LIVERMORE, Calif. – Orange County SC got a pair of assists from Mikko Kuningas and first-half goals by Kobi Henry and Ronaldo Damus in a 3-0 victory against Oakland Roots SC at Las Positas College on Saturday evening as the hosts ended the game with 10 men after a red card early in the second half.

Looking to rebound from its recent run of form, Orange County had a pair of chances inside the opening 10 minutes including an apparent goal by Henry that was ruled out for offside as he tucked home the rebound after Damus had put a powerful header on target off a long throw-in by Brent Richards that Oakland goalkeeper Paul Blanchette couldn’t handle cleanly.

Roots SC’s first chance came in the 10th minute as the hosts worked a short corner to Brandon Allen at the top of the penalty area for a shot that deflected off Max Ornstil on its way to the net but was still saved comfortably by Orange County’s Patrick Rakovsky. Damus then had a big chance for the visitors midway through the opening half as he worked a good piece of interplay with Kuningas to get free in the left side of the penalty area only for Blanchette to make a good save to keep his effort out.

Oakland’s Jose Hernandez had a good long-range effort turned wide of the left post by Rakovsky as the hosts looked for the opening breakthrough, but that instead came for Orange County in the 31st minute as Kuningas delivered an inswinging free kick from the right that found Henry, and his header found the left corner of the net.

Five minutes later, Damus made it two for the visitors as the referee played advantage after a foul allowing Eric Calvillo to gain possession on the left and thread a cross through the six-yard area that found the Haitian international alone in front of the net for his eighth goal of the season. Roots SC tried to pull a goal back before halftime as Allen was denied from a narrow angle in the left side of the penalty area by Rakovsky, but 10 minutes into the second half the hosts were reduced to 10 men as Ornstil was sent off after committing a foul off the ball.

Despite being down a player, Oakland almost pulled a goal back in the 61st minute when Joseph Restani’s shot went just wide of the left post and just out of the reach of Tarn Weir as he tried to slide in and redirect the ball into the net. Weir then missed a golden opportunity to find the net with 17 minutes to go as he shot over from close range after Danny Flores set up a chance with a low cross to the top of the six-yard area.

Orange County effectively sealed the three points with in the 76th minute, though, as a chipped cross from the left went just over the head of Damus at the far post but was controlled by Kuningas, who laid a pass back for Aidan Apodaca to shoot home from eight yards into the right corner. Roots SC’s Jeremy Bokila then forced a big save from Rakovsky with four minutes to go with a header to the right corner to preserve the shutout as the visitors walked away with the win.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Mikko Kuningas, Orange County SC – Kuningas recorded a pair of assists and had six key passes overall as he completed 20 of 26 passes and made six recoveries defensively in the win.

Scoring Summary
OC – Kobi Henry (Mikko Kuningas) 31’
OC – Ronaldo Damus (Eric Calvillo) 36’
OC – Aidan Apodaca (Mikko Kuningas) 76’

Full Box Score