IRVINE, Calif. – Sean Okoli scored a dramatic late winner in the second half stoppage time for his second goal of the night as Orange County SC celebrated the unveiling of its 2021 USL Championship title banner with a 2-1 win against Rio Grande Valley FC on Saturday night at Championship Soccer Stadium.

Neither side had many chances early on, and it wasn’t until the 23rd minute that the hosts created the first real chance of the game as Milan Iloski fired a long-range shot that was saved by Toros goalkeeper Colin Miller. After a scoreless first half, Rio Grande Valley was reduced to 10 men in the 55th minute when Emilio Ycaza was shown his second yellow card of the game, but the visitors still found a way to threaten eight minutes later as Frank Lopez gained possession near the top of the penalty area and fired a shot just wide of the top-right corner.

Orange County applied pressure with a man-advantage and with 11 minutes to go it almost paid off as Iloski hit the crossbar with a free kick that deflected off the top of the defensive wall, off the woodwork and away to safety. A minute later Okoli delivered with a tremendous near-post header off a corner kick from the left to give the hosts the lead, but with four minutes to go the Toros found a response as Ricky Ruiz won possession near the top of the OCSC penalty area and set up Lopez, who fired a left-footed shot into the bottom-left corner of the net.

That might have been all, but Okoli pulled victory out of the fire for Orange County in the ninth minute of stoppage time. After a free kick into the penalty area was half cleared, Tommy McCabe recycled possession and clipped a ball back into the box from the top-left edge of the penalty area, where it clipped off a defender’s head to Okoli, who controlled and fired low into the net from the left side of the box to grab a thrilling late win for the hosts.

USLChampionship.com Player of the Match

Sean Okoli, Orange County SC – Okoli delivered both goals after coming on as a substitute with 19 minutes remaining, including a breathtaking winner deep in second-half stoppage time.

Scoring Summary
OC – Sean Okoli 80’
RGV -Frank Lopez (Ricky Ruiz) 86’
OC – Sean Okoli 90+9’

Full Box Score