SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Ronaldo Damus had a goal and assist as Orange County SC bounced back into the win column with a 3-1 victory on Saturday night against Sacramento Republic FC at Heart Health Park for its second win of the young season.

Looking to claim its second win in as many meetings with Republic FC this season, Orange County almost grabbed an early lead in the second minute as Sacrameto’s defense didn’t properly deal with a long throw-in by Brent Richards, clearing only to Chris Wehan, whose first-time shot flew just over the crossbar.

Sacramento’s Petteri Pennanen then had the first chance for the hosts blocked by OCSC’s Rhys Breen in the 10th minute, but midway through the first half the visitors struck as Damus scored his first goal in the Championship. After a free kick from the right by Mikko Kuningas took an initial bounce in the penalty area, the 2019 USL League One Golden Boot winner was first to redirect the ball into the net from close range.

Republic FC had a chance to equalize 10 minutes before halftime as Jordan McCrary delivered a deep cross from the right to the back post where Cam Iwasa wasn’t able to control his header as it went high and wide. Orange County doubled its lead four minutes into the second half, however, as a corner kick from the left by Wehan to the back post found Richards for a header back across goal that was nodded home by Eero Markkanen.

Sacramento was then reduced to 10 men three minutes later as Dan Casey was sent off for kicking out at Brian Iloski after the players had tangled in a challenge near the touchline. Despite being a man down, though, Republic FC pushed forward to try and get back into the game. Duke Lacroix forced a diving save from Orange County goalkeeper Patrick Rakovsky in the 56th minute as he drove into the left side of the penalty area and fired a shot to the right corner, and three minutes later an answer arrived as Luis Felipe Fernandes lifted a pass into the right side of the penalty area for Tucker Bone that the attacking midfielder controlled while shrugging off his defender before shooting into the left corner of the net.

Both Bone and Pennanen had efforts to try and level with under 20 minutes to go with shots from outside the penalty area that Rakovsky gathered, while Dariusz Formella created space for a low shot from 15 yards that Rakovsky got down well to deny as the ball darted toward the left corner of the net. Iloski put the game away for the visitors with three minutes to go, however, as he controlled a crossfield pass by Damus in the left channel before moving into the penalty area, cut back past a defender and then back onto his left foot to fire homehome Orange County’s third of the night to seal the win.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Ronaldo Damus, Orange County SC – Damus scored his first goal in the Championship and added a late assist while finishing the night with two shots and completing 14 of 16 passes overall.

Scoring Summary
OC – Ronaldo Damus (Mikko Kuningas) 22’
OC – Eero Markkanen (Brent Richards) 49’
SAC – Tucker Bone (Luis Felipe Fernandes) 59’
OC – Brian Iloski (Ronaldo Damus) 87’

Full Box Score