IRVINE, Calif. – El Paso Locomotive FC got a late equalizer from Leandro Carrijo after Orange County SC had rallied to take the lead after trailing at halftime in a back-and-forth 2-2 draw on Friday night at Championship Soccer Stadium that saw Haitian international Ronaldo Damus score his 11th goal of the season for the hosts.

Looking to rebound from only its second loss in 2021 last time out, El Paso established its tempo early on and had a half-chance to take the lead in the eighth minute as Luis Solignac fed Diego Luna with a looping pass that the 17-year-old controlled but couldn’t quite lift over Orange County goalkeeper Patrick Rakovsky. In the 20th minute, however, the visitors took the lead as Sebastian Velasquez reeled in a long pass to the right corner and dribbled infield before finding Nick Ross as he found space just inside the top of the penalty area to control and fire into the top-right corner of the net.

Luna went close to doubling the lead for the visitors nine minutes later as they shifted play across field from the right to find the young attacking midfielder in the left side of the penalty area, where he cut back onto his right foot and curled a shot just wide of the top-left corner.

Orange County’s first real look on goal didn’t arrive until the 31st minute as Sean Okoli flicked a shot wide of the left post, and the veteran striker had another a minute before halftime as his headed finish looped over the crossbar off a long throw-in by Brent Richards. The hosts came further into the game as the second half began and just past the hour-mark they earned a reward as their first shot on goal produced an equalizer. A ball up from defense was shifted on by Damus into the path of Eric Calvillo, who drove forward toward the right side of the penalty area to center for the Haitian international, and Damus stabbed home just inside the right post.

Six minutes later, Orange County had the lead as Richards delivered a beautiful cross from the right that picked out Okoli unmarked at the top of the six-yard area for a powerful header into the right side of the net, his first goal for the club since returning from Austin Bold FC in midseason.

OCSC almost added a third with seven minutes to go as after being awarded a free kick 30 yards from goal just to the left of center, Calvillo rang the left post as he fired toward the top-left corner before the ball caromed off a defender and behind for a corner kick. But just when it seemed like the hosts were within range of an important victory El Paso struck late to level as a driven cross from the right by Josue Aaron Gomez proved too difficult to handle for Rakovsky, offering up a rebound chance that second-half substitute Carrijo headed home to earn the visitors a share of the points with another late goal.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Eric Calvillo, Orange County SC – Calvillo had one assist, six key passes and completed 51 of 54 passes overall and narrowly missed out on putting the hosts ahead by a pair of goals with a free kick that hit the post.

Scoring Summary
ELP – Nick Ross (Sebastian Velasquez) 20’
OC – Ronaldo Damus (Eric Calvillo) 61’
OC – Sean Okoli (Brent Richards) 67’
ELP – Leandro Carrijo 89’

Full Box Score