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Matchday Report: Wehan Leads Orange County Past Sacramento

By USLChampionship.com Staff, 05/23/21, 12:09AM EDT

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OC native scores only goal in home debut for club to end Republic FC’s undefeated start

IRVINE, Calif. – Chris Wehan made it a memorable homecoming on Saturday night as the Orange, Calif. native scored the only goal to send Orange County SC to a 1-0 victory against Sacramento Republic FC at Championship Soccer Stadium. The loss was Sacramento’s first of the 2021 USL Championship season.

The hosts threatened first in the fourth minute as a cross from the left by Wehan was half-cleared to the top of the penalty area where Brent Richards caught a powerful half-volley that forced a good save by Sacramento’s Tomas Gomez. Orange County’s Eero Markkannen also went close 13 minutes later after winning possession on the right and cutting inside before firing a shot that Gomez tipped over the crossbar.

Sacramento’s first good chance didn’t arrive until just before the half-hour mark when Kharlton Belmar took possession in midfield and drove forward, but the Grenada international wasn’t able to get full purchase on his finish allowing Orange County’s Patrick Rakovsky to save. In the 33rd minute, though, came Wehan’s moment as he was played in nicely by Thomas Enevoldsen with an angled pass to the top of the penalty area that allowed the California native to fire home a first-time shot to the left corner.

Chances proved fewer in the second half as Sacramento looked to find a way back into the game, but Enevoldsen almost added a second for Orange County with 19 minutes to go with a shot from the right side of the penalty area that went just wide of the left post. The Danish forward then missed a golden opportunity on a breakaway after a defensive error in the center circle, shooting wide of the right post as he bore down on Gomez’s goal one-on-one. While Republic FC pushed hard late on for an equalizer, however, the visitors were only able to muster two shots on goal as Orange County saw out its first win of the season.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Chris Wehan, Orange County SC – Wehan marked his home debut for OCSC with the only goal of the game and had three key passes in attack while winning 8 of 14 duels and recording eight recoveries defensively.

Scoring Summary
OC
– Chris Wehan (Thomas Enevoldsen) 33’

Full Box Score

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