AUSTIN, Texas – Jaime Chavez celebrated his 33rd birthday with a goal and assist as OKC Energy FC took its first victory under John Pascarella with a 3-1 win against Austin Bold FC at Bold Stadium on Friday night.

Bold FC had the first big chance of the night in the 15th minute when Billy Forbes beat OKC goalkeeper CJ Cochran to a chipped ball over the top and got around the shot-stopper, but his finish from the right side of the penalty area was blocked on the goal line by Energy FC defender Atiba Harris. The visitors also had some half-chances of their own following that opportunity, but in the 29th minute Energy FC broke through as a nice flicked header by Chavez allowed Jonathan Brown to break forward on the left behind the defense and shoot low into the bottom-right corner.

OKC’s lead was short-lived, however, as Austin’s Sonny Guadarramma produced an equally smooth finish four minutes later. A chipped pass by Omar Ciss to the top of the penalty area found the Austin native, who controlled with his first touch and then swept home a shot into the bottom-right corner of the net.

Bold FC captain Kleber had a late chance in first-half stoppage time for the hosts that was comfortably saved by Cochran. But just past the hour-mark Energy FC’s Zach Ellis-Hayden was brought down in the penalty area and Chavez buried his finish from the spot into the bottom-left corner to restore OKC’s lead.

The hosts almost found another response with 13 minutes to go as a deflected pass came to the top of the penalty area and teed up nicely for Kleber, who unleashed a first-time shot that was sharply parried away by Cochran. Guadarrama also went close on a sliding effort off a cross by Josue Soto that he just missed out on finishing two minutes later. But in second-half stoppage time, Jose Hernandez sealed the victory for Energy FC with a low finish after good work by Frank Lopez.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Jaime Chavez, OKC Energy FC – Chavez notched the game-winning goal and an assist, but also had a fine all-around game, completing 20 of 23 passes and winning 5 of 7 duels to lead his side to victory.