Orange County (4W, 7D, 3L) currently sits in 10th spot in the USL Western Conference table, on 19 points from 14 games. Rising are eight places and four points ahead of tonight’s visitors in 2nd, despite playing a game less.
Formidable away from home (drawing five of their seven road trips in 2019), OC visits the Valley tonight on the back of a seven match unbeaten run (two wins, five draws). The two wins were secured at home against Rising and RGV.
OC’s only losses on the road were at El Paso on March 30, and at OKC on April 20
The visitors’ chances of securing a result tonight will be boosted by the absence of CONCACAF Gold Cup call-ups. 23 USL Championship players are currently away on international duty, 10 of them from the Western Conference, including Rising’s Lambert and Flemmings.
This is the second time Rising and OC have faced each other this season. There have been no significant changes to the OC roster since that game.
Earlier this Season
OC won the first encounter 2-1 in Irvine on May 4. The way Aodhan Quinn celebrated after he converted OC’s first half penalty suggests that fans’ social media rivalry has extended to the field of play. Seaton also scored for OC in May, poking home after the ball ricocheted off Lubin’s chest. Jahn scored a consolation header from a Bakero free kick for Rising.
Both teams lined up 4-2-3-1 in Irvine. That has been OC’s preferred formation in five of seven home games this season. On the road, they appear to prefer a 4-1-4-1 starting formation (three of seven games).
With Asante absent in May on compassionate grounds, OC slightly edged the possession (50.3% to 49.7%). Frequently losing the midfield battle, Rising were forced to uncharacteristically play several long balls. The onus tonight will be on Musa to continue the fine form shown in last Friday’s win over Tulsa, with Aguinaga, Asante, and Bakero providing the creative spark.
Rising out-shot their opponents 14-10 in Irvine in May, but OC demonstrated greater accuracy as the sides managed a mere 4 shots on target apiece. With OC resolute in defense, Rising unsuccessfully shot six times from distance compared to the host’s one.
OC were also more aggressive in their play, conceding 19 fouls to Rising’s 13, which earned the Irvine club six yellow cards. Fans can expect a similar physical outcome tonight. OC top the Championship for yellow cards (36) and are second for fouls conceded (222). That’s 13 more yellow cards and 60 more fouls than Rising at present.
Last Time Out
OC’s last game was a 1-1 draw away to Las Vegas Lights. Brazilian defender Leonardo rescued a point for OC with a 70th header from close range to the bottom left corner. The 31-year-old center back did not feature against Rising back in May. However, he has already contributed three goals in eight appearances this season – all inside the box, one with his left foot, and two with his head. Leonardo previously played 139 MLS games for LA Galaxy and Houston Dynamo. He also won three MLS Cups and a Supporters Shield with Galaxy, and was part of their best defense in franchise history in 2010 and 2011 when they gave up 26 and 28 goals respectively.
The only other player to feature last week, but not against Rising in May, was Sebastien Turenne Des Pres. The winger, and former Real Salt Lake Academy graduate, was brought on in the 86th minute against Lights – his third appearance of the season. Des Pres was previously on the books at Blackpool and Fleetwood Town in the English Football League, but only managed two Football League Trophy first team appearances for Blackpool. His game time has been equally as rare this season – a mere 38 minutes.
First-half stoppage time proved quite costly for OC last Saturday. First defender Joe Amico was dismissed for violent conduct. Then, Michael Seaton picked up his fifth caution of 2019. As a result, both players will miss tonight’s game. Amico has made 10 USL appearances in 2019. Former DC United and Timbers forward Seaton is the bigger loss. The 23-year-old is third highest scorer at OC with four goals in 12 games, and leads the club in terms of shots (22).
Key Players
Midfielder Harry Forrester will almost certainly start tonight’s game. He’s the only player to feature in all 14 USL games for OC this season, but has been subbed off five times. An offseason signing from Tractor Sazi (Iran), the former England youth international previously clocked up over 180 appearances for Kilmarnock, Brentford, Doncaster, Glasgow Rangers and AFC Wimbledon. Forrester earned the first half penalty for OC against Kevon Lambert back in May.
Jerry van Wolfgang (also known as Jerry van Ewijk) is the only other player on OC’s roster to play for over 1,000 minutes this season. The winger has contributed one goal (against Fresno) and three assists in 13 starts for OC in 2019, but has also been subbed-off on nine occasions. This is van Wolfgang’s second spell in Irvine. He spent the 2018 season in Reno (29 appearances, six goals).
Goalkeeper Patrick McLain has kept three shut-outs in eight appearances this season. Signed from Chicago Fire in the close season , the 30-year-old boasts a 78.1% save success rate, including one penalty save. He was in goal in the last game against Rising. No other keeper has kept a clean sheet for OC in 2019.
At the other end of the field, Darwin Jones is the current top goalscorer with six goals in 12 games. Four of Jones’ six goals have been scored with his right foot, and five from inside the penalty box. He moved to Championship Soccer Stadium from IFK Värnamo (Sweden) in 2018. Jones is also not averse to fouling, already collecting 3 yellows and 1 red to date.
Midfielder Aodhan Quinn is OC’s second top goalscorer (5) and joint lead assist provider (3). All five of Quinn’s goals have been scored with his left foot. Three of his goals have been penalties. One was a direct free kick from outside the box. An instrumental part of OC’s play, Quinn’s one of the best passers on the team (81.2%) but missed the Lights game through suspension. Quinn was named a member of the all-USL first team in 2018.
For other OC player bios, see the May 4 game preview.
From the Ashes Prediction: Junior Flemming’s absence will have a major impact on the balance of the forward line. OC to earn their sixth road-trip draw.