Teams like LA Galaxy II and San Diego Loyal have come and gone but Phoenix Rising has remained. This is definitely a mutual feeling for both fanbases as well. When the two teams meet again on Saturday it will be the 37th meeting all-time. Looking at the bigger picture, Orange County if they want to have more success in general then they need to play better on the road. It is that simple. What better stadium to do that than to be one that OC have yet to take 3 points from.
WHAT TO KNOW
Game - @ Phoenix Rising FC (USL Championship)
When - March 14th, 7:00 PM PST
Where - Phoenix Rising Soccer Stadium (Phoenix, AZ)
OCSC Form - D
PHX Form - L
All-Time Series - 11-8-17 (36 Games)
TV - ESPN+