September 8, 2022 – United Soccer League Championship (USL) – Monterey Bay FC News Release
SEASIDE, California – Monterey Bay F.C. (11-14-2, 35 points) topped Orange County SC (6-12-10, 28 points) at Cardinale Stadium, presented by Coastal Paving and Excavating. Sam Gleadle scored his third goal in two matches and Antony Siaha recorded his sixth career clean sheet to earn the Crisp and Kelp the full three points on the night.
Orange County SC earned the first chance of the night in the 6th minute. The league’s leading goal scorer Milan Iloski found space inside the box, but his shot was saved by Siaha to keep the visitors off the board. The Union combined down the right sideline for a chance in the 11th minute. Chase Boone sent a ball into the box towards Christian Volesky, but his shot missed just wide of the near post. In the 26th minute, following a corner for Monterey Bay, James Murphy looped a second ball back into the mix, but the header by Volesky was saved by the goalkeeper at the bottom-right corner of the frame. Grant Robinson laced a dangerous ball into the box in the 37th minute, but the pass skipped across the face of goal untouched and out for a goal kick. Despite the Union’s push for an opening goal in the first half, the sides entered the break scoreless.
In the 52nd minute, following a change of possession at midfield, Murphy pushed a through ball behind the OC back line and out in front of Gleadle. After beating the final defender in the box, Gleadle fired the ball past the goalkeeper to open the scoring for the Union and bring the match to 1-0. Simon Dawkins made a run at two defenders seven minutes later. After splitting the defense, Dawkins played the ball to Volesky inside the box, but his shot was saved by the goalkeeper to stop the hosts from doubling their lead. After earning a corner kick opportunity in the 72nd minute, Murphy sent the ball into the box towards Volesky, who then headed it back across goal to Dawkins, but Dawkins’ headed attempt on goal was caught by the goalkeeper at point-blank range. In the 89th minute, Iloski made a run down the left side for the visitors, but his left-footed shot missed high and to the right, and Monterey Bay F.C. held on for the 1-0 victory, its second clean sheet of the season against the defending title-winners, and the season sweep of Orange County SC.
Up Next: The Crisp and Kelp head to Las Vegas to take on Lights FC in the club’s third match of the week. The crucial fixture out…