For the first time in their history, Orange County SC will compete for the USL Championship title after defeating San Antonio FC in penalty kicks in the 2021 USL Championship Playoffs, presented by TwinSpires: Western Conference Final on Saturday, November 20 at Championship Soccer Stadium in Irvine. OCSC advanced 5-3 on penalties after drawing with San Antonio, 1-1. 

OCSC forward Ugo Okoli sent his team to the USL Championship Final after netting the deciding spot kick in the fifth round. San Antonio missed their fourth penalty to give OCSC the advantage. 

OCSC leading scorer and forward Ronaldo Damus scored the opening goal in the 39’ off a long throw-in from defender Brent Richards. It was Damus’s second goal in the playoffs. San Antonio equalized with a header from a cross in the 67’ from Marcus Epps.

The two teams played 60 more minutes of soccer before moving onto the spot kicks. Like last week in the semifinals, OCSC converted all of their penalty kicks. 

OCSC will travel to Tampa Bay to face the Eastern Conference Champions Tampa Bay Rowdies in the 2021 USL Championship Final at Al Lang Stadium on Sunday, November 28 at 5:30 PM PST on ESPN.

Orange County SC vs San Antonio FC

2021 USL Championship Playoffs, presented by TwinSpires | Western Conference Final

Date: November 20, 2021

Kickoff: 7:00 PM PDT

Venue: Championship Soccer Stadium (Irvine, CA)

SCORING SUMMARY:

OCSC: 39’ Ronaldo Damus

SAFC: 67’ Marcus Epps

PENALTY SUMMARY:

Orange County SC – Seth Casiple, scored; Dillon Powers, scored; Ben Mines, scored; Thomas Enevoldsen, scored; Sean Okoli, scored

San Antonio FC – Connor Maloney, scored; Santiago Patino, scored; Jasser Khmiri, scored; Justin Dhillon, missed

DISCIPLINE SUMMARY:

ORANGE COUNTY SC

6’ Ronaldo Damus

60’ Kevin Alston

SAN ANTONIO FC

64’ Nathan

88’ PC

105+3’ Mitch Taintor

ORANGE COUNTY SC LINEUP:

Patrick Rakovsky (GK), Kevin Alston (117’ Nate Smith), Dillon Powers, Robbie Kiernan, Michael Orozco (C ), Brian Iloski (90’ Ugo Okoli), Ronaldo Damus, Thomas McCabe (74’ Seth Casiple), Eric Calvillo (81’ Ben Mines), Brent Richards, Mikko Kuningas (74’ Thomas Enevoldsen)

Unused subs: Abraham Romero (GK), Darwin Jones, Kobi Henry

Head Coach: Richard Chaplow

Possession: 57.1% | Shots: 19 | Shots On Goal: 5 | Corners: 7 | Fouls: 13 | Offsides: 0 |

SAN ANTONIO FC LINEUP:

Jordan Farr (GK), Mitch Taintor, PC ( C ) (104’ Sam Gleadle), Nathan (76’ Justin Dhillon), Marcus Epps (118’ Cameron Lindley), Santiago Patino, Jose Gallegos, Mohammed Abu, Connor Maloney, Kortne Ford, Jasser Khmiri

Unused subs:  Jose Carlos Mercado (GK), Joaquín Varela, Chris Lema, Ollie Wright

Head Coach: Alen Marcina

Possession: 42.9% | Shots: 15 | Shots On Goal: 3 | Corners: 5 | Fouls: 18 | Offsides: 2 |