IRVINE, Calif. – Ousmane Sylla scored a late winner to lift Orange County SC to a 2-1 victory against Indy Eleven at Championship Soccer Stadium to earn the hosts a berth in the 2025 USL Championship Playoffs while leaving the Boys in Blue on the outside looking in as their season came to a conclusion.

The hosts took the lead midway through the first half when Vuk Latinovich got on the end of a cross from the right by Chris Hegardt and delivered a powerful header for his first goal for the club. Indy responded nine minutes before halftime, however, as Aodhan Quinn bagged his 11th assist of the season with a precise cross from the right that was headed home by Romario Williams to give the visitors a glimmer of hope in their postseason bid.

Orange County pushed to regain the lead early in the second half and both Tristan Trager and Ryan Doghman went close either side of the halftime break, with Doghman’s effort forcing a good save by Indy’s Hunter Sulte. The visitors also went close through Jack Blake with 15 minutes to go as his curling finish was tipped over by OCSC’s Colin Shutler. As the game moved into stoppage time, though, Sylla gained possession near the top of the penalty area and then navigated past the defense before shooting home, sealing all three points for the hosts.

Takeaways

Orange County SC: The hosts claimed their second victory in the final three games and ended the regular season on a five-game undefeated streak as they earned the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference.

Indy Eleven: Needing a win to jump past Detroit City, the Boys in Blue fell despite the efforts of Jack Blake and Aodhan Quinn, the latter of which recorded one assist and three chances created, as their season came to an end without a ticket to the playoffs.

Key moment

Colin Shutler’s excellent denial of Indy’s Jack Blake with 15 minutes to go proved crucial to the outcome, where the Boys in Blue were forced to push for a winner late on.

Key stat

Orange County’s five-game undefeated streak to end the regular season is the club’s longest since its eight-game undefeated streak to end the 2024 regular season.

USLChampionship.com Player of the Match

Vuk Latinovich, Orange County SC – The center back delivered a tremendous header to open the scoring and recorded two blocked shots, seven clearances and five recoveries defensively.

Scoring Summary
OC – Vuk Latinovic (Chris Hegardt) 23’
IND – Romario Williams (Aodhan Quinn) 36’
OC – Ousman Sylla (Cheick Kone) 90+1’