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Orange County Holds Off Seattle

By CHARLIE CORR - charlie.corr@uslsoccer.com, 06/24/17, 10:00PM EDT

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Following three-goal lead, OCSC clings to 4-3 win


Photo courtesy of Orange County SC

IRVINE, Calif. – Orange County SC jumped out to a three-goal lead in the opening 24 minutes, but it turned into an adventurous road to cling onto a 4-3 victory against Seattle Sounders FC 2 on Saturday at the Orange County Great Park. Carlos Alvarez tallied a goal and set up a Gustavo Villalobos goal late in the second half, as Villalobos’ tally proved to be the winner. A Roy Meeus penalty kick, Christian Koontz own goal and Alvarez’s strike within a 15-minute window built a 3-0 cushion for Orange County. Seattle made things interesting, though, as Brian Nana-Sinkam and Zach Mathers each netted a goal – Mathers converting a PK – to cut OCSC’s lead to 3-2. Villalobos’ 80th-minute tally ended up being a massive one because S2’s Charles Renken scored from the left side of the box in the 87th minute to maintain Seattle’s hopes. With the win, Orange county improves to 4-4-1 (13 points) overall and 2-1-0 at home. Seattle falls to 6-7-2 (20 points) overall and 2-4-1 on the road.

Scoring:
10’ – OC – Roy Meeus (penalty)
18’ – OC – Christian Koontz (own goal)
24’ – OC – Carlos Alvarez (Amirgy Pineda)
47’ – SEA – Brian Nana-Sinkam (Zach Mathers)
72’ – SEA – Zach Mathers (penalty)
80’ – OC – Gustavo Villalobos (Carlos Alvarez)
87’ – SEA – Charles Renken

Three Things That Mattered:

  • 1. The opening half couldn’t have gone any better for Orange County SC as the host side built a three-goal cushion within the game’s first half hour. Wuilito Fernandes was tangled up with S2 defender Brian Nana-Sinkam to earn the penalty kick, which Roy Meeus converted with a hesitation approach in the 10th minute for the early lead. Seattle’s Christian Koontz was issued an own goal during an Orange County free kick eight minutes later. Then in the 24th minute, Orange County finally scored in the run of play with some quick passing down the left side as Amirgy Pineda set up Carlos Alvarez, who the ball past S2 goalkeeper Tyler Miller for a 3-0 lead.

  • 2. In the first half, Orange County out-shot S2 8-2 (4-1 on goal), and had approximately 60 percent of the possession in a dominant first 45 minutes. OCSC looked like an eager team from the start, having not played a match since its 1-0 loss to Real Monarchs SLC on June 3. 

  • 3. Charles Renken’s left-footed strike from just inside the box was his first for S2. He didn’t have to do much as he was in the right spot to collect the ball, but his finish into the left side of the frame was pinpoint. It was a fitting moment to display the fight that S2 showed. Overall, Seattle’s performance was a rollercoaster, but you have to commend the club’s effort when a positive result seemed bleak midway through the opening half.

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match:
Carlos Alvarez, Orange County SC –
Alvarez’s first-half tally proved to be the winner, and he set up Gustavo Villalobos for an insurance tally late in the second half.

Upcoming Games:
Orange County SC
vs. Portland Timbers 2 – July 1, 8 p.m. ET, Orange County Great Park
Seattle Sounders FC 2 at Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 – July 1, 6 p.m. ET, McLeod Athletic Park

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