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GAMEDAY REPORT: Coleman’s Equalizer Leaves Orange County, Phoenix Level

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 07/16/20, 11:14PM EDT

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Cool finish with 16 minutes to go earned point for hosts after Flemmings struck first for Rising FC

IRVINE, Calif. – Orange County SC earned a 1-1 draw with Phoenix Rising FC as Kevin Coleman leveled for the hosts with just over a quarter-of-an-hour remaining after Junior Flemmings had given Phoenix the lead at Championship Soccer Stadium on Thursday night.

Neither side was able to gain the upper hand early, and it took until the 18th minute for the first clear look on goal to arrive as Phoenix’s Solomon Asante delivered a cross from the right that Rufat Dadashov flicked wide of the left post with a header from the center of the penalty area. Orange County’s first chance arrived soon after as a deep corner kick from the left by Seth Casiple found Michael Orozco at the back post, but his header was parried away by Phoenix goalkeeper Zac Lubin.

The team continued to exchange half-chances for the remainder of the first half, but in the final minute before the break Phoenix almost found the breakthrough. A corner kick from the right by Asante found Sam Stanton in a crowded penalty area, but his well-directed header came back off the crossbar and was cleared to safety.

Orange County created the first good chance after the break as Ugo Okoli got in behind the defense and cut back a low cross for Brian Iloski from the right, but the first-time finish from Iloski went high over the crossbar. That began the start of a more open half, which saw Asante have a shot headed to safety after a half-cleared corner and another shot that flew off target for Orange County by Daniel Crisostomo inside the opening 10 minutes.

Rising FC found the breakthrough with 25 minutes to go, however, as a corner from the right by Asante was flicked on at the near post by Dadashov, and Flemmings guided a header into the left corner of the net to put the visitors ahead.

Phoenix almost doubled its lead six minutes later as a mishit clearance by Orozco opened up a chance for Asante, but his finish past the advancing Cervantes slid just wide of the right post. That proved key with 16 minutes to go as a long ball forward by Orange County’s Rob Kiernan found Coleman as he broke forward and fire a low shot past Lubin for an equalizer.

Both sides pressed for a winner late, and in second-half stoppage time Orange County created a breakaway on a counterattack for Darwin Jones that saw him brought down outside the penalty area, resulting in a red card for Phoenix’s Owusu-Ansah Kontor.

The ensuing free kick by Okoli was comfortably saved by Lubin, however, and Phoenix almost found a winner of its own as Flemmings took on his defender and slid a shot to the far post from the right side of the penalty area that was almost redirected in by Santi Moar. That would prove the last real chance for either side, however, as honors ended even.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Rob Kiernan, Orange County SC – Kiernan was solid against a good Phoenix attack, and recorded two key passes from the back line including the assist on Kevin Coleman’s equalizer among 9 of 13 completed long passes.

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