Orange County SC fell to Western Conference opponent El Paso Locomotive FC 1-0 at Southwest University Park in El Paso, TX on Saturday, April 8. The Black and Orange move to 0-1-1 on the road to start 2023.
The match got off on a bit of a contentious tone, with yellow cards being shown to El Paso’s Miles Lyons and Bence Pavkovics inside the first ten minutes of play.
The Locomotive struck first in the 19th minute following action from a cross. El Paso midfielder Denys Kostyshyn’s corner was initially cleared away by defender Brent Richards. His clearance was then collected by El Paso defender Yuma and sent back into the box for Luis Solignac, who made no mistake from in close and the hosts led 1-0.
Orange County had a couple of decent chances to tie the game before halftime, the first coming in the 23rd minute. Midfielder Ashish Chattha began a fast break for the Black and Orange and found forward Emil Nielsen in the box with a through ball, but the Dane’s strike sailed high and wide from in close.
The Black and Orange were left wondering how the ball hadn’t completely crossed the line in the 39th minute after a pair of chances. After a failed clearance fell to forward Bryce Jamison in the box, the Atlanta, GA native let rip a strike off the half volley that was saved by Benny Diaz at full stretch. The rebound fell to forward Milan Iloski at the far post, but his header was somehow cleared off the line by midfielder Eric Calvillo.
Later on in the second half, goalkeeper Cody Cropper kept OCSC level in the 58th minute. Cropper tipped a freekick from Kostyshyn up and over the bar and kept it a one goal game.
Jamison had the best chance of the half for Orange County in the 67th minute. Defender Ryan Doghman played a ball into the center of the box that was played on by substitute forward Korede Osundina to Jamison, who saw his right footed effort from the top of the box saved by Diaz.
The Black and Orange will return home to Championship Stadium on Saturday, April 15 for Home Run Night with Orange County SC against Eastern Conference foe Indy Eleven at 7:00 PM. Grab your peanuts and crackerjacks and swing for the fences with OCSC! Tickets can be purchased here.
MILESTONES AND FACTS:
17-year-old defender Joseph Buckley made his professional debut tonight.
Forward Milan Iloski remains on 24 regular season goals, tied with club leader Michael Seaton, and 27 goals across all competitions, one behind current leader Seaton.
| TEAM | FIRST HALF | SECOND HALF | FULL TIME |
| OCSC | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ELP | 1 | 0 | 1 |
SCORING SUMMARY:
19’ Luis Solignac (ELP)
DISCIPLINE SUMMARY:
ORANGE COUNTY SC
58’ Andrew Fox
EL PASO LOCOMOTIVE FC
4’ Miles Lyons
6’ Bence Pavkovics
44’ Ricardo Zacarias
74′ Denys Kostyshyn
ORANGE COUNTY SC LINEUP:
Cody Cropper (GK); Ryan Doghman, Andrew Fox, Daniel A. Pedersen (C) (Joseph Buckley 72’), Brent Richards; Alex Villanueva (Korede Osundina 64’), Kevin Partida, Ashish Chattha (Nico Ruiz 83’), Bryce Jamison; Milan Iloski, Emil Nielsen (Brian Iloski 83’)
Unused subs: Mark Hyan (GK), Ashton Miles
Head Coach: Richard Chaplow
Possession: 41% | Shots: 10 | Shots On Goal: 3 | Corners: 3 | Fouls: 14 | Offsides: 1 |
EL PASO LOCOMOTIVE FC LINEUP:
Benny Diaz (GK); Miles Lyons, Bence Pavkovics, Yuma (C), Eder Borelli; Denys Kostyshyn (Eric McCue 90 +5’), Liam Rose, Eric Calvillo, Petar Petrovic (Emmanuel Sonupe 90 +2’); Ricardo Zacarias (Josue Gomez 72’), Luis Solignac
Unused subs: Javier Garcia (GK), Chapa Herrera, Nick Hinds, Luis Moreno
Head Coach: Brian Clarhaut
Possession: 59% | Shots: 20 | Shots On Goal: 3 | Corners: 8 | Fouls: 13 | Offsides: 0 |
Orange County SC @ El Paso Locomotive FC
2023 USL Championship | Matchday 5
Date: April 8, 2023
Venue: Southwest University Park (El Paso, TX)
Weather: Maybe we should ask them for tips for Home Run Night ¯\_(ツ)_/¯