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Matchday Repot: Damus Leads Orange County Comeback in Las Vegas

By USLChampionship.com Staff, 06/20/21, 12:43AM EDT

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Haitian international scores twice as visitors take 3-1 victory at Cashman Field

LAS VEGAS – Orange County SC rallied from a halftime deficit to hand Las Vegas Lights FC its first home loss of the season in a 3-1 victory that saw Haitian international Ronaldo Damus score twice for the visitors at Cashman Field.

Looking to maintain an undefeated home record, Las Vegas came out brightly and saw efforts by both Roberto Molina from the top of the penalty area go just wide of the left post in the 11th minute and a minute later Alvaro Quezada have a shot denied by Orange County’s Patrick Rakovsky inside the penalty area. Orange County’s first good look at goal arrived soon after as Avionne Flanagan did well to direct a cross in from the left that found Ronaldo Damus, who saw his shot from 10 yards turned wide of the right post by Las Vegas’ Alex Rando.

Lights FC continued to find half-chances as the half went on, and both Daniel Crisostomo and Christian Torres had efforts saved by Rakovsky before the half-hour mark. Torres – who had recorded a brace in Las Vegas’ last outing – almost struck again four minutes before halftime as Danny Musovsky dug out a chipped cross from the right side of the penalty area that Torres headed off the crossbar, allowing Orange County to clear.

The hosts grabbed the lead a minute before halftime, however, as Musovski picked up a turnover in midfield and quickly got his side moving into attack. The Nevada native drew a defender and then passed to his right for Molina, who fired a low shot past Rakovsky to put Lights FC on top. The lead only lasted until three minutes into the second half, however, as a long throw-in by Kevin Alston from the right was punched clear from a crowd by Rando, but came straight to Damus, who sharply volleyed in his fourth goal of the season.

Damus – who on Friday was named in Haiti’s preliminary roster for the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup – then added a second two minutes later. Alston was again involved, this time providing a cross from the right side that found Damus for a flicked header into the left corner of the net. The visitors then went close from another long throw-in, this time by Brent Richards, with Michael Orozco forcing a sharp save from Rando.

Orange County added its third of the night with 16 minutes to go off another long throw-in as Richards’ looping delivery from the right was met by Rob Kiernan, who headed into the right side of the net, and that would prove enough to ice the victory for the visitors as they calmly closed out the game.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Ronaldo Damus, Orange County SC – Damus extended his scoring streak to four games with a pair of goals as he recorded four shots overall while winning 4 of 5 aerial duels and making four recoveries defensively.

Scoring Summary
LV
– Roberto Molina (Danny Musovski) 44’
OC – Ronaldo Damus 48’
OC – Ronaldo Damus (Kevin Alston) 50’
OC – Rob Kiernan (Brent Richards) 74’

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