Michael Orozco Scored His First Goal For OCSC This Season
By Tristan Bonetto – LA Soccer Press
Orange County SC played to a 2-2 draw against San Antonio FC on Saturday, October 15th, at Toyota Field in San Antonio, TX. Brian Iloski and Michael Orozco were the goalscorers in the last match of the regular season for OCSC after they failed to qualify for the 2022 USL Championship Playoffs a year after winning the 2021 USL Championship title.
San Antonio started the match on a solid note, creating viable chances on goal. In the 15th minute, San Antonio defender Fabien Garcia sent a free kick toward the OCSC goal that was saved by OCSC goalkeeper Patrick Rakovsky in the top center of the goal. In the 22nd minute, San Antonio midfielder David Loera botched a right-footed shot from the left side of the box that easily rolled into the hands of Rakosvky.
Three minutes later, in the 25th minute, OCSC opened the scoring behind a beautiful goal from midfielder Brian Iloski. Kevin Partida intercepted a bad pass from San Antonio defender Fabien Garcia and threaded it forward for Brian Iloski. Iloski picked up the ball, bolted past the last two defenders as San Antonio goalkeeper Jordan Farr tried to close off his angle, and sent a left-footed cheeky chip shot over Farr that found the bottom right corner.
In the 40th minute, OCSC forward Bryce Jamison almost made it 2-0 for the visitors, but Farr saved his point-blank shot as it deflected off his torso for an OCSC corner kick.
In the 43rd minute, after some impressive build-up play from the back, San Antonio forward Ignacio Bailone equalized the match for the home side. Forward Justin Dhillon sent a cross into the OCSC box from the right side of the field that found Bailone, whose headed attempt was initially saved by Rakosvky with his fingertips but then rolled into the goal.
At the end of the first half, OCSC captain Michael Orozco put the visitors ahead in the first minute of allotted time. A center from Brian Iloski after a corner found Orozco in the box as his powerful header found the top right corner after a deflection from a San Antonio defender helped it in.
As the second half began, San Antonio responded quickly with an equalizer to make it 2-2 just a minute into the second half. In the 46th minute, midfielder Cristian Parano scored a screamer from 25 yards out that found the top right corner as Rakovsky had no chance of saving the superb goal.
San Antonio forward Samuel Adeniran almost made it 3-2 in the 58th minute, but his shot was parried away from Rakovsky with a spectacular one-handed save. Adeniran had another viable chance to give San Antonio the lead in the 70th minute, but his finesse shot was saved by Rakovsky once again, this time with his legs.
In the 79th minute, Brian Iloski had a chance to take the lead for OCSC, but his shot wasn’t precise enough as it went straight to Jordan Farr, who handled it with ease after a deflection.
In the 91st minute, San Antonio midfielder Elliot Collier almost took the lead, but his shot was saved by Rakovsky, who leaped up and got both gloves on the ball headed toward the top right corner.
Facts and Notes:
Forward Milan Iloski became the first player in OCSC history to win the USL Championship Golden Boot with the club. Iloski finished the season with 22 goals in 31 appearances, averaging .71 goals per game.
Brian Iloski recorded his 4th and final goal of the 2022 USL Championship season.
This marks the end of the regular season for OCSC, who finished last in the Western Conference standings and failed to qualify for the 2022 USL Championship Playoffs.
Bonetto is a student at CSU Long Beach. He covers Orange County Soccer Club for LA Soccer Press. Follow him at @tristanbonetto on Twitter.
