Orange County currently sits in 14th spot in the USL Western Conference table, with nine points from eight games. Phoenix occupies 11th spot, with 11 points.
The sides last met in the 2018 Western Conference Final. Goals from Chris Cortez and Didier Drogba were enough to secure a victory for the visitors that night, despite Koji Hashimoto clawing one back in the last ten minutes. During the regular 2018 season, Rising and OC finished dead level in their meetings with one win apiece and a draw.
Orange County is unbeaten in their last three home games, and has kept clean sheets in the last two.
At home, OC has a slight edge on possession. They’re almost twice as likely to score in the second half.
OC has scored six goals in the last three games, while conceding only three.
Last Time Out
OC’s last game was a 2-2 draw away to Fresno, where the Irvine-based side raced into a two goal 12 minute lead, before conceding two in the final eleven minutes.
Aaron Cervantes started that one in goal. It was the third appearance of the season for the youngster, who signed for Orange County in March 2018 just before his 16th birthday. Cervantes has a 50% save success rate this season, and has been capped by the U.S. U-17 side.
Kevin Alston started at left back in Fresno with the captain’s armband. Through seven appearances, he has a 92.3% tackle success rate, but has been poor in the air (only 35.7% of aerial duels won). This is Alston’s second season in SoCal, after nine years in the MLS. While playing with the New England Revolution in 2013, Alston missed three months of play after being diagnosed with a rare but treatable form of leukemia.
Hugo Arellano was out on the right. Through five appearances, he’s given no indication that he likes to go forward or attack from the back. Arellano has played at various youth levels for the U.S., and is currently on loan from LA Galaxy. He was named in the 2017 USL Twenty under Twenty.
In the middle of defence was Liam Trotter. Trotter has been effective on the ground and in the air this season, winning more challenges than he loses. He also has two assists. Trotter joined OC from AFC Wimbledon in February, and was teammates at Millwall with former Orange County midfielder Richard Chaplow. His other former clubs include Ipswich, Bolton and Nottingham Forest.
Walker Hume was Trotter’s partner in the Fresno draw. Hume is a tough nut to crack in the air, winning almost 70% of aerial duels. He also leads the team in clearances. Hume first joined OC on loan in 2017, and stayed with the club following his release by FC Dallas.
In central midfield was Daniel Crisostomo. The San Francisco-born UC Irvine graduate has missed only one game in his debut 2019 professional season for OC. When passing the ball the ball from the middle, Crisostomo tends to look right more often than left.
Dangerous midfielder Aodhan Quinn was his partner. Quinn has two goals this season, and is an instrumental part of OC’s play, boasting the highest number of passes per 90 minutes (61.5). However, he has struggled when challenged for the ball this season, winning only around a third of duels and a quarter of aerial duels. Quinn was named a member of the all-USL first team in 2018.
Jerry van Ewijk has made his return to SoCal after a year in Reno where he scored 6 goals in 29 appearances. The winger currently has one goal this season, scored from a 4th minute free kick against Fresno. He’s struggled crossing the ball, with only one of his 11 attempts being successful, but continues to be a threat on the ground with 14 key passes in seven appearances. Van Ewijk previously spent the 2017 season with Orange County, joining from Go Ahead Eagles.
OC’s other goalscorer last Saturday was left-sided midfielder Harry Forrester. A close season signing, the 28-year-old Englishman has started every game this year. A product of Watford and Aston Villa’s youth academies, the former England youth international has clocked up over 180 appearances for Kilmarnock, Brentford, Doncaster, Glasgow Rangers and AFC Wimbledon. While he has never played for Ipswich, Forrester can also call himself a tractor boy – his most recent club was Iranian side Tractor Sazi.
Giovanni-Ramos-Godoy replaced Forrester in the 82nd minute last Saturday. The six foot forward from UC Irvine is in his second season at Champion Stadium. He scored four goals last year, and has already picked up one in his four appearances this season (a right-footed stoppage time consolation in their 5-3 defeat at home to Tulsa).
Frankie Amaya started just behind the front man at Fresno. Although both of his appearances to date only combine for 83 minutes, it’s hard not to be impressed by his 97.3% passing accuracy. Amaya is on loan from FC Cincinnati, and was first overall pick in this year’s MLS SuperDraft after an impressive freshman season at UCLA.
Amaya was replaced by Charlie Adams, who joined OC from Real Monarchs this season. The Englishman has featured in every OC game this season, starting five. He’s previously played for Louisville, Brentford and Stevenage.
Jamaican international striker Michael Seaton played up top for OC at Fresno. He’s scored twice in six appearances this season, following on from his 15 goal season in 2018. He isn’t great at sharing the ball, though, with only 69% pass completion this year. Seaton formerly played for DC United and Portland Timbers, and joined OC from Israeli side Maccabi Ahi Nazareth.
Young Brazilian forward Vinicius replaced him in the 75th minute. He’s played 66 minutes this season, spread across five substitute appearances. In that time, he’s picked up a goal against Tacoma Defiance on April 10. Vinicius joined from Brazilian lower league side FC Cascavel, and should not be confused with his namesake and fellow Brazilian at Real Madrid.
Rest of the Roster
It’s musicial chairs (or gloves) in goal, with no goalkeeper featuring in more than three games.
Carlos López, a 22-year-old signing from Tijuana, has featured twice. However, he’s only made one save and conceded seven goals.
Patrick McLain has the number 1 shirt, and joined from Chicago Fire this year. McLain has had more success, conceding only two in three games and keeping two clean sheets. However, he was not in the matchday squad against Fresno. McLain previously featured in the 2014 Orange County Blues side.
Darwin Jones is Orange County’s top scorer with four. One goal was scored with his left foot, two with his right foot, and one with his head. Jones has already doubled his haul from last season, despite playing less than half the number of games. Jones moved to Champion Stadium from IFK Värnamo (Sweden) in 2018.
Owusu-Ansah Kontor has appeared five times this season for OC. The Ghanaian left back reads the ball well, leading his team in interceptions (18). Kontor joined OC before the 2018 season from Greek Super League side AEL. He’s also clocked up over 80 games in Serbia for FK Metalac Gornji Milanovac and FK Novi Pazar.
Fellow defender Joe Amico has been a tough opponent, winning over 80% of duels on the ground and in the air. His weakness, however, is his passing – just 71.3% accuracy. Currently in his second season with Orange County, the former Swope Park man has made four appearances in 2019.
Brazilian defender Leonardo is surprisingly dangerous at the opposite end of the field. He has two goals to date, from just four games. Leonardo brings MLS experience, spending seven seasons with LA Galaxy and two with Houston Dynamo. His career began with São Paulo in 2009.
From the Ashes Prediction: Rising to draw again in California: 1-1.