Orange County SC remained undefeated early on in the young 2024 USL Championship season after a 2-2 draw in their sold out Home Opener with The Miami FC at Championship Stadium in Irvine, CA on Saturday, March 23. The first professional goal for defender Ashton Miles and substitute forward Thomas Amang’s first of the year earned a come from behind point for the Black and Orange.
OCSC earned the match’s first chance of the game in the ninth minute when midfielder Sofiane Djeffal played a free kick into the box that found its way to the feet of defender Andrew Fox at the back post. Fox struck his laces through the ball, but his effort went just wide of the target.
The Miami FC countered with the game’s first goal shortly after in the 12th minute when midfielder Frank Lopez found a streaking Allen Gavilanes on the right side of the box, whose left-footed shot ended up in the bottom right corner of the net.
Orange County found their equalizer in the 33rd minute from a set piece, as midfielder Brian Iloski played a cross to the back post that Miles was able to head past Miami goalkeeper Daniel Gagliardi. Miles’ first professional goal brought OCSC level 1-1 and life back to Championship Stadium.
OCSC was in search of the go ahead goal in the 38th minute when captain Seth Casiple found Djeffal near the top of the box who unleashed a 20-yard curler towards the back post that went agonizingly wide.
Just before the halftime whistle, Miami retook the lead, again through Gavilanes as his left-footed shot from distance was just tipped by Shutler, but trickled into the bottom left corner of the net for a 2-1 halftime lead.
The game shifted for OCSC when substitute forward Thomas Amang entered the pitch in the 54th minute. Within his first ten minutes on the pitch, he had already recorded two shots on goal. The third time was indeed the charm for the Cameroonian forward, who beat Gagliardi with a header in close and OCSC was level once again at 2-2.
The Black and Orange generated a few more chances, but were unable to find the winner before time expired and it ended honors even at The Champ.
OCSC returns home to Championship Stadium next Saturday, March 30, when they host FC Tulsa at 7:00 PM for the first beer fest of the year, our Spring Break Beer Fest! Grab your tickets here today!
MILESTONES AND FACTS:
Defender Ashton Miles scored the first USL Championship goal of his career in just his 11th match.
Forward Thomas Amang scored his first USL Championship goal of the year.
Midfielder Ryan Ayoub made his USL Championship debut tonight, coming on as a substitute in the 83th minute.
Orange County SC has now scored in nine straight matches, the second longest streak in club history (13, Sep. 2018 – Mar. 2019)
Tonight was the 8th straight sellout, the longest in club history.
67% of OCSC’s goals this year have come from headers and as a result of a corner kick.
| TEAM | FIRST HALF | SECOND HALF | FULL TIME |
| MIA | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| OCSC | 1 | 1 | 2 |
SCORING SUMMARY:
12’ Allen Gavilanes (MIA)
33’ Ashton Miles (OCSC)
45 +4’ Allen Gavilanes (MIA)
70’ Thomas Amang (OCSC)
DISCIPLINE SUMMARY:
ORANGE COUNTY SC
29’ Kevin Partida
THE MIAMI FC
8’ Alejandro Mitrano
58’ Rocco Genzano
60’ Manuel Botta
90 + 7’ Samuel Biek
ORANGE COUNTY SC LINEUP:
Colin Shutler (GK); Ashish Chattha, Andrew Fox, Ashton Miles, Owen Lambe; Kevin Partida (Christian Sorto 54’) (Ryan Ayoub 83’), Seth Casiple (C) (Thomas Amang 54’), Sofiane Djeffal, Brian Iloski; Ethan Zubak (Bryce Jamison 80’), Cameron Dunbar
Unused subs: Duran Ferree (GK), Charlie Asensio, Ben Barjolo, Ben Norris
Head Coach: Morten Karlsen
Possession: 56% | Shots: 15 | Shots On Goal: 5 | Corners: 6 | Fouls: 11 | Offsides: 0 |
THE MIAMI FC LINEUP:
Daniel Gagliardi (GK); Nicolas Cardona, Samuel Biek, Daltyn Knutson, Alejandro Mitrano; Andrew Booth (Michael Vang 75’), Manuel Botta (Luis Pedro 63’), David Mejia (Benjamin Ofeimu 64’), Allen Gavilanes, Frank Lopez (Gabriel Cabral 33’); Rocco Genzano (Mattia Gagliardi 75’)
Unused subs: Khadim Ndiaye (GK); Jordan Ayimbila
Head Coach: Antonio Nocerino
Possession: 44% | Shots: 5 | Shots On Goal: 4 | Corners: 3 | Fouls: 12 | Offsides: 3 |
Orange County SC vs. The Miami FC
2024 USL Championship | Matchday 3
Date: March 23, 2024
Venue: Championship Stadium (Irvine, CA)
Weather: MILES above the rest