Orange County SC put together a gritty performance on the road in their 1-0 win against Oakland Roots SC at Laney College Football Stadium on Saturday, October 16. The result brings OCSC closer and closer to a playoff berth.

Interim head coach Richard Chaplow made some changes to the starting lineup as OCSC played their second of four games in a stretch of 14 days. Defender Nate Smith and midfielder Mikko Kuningas started after appearing as substitutes in OCSC’s midweek victory against Phoenix Rising FC. 

With the ball moving fast on Oakland’s turf field, OC applied pressure early and were rewarded with a penalty kick after midfielder Ben Mines drew a foul in the area. Midfielder Dillon Powers powered the spot kick past the Oakland goalkeeper. As OCSC celebrated, the penalty kick goal was disallowed due to encroachment. The try was redone and Oakland's goalkeeper Paul Blanchette saved it, keeping the score level in the 23’. 

A couple of minutes later in the 28’, OCSC forward Ronaldo Damus had the ball upfield and crossed it through the six-yard box where Mines scored the game's first goal with his right foot. It was Mines’s third goal in three consecutive games. The first half ended 1-0 in favor of OCSC. 

In the second half, Oakland found themselves a man down after Jose Hernandez was shown a red card for an unnecessary foul on Kuningas. OCSC took advantage of the extra attacker by constantly looking to score an insurance goal. 

The chances on goal for OCSC were there, but the woodwork kept Oakland within a goal of equalizing. Oakland did press on despite the red card and had promising build ups with nothing to show for as they did not register a shot on goal the whole game. 

The closest that Oakland got to scoring was off goalkeeper Blanchette’s header from a corner kick, but OCSC defender Brent Richards was there to clear the ball away from the goal. That save put OCSC in the clear and secured the three points in a 1-0 victory.

OCSC maintained their perfect record against Oakland all-time at 4-0-0 and only allowed one goal. 

OCSC returns home to Irvine for the final two home games of the USL Championship regular season next week. On Wednesday, October 20, the boys in Black and Orange will host San Diego Loyal SC on the last Dollar Beers & Cheap Eats night. On Saturday, October 23, OCSC wraps the home schedule with a match against Las Vegas Lights FC on Scotoberfest, an OCSC and Scottish festival. Both games are at 7pm at Championship Soccer Stadium in Irvine.

Orange County SC vs Oakland Roots SC

USL Championship | October 16, 2021

Venue: Laney College Football Stadium (The Town, CA)

Kickoff: 7:00 PM PDT

Weather: B3N Mines and a Bay Breeze

SCORING SUMMARY:

25’ Ben Mines (OCSC)

DISCIPLINE SUMMARY:

ORANGE COUNTY SC

38’ Nate Smith 

54’ Michael Orozco

86’ Eric Calvillo

OAKLAND ROOTS SC

30’ Memo Díaz

54’ Jose Hernández (RED)

59’ Wal Fall

59’ Johnny Rodríguez 

86’ Kai Greene

ORANGE COUNTY SC LINEUP:

Patrick Rakovsky (GK), Dillon Powers, Robbie Kiernan, Michael Orozco (

C ), Brian Iloski (81’ Darwin Jones), Ronaldo Damus (82’ Aidan Apodaca), Eric Calvillo, Ben Mines (66’ Tommy McCabe), Kobi Henry, Nate Smith (45’ Brent Richards), Mikko Kuningas (73’ Ugo Okoli)

Unused subs: Abraham Romero (GK), Seth Casiple

Head Coach: Richard Chaplow (Interim)

Possession: 46.3% | Shots: 15 | Shots On Goal: 3 | Corners: 3 | Fouls: 15 | Offsides: 3 |

OAKLAND ROOTS SC LINEUP:

Paul Blanchette (GK), Ariel Mbumba (59’ Tarek Morad), Soya Takahashi, Wal Fall, Matais Fissore, Lindo Mfeka (42’ Jeremy Bokila), Josè Hernàndez, Emrah Klimenta ( C ) (79’ Jesus Erinquez), Memo Diaz (59’ Akeem Ward), Brian Brown, Kai Greene, Johnny Rodriguez (59’ Quincy Amarikwa)

Unused subs: Taylor Bailey (GK), Joseph Nane

Head Coach: Jordan Ferrell

Possession: 53.7% | Shots: 8 | Shots On Goal: 0 | Corners: 5 | Fouls: 17 | Offsides: 2 |