OKC Energy FC goalie Cody Laurendi makes a save on a shot from Orange County SC’s Harry Forrester | Photo courtesy of OKC Energy FC
Irvine, Calif. - Orange County SC traveled to Oklahoma City in hopes of extending their current win streak to three games. Although they had the advantage in possession and passing, Orange County fell behind on an early free kick from Alvin Jones in just the 4th minute of play. His shot took a deflection in the box that sent the ball away from Aaron Cervantes.
Orange County did well to keep the Energy off of the scoreboard for the rest of the first half defending away several headers and the defense had twelve clearances at half time.
Aaron Cervantes, whose first start saw him win Save of the Week, got his second start of the season. He did not disappoint in this start as well. In the 17th minute the ball fell to Energy’s Alexy Bosetti, on a throw in, who turned and put a hard strike toward goal, but Cervantes was up to the task and kept OKC’s lead at one. He also played a ball away with his head in the 60th to stop an Energy counter attack.
Orange County’s offense had a few good moments in the first half. The first was a shot by Harry Forrester that skipped just wide, but the best being in the 41st minute when Michael Seaton held the ball up and pulled four Energy players in his direction. Jerry van Wolfgang found his way into some space right at the top of the 18 yard box, but the ball skipped up right before his foot struck the ball and he sent the shot high over the top.
The second half saw an offensive onslaught for the Orange and Black, especially the last fifteen minutes. The game seemed to turn after several substitutes took the field including the newest player for Orange County, Frankie Amaya, who was just loaned from FC Cincinnati. The other was Vinicius, who continued his run of good form and had a couple of great looks on goal in the waning minutes of the second half with one being saved and deflected off the crossbar.
The best run of play started in the 80th minute. Orange County saw four corners in about four minutes. It started with a great shot from Aodhan Quinn, who saw his shot blocked wide by an OKC player. Orange County poured on the pressure and deserved at least an equalizer, but could not find a way to get the ball over the line.
Orange County will look to bounce back and get their first road win against Fresno FC on Friday, April 26th at 7:30pm.
Scoring:
4’: Alvin Jones
Discipline:
75’: Hugo Arellano (Yellow)
79’: Callum Ross (Yellow)
Statistics:
Jerry van Wolfgang had 4 successful crosses and 4 chances created for Orange County
Aodhan Quinn lead the team with 81 passes