The Route Here

• Orange County took top spot in the Western Conference with 66 points (20 wins, 6 draws, 8 losses).  With 75 goals, they are the conference’s top scoring side. Rising are 2nd with 70.
• Orange County breezed past Saint Louis with a four goal victory in the Conference Quarterfinals.  A  first half Aodhan Quinn goal lifted them over Reno 1868 last Saturday. They’ve yet to concede a goal in the playoffs.
• A formidable proposition at Championship Soccer Stadium, where they have lost only 3 of 19 regular and post-season games in 2018, OC’s last home defeat was a surprising 2-0 loss v RGV on August 25.

• OC is more prolific in front of goal in the second half.  Over one third of their goals have been scored in the last 15 minutes of games this season.  Five of their second half goals have been scored in the 93^rd minute or later.

• At the other end, they have only conceded twice in second half stoppage time.  Both of these goals were conceded on the road at Monarchs (May 4) and Rising (August 11).

 

Previous Meetings

• This is the fourth meeting between OC and Rising this season. Neither side has the upper hand, with each side registering a win, a draw, and a loss.
• Rising began the season at Championship Soccer Stadium. Solomon Asante gave the visitors the lead in the 11^th minute, but they were held to a draw as defender Alex Crognale equalized at the death.
• The second encounter, in Phoenix, also featured an early Rising goal. This time Chris Cortez’s strike was enough, despite Kody Wakasa being sent off in the 35^th minute.
• Most recently, OC visited Arizona in August. The visitors built up a 4-0 lead by the 67^th minute with goals from Michael Seaton (2), Thomas Enevoldsen and Aodhan Quinn. Solomon Asante gave Rising hope as he picked up an impressive hat trick in 26 minutes, but it wasn’t enough as the hosts fell 4-3.
• Those four goals from Solomon Asante against OC represent over a quarter of his tally this season.

• All of Rising’s goals (excluding a penalty) against OC this season have been scored in and around the 6-yard box.  Two of OC’s goals were shots from outside the penalty area into either bottom corner.
• Rising are unlikely to dominate proceedings tonight. OC has enjoyed the majority of possession in all three encounters to date in 2018, and is averaging 55% over the course of the season.

Three Stars

• Thomas Enevoldsen is OC’s top scorer with 20 goals. The Danish winger moved to California from NAC Breda of the Dutch Eredivsie in February, and has one international goal to his name, scored in a 2010 friendly against Senegal.
• Michael Seaton is another serious threat up top. The Jamaican comes into this game on form – he’s scored twice in the playoffs, adding to the 13 he scored in the regular season. Two of those goals came against Rising in their 4-3 victory in August.
• Aodhan Quinn pulls the strings of OC’s attack. He’s created over 100 chances this season, and picked up 15 assists. If OC win, Quinn will face former club Louisville City, who he played for in 2015 and 2016.

Final Facts

• Despite finishing ahead of Louisville on wins, Orange County will have to travel to Kentucky should they win tonight. They were ruled out of hosting USL Cup due to a scheduling conflict.
• Neither OC nor Rising had won a single playoff match before this season. Now, one of them will feature in the USL Cup final.
• Fouls could be plentiful tonight, with both sides in the Conference’s top 5 for fouls committed. Seaton and Rawls have also received red cards in home games this season.
• Expect to see a lot of red tonight if you’re watching on TV. The main camera at Championship Soccer Stadium faces the stand that an estimated 700 Rising fans are set to take over.

From the Ashes Prediction:  Heart says Rising, head says penalty lottery.