Orange County SC plays to scoreless draw at home versus San Diego Loyal
IRVINE — After surrendering multiple goals in a match for the first time this season in its midweek match, Orange County Soccer Club rebounded in that respect.
It would not be enough to achieve the desired result, as Orange County played to a scoreless draw against the San Diego Loyal on Saturday night at Championship Soccer Stadium at the Great Park in Irvine.
Orange County is now 4-1-3 with 15 points on the season, and it is in second place in Group B of the United Soccer League Championship standings. Phoenix Rising FC (6-2-2, 20 points) is in first place, but Orange County has two matches in hand.
The San Diego Loyal (3-4-3, 12 points) are tied with L.A. Galaxy II (4-3-0, 12 points) for third place.
The back line of Kevin Alston, Michael Orozco, Rob Kiernan and Daniel Finlayson did not allow a shot on target after Las Vegas Lights FC produced nine shots on goal in Orange County’s previous contest.
Kiernan, a center back, said it was frustrating to come away with just one point after keeping a clean sheet, but noted that organization in the back helped key the turnaround defensively.
“We’re trying to communicate and trying to lead the line, as well as trying to get the people in front of us to do the job, so I think organization is always key,” Kiernan said of the defense for Orange County, which notched its fifth shutout in eight matches.
Orange County had its six-match unbeaten streak to open the season snapped in its previous match, a 3-1 defeat on the road to Las Vegas Lights FC. Prior to that, Orange County had won four in a row.
Neither team recorded a shot on goal in the first half. Orange County created some chances late in the half, the best one coming on a long set piece in the 43rd minute. Aodhan Quinn lobbed a ball into the box on a free kick from just beyond the midfield stripe. Finlayson headed the offering across to Sean “Ugo” Okoli, who sent a well-struck header wide of the left goalpost.
Darwin Jones was a dangerous player for Orange County to begin the second half. He had looks at the goal two minutes apart, the second hitting the crossbar and staying out in the 52nd minute.
Brian Iloski also got away a header when he flashed through the middle on an aerial pass by Edson Alvarado in the 74th minute, but San Diego goalkeeper Jon Kempin (two saves) was there for the stop.
San Diego’s best chance came in stoppage time. Charlie Adams sent a cross through the box. For a fleeting moment, multiple San Diego players had a chance to run onto the ball, but the ball skipped across the goal untouched.
In observance of the United Soccer League Championship’s “United Against Racism” campaign, the teams came together around the midfield circle at the seven-minute mark, symbolizing the seven times Jacob Blake was shot in the back by an officer in Kenosha, Wisc., until the scoreboard reached 8:46, symbolizing the eight minutes and 46 seconds Derek Chauvin, a Minneapolis police officer, knelt on the neck of George Floyd.
Jones and Okoli, who are both forwards for Orange County, raised their fists during the in-game moment.
“We’re all united against [racism],” Orange County coach Braeden Cloutier said. “We’re all supportive of one another, and obviously it was brought to my attention from the captains that this was going to happen, and I was fully in support of it, and I’m fully in line with the rest of the team.”
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