IRVINE, Calif. – Elliot Collier scored the only goal as San Antonio FC took a 1-0 victory against Orange County SC in a rematch of last season’s Western Conference Final of the USL Championship Playoffs at Championship Soccer Stadium on Saturday night.

The sides exchanged chances in the early going as San Antonio’s Deshane Beckford shot forced a low save by OCSC goalkeeper Patrick Rakovsky in just the second minute, while former Mexico international Erick “Cubo” Torres was denied by a diving stop by SAFC’s Jordan Farr a few minutes later after he curled a shot toward the far post from the left side of the penalty area. Farr was the busier of the two goalkeepers before the break overall and was called into action again just before the half-hour mark when Orange County’s Milan Iloski fired a swerving long-range effort that the goalkeeper punched away.

Iloski threatened again five minutes before the halftime break as he ran onto a fine through-ball by Mikko Kuningas, but the OCSC forward couldn’t beat Farr with his finish from the left side of the penalty area as the game went to the break goalless. The deadlock was broken by the visitors on the hour-mark, however, as Mitchell Taintor pushed up to pressure and won possession before delivering a back-post cross from the left that Collier clipped back across goal and in off the left upright for the opening goal. Orange County tried to respond quickly, and in the 66th minute Seth Casiple had a shot that deflected off a teammate as he tried to find the left corner with a shot from the top-right edge of the penalty area.

Orange County had a late chance to grab an equalizer when a ball forward found the run of Torres, who unleashed a first-time finish from the right side of the penalty area that was tipped over the crossbar by Farr. That proved the final big chance for the hosts, however, as San Antonio rebounded from its defeat last weekend.

USL Championship Player of the Match

Jordan Farr, San Antono FC – Farr recorded a six-save shutout to preserve all three points for the visitors, keeping Orange County’s strong attack off the board.

Scoring Summary
SA – Elliot Collier (Mitchell Taintor) 60’

Full Box Score