Orange County SC dominated Las Vegas Lights in a 4-0 victory at home, despite the absence of key midfielder Kyle Scott and a potential season-ending injury to Lyam Mackinnon. The team's strong performance, with goals from Zubak, Doghman, War, and Hegardt, put them in eighth place at the halfway point of their season.
All professional sports are businesses at heart that after some time would like to see some returns made on investments. One of the bigger sources of income that OC possesses is their youth academy. When comparing OCSC’s academy to other USL academies, Orange County has placed themselves into the elite in terms of developing and selling off players for a profit. It is a way of running a club that is proven in other parts of the world and one that OC has looked to establish in a very deep and talented Southern California market.
If there were ever a must-win game that did not result in elimination, this would be the game.
This game has the dubious honor of not just being a much needed win for playoff positioning but OC, in simple terms, needs to win a game. This season has had the highest of highs and lowest of lows all before a playoff game has even started. What a coincidence it is then that the game in question can propel Orange County SC back into the playoffs after a one-year hiatus. Last week OC were able to tough out a point in the desert with a 1-1 effort against Phoenix Rising FC. That matchup actually gave Phoenix a postseason spot but not OC even though they are even on points.
There are only three games remaining in the 2023 regular season and they will all take place in the Golden State. Orange County officially sit 5th in the Western Conference but are even on points with 4th-place Phoenix with 48 and two points behind 3rd-place San Diego. The top four teams in each conference will play the first round of playoffs at home. OC are hungry for a win but the team they are facing might be a bit more desperate.
