June 2, 2022 – United Soccer League Championship (USL) – Orange County SC News Release
Orange County SC traveled to Laney College Football Stadium to face off against Oakland Roots SC for the second time this season and lost, 3-2, after another direct free kick goal in stoppage time by Ottar Magnus Karlsson.
OCSC struggled to find their footing early on, but Patrick Rakovsky continued his fine run of form to keep Oakland off the board after a Karlsson chance in the sixth minute. The Icelandic on loan from Italian side Venezia FC pounced on an opportunity in close in the ninth minute for his tenth goal of the season, and Oakland led 1-0.
Oakland continued to keep play in their attacking third for the majority of the half, but the OCSC defense held strong following a change in formation from manager Richard Chaplow. They allowed just one additional shot on goal in the first half.
In the 32nd minute, OCSC found themselves on the attack and created a chance against the run of play. Erick “Cubo” Torres collected a pass in the box and fired a shot off the arm of Tarek Morad, and OCSC were awarded a penalty.
Torres finished his penalty with a strong right-footed effort down the middle, fooling Benny Diaz to tie the match.
After three saves in the first half, Rakovsky got some help from Alex Villanueva in the 53rd minute, as he cleared Daniel Barbir’s header off the line.
Milan Iloski created the first chance for OCSC in the second half, as he earned a corner off a Morad challenge. On the ensuing corner, Albi Skendi found himself unmarked in the box and nodded home his second goal of the season and put OCSC ahead 2-1 in the 65th minute.
Oakland has been notorious so far this season for late-game dramatics, including in the matchup with OCSC earlier this season, and found some more of that magic as Juan Carlos Azocar tied the match in the 92nd minute. Three minutes later, Karlsson scored the match winner off a free kick.
It is just the first time in club history that OCSC…