Orange County SC beats LA Galaxy II, earns fourth straight victory
CARSON — Orange County Soccer Club had kept a clean sheet in three consecutive matches.
That streak could not be stretched further, but Orange County still found a way to stretch its winning streak to four.
Cameron Palmer had a goal and an assist to lead Orange County to a 2-1 win over LA Galaxy II on Saturday night at Dignity Health Sports Park.
Orange County remained undefeated on the season. It took its record to 4-0-2 (14 points) and is in second place in Group B of the United Soccer League Championship standings. Phoenix Rising FC (6-1-2, 20 points) is in first place, but Orange County has three matches in hand.
Palmer corralled the ball above the 18-yard box, taking one touch before stepping into a right-footed blast that found the back of the net in the 59th minute, breaking a 1-1 tie for the eventual game-winning goal.
“I want to start adding goals and assists to my game,” Palmer said. “Everyone just keeps telling me to shoot more, especially my dad. He’s getting on me for not taking shots in games, so coming into the season, I just set myself some targets to try to hit, and so I’m just fortunate today that I got a goal and an assist, but also more importantly, get the win for the team.”
Los Angeles is now 3-3-0 (nine points) and in fourth place. L..A Galaxy II had been 2-0-1 in its previous three meetings in the series with Orange County.
Orange County opened the scoring with a pair of precision passes leading to an early goal. Daniel Finlayson sent a pass down the right end to a streaking Palmer. The center midfielder then produced a right-to-left cross in the air to the far post for Sean “Ugo” Okoli, who finished it off in the 14th minute.
The lead would be short-lived, though. Galaxy center forward Augustine Williams earned a free kick five minutes later. Mauricio Cuevas took the ensuing 25-yard attempt, curling it inside the lower-left corner of the goal to level the score at 1-1.
Both teams had chances for more in the first half, with Los Angeles producing some quality chances as the half went on.
Aaron Cervantes got the start in goal for Orange County after relieving Frederik Due (groin tightness) at halftime in the team’s previous match, a 1-0 win at home over Las Vegas Lights FC on Aug. 15.
“Aaron’s done a fantastic job,” Orange County head coach Braeden Cloutier said of Cervantes, who used to play for the L.A .Galaxy academy. “I think last Saturday, when we played Las Vegas, he came in at halftime in a really difficult situation and time of the game, and it just shows his maturity and his evolution and his development.”
In the 27th minute, Cervantes came way off his line to stop Williams, who had come open through the middle of the defense on a ball played through by Jorge Hernandez.
Nine minutes later, center back Rob Kiernan made a sliding tackle against Williams on an entry pass near the six-yard box, turning a scoring opportunity for the Galaxy into a goal kick.
Cervantes would have to make another key stop in the 78th minute. He came out to disrupt a pass to Williams. The ball bounced away from him, and Williams appeared to have an uncontested look to tie the score once more, but Cervantes dove on the ball before the shot could be taken.
Orange County has earned points in every match this season, and it has outscored opponents 7-2.
Up next for Orange County is another road match against Las Vegas Lights FC on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
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