OCSC Shares A Point With San Diego Loyal SC On A Historic Night For The Iloski Brothers
By – Tristan Bonetto – LA Soccer Press
Orange County SC split points between the visiting San Diego Loyal SC in a 2-2 draw at Championship Soccer Stadium in Irvine, CA, on Saturday, October 1st. It was a historic night for Milan and Brian Iloski, who became the fifth pair of brothers since 2000 to both record a goal while playing for the same team in the same match.
San Diego opened the match aggressively, creating swaths of chances for the Loyal SC attack. Their first chance came in the 12th minute when Loyal SC midfielder Jack Blake’s center was parried back into danger from OCSC goalkeeper Patrick Rakovsky. The ball fell to forward Thomas Amang, who sent a point-blank shot towards goal that Rakosvky saved with his leg to keep the match at 0-0.
Two minutes later, in the 14th minute, forward Thomas Amang gave Loyal SC the lead. Jack Blake played a perfect through ball to Amang, who dribbled into the OCSC box, and his right-footed curler went past the diving Patrick Rakovsky for the 1-0 lead.
In the 31st minute, Rakovsky was again called into action when he sprawled up with cat-like reflexes to get his fingertips on a Thomas Amang header that deflected off the crossbar before OCSC midfielder Kevin Partida cleared the ball from danger.
The match started to turn tides as OCSC began to control possession and create some excellent build-up play. OCSC’s continued pressure was rewarded in the 44th minute. Midfielder Tony Rocha threaded a ball to forward Milan Iloski just outside the box. His right-footed curling shot left Loyal SC goalkeeper Koke Vegas paralyzed on the goal line as it found the bottom right corner.
The second half began, and Loyal SC took the lead early on a free kick from Jack Blake to make it 2-1 in the 53rd minute. OCSC continued to push forward, creating viable chances to equalize the match.
In the 86th minute, OCSC substitute Erick “Cubo” Torres had a chance to equalize the match from a center into the Loyal SC box from defender Brent Richards, but his header soared over the bar.
In the 90th minute, defender Seth Casiple intercepted a bad pass from Loyal SC defender Ebenezer Ackon who passed the ball to forward Korede Osundina. Osundina threaded a through ball to midfielder Brian Iloski, leaving the Loyal SC defense wide open. Iloski took a shot that lodged into the back of the net to equalize the match at 2-2 as the sold-out crowd at Championship Soccer Stadium exploded into exuberant chants.
“Brian manages to slot one in there in the dying minutes in a pressure situation, showing his quality,” said OCSC Head Coach Richard Chaplow on Brian Iloski’s late equalizer. “I think the happy thing for Brian is that since he’s come back [from injury], he’s probably added a little more tenacity in front of goal than what he held last year.”
OCSC almost came away with all the spoils in the 93rd minute after Seth Casiple’s center found forward Torres, whose point-blank header was spectacularly saved from Loyal SC goalkeeper Koke Vegas.
“We just got to keep pushing each other every week to come out and perform,” said Head Coach Richard Chaplow about the OCSC squad finishing the season strong despite not qualifying for the playoffs.
“[We] have to entertain our fans who were outstanding tonight. Obviously, it’s fantastic to see a sell-out [crowd] regardless of where we sit in the league and our position. I’m happy we’ve been able to put on two strong performances in the last two home games, [but] it was disappointing not to get the victory tonight.”
OCSC will finish the 2022 USL Championship campaign on the road with their last two matches away at El Paso Locomotive FC and San Antonio FC. OCSC faces off against El Paso Locomotive FC on Saturday, October 8th, at Southwest University Park in El Paso, TX. OCSC then closes the season against San Antonio FC on Saturday, October 15th, at Toyota Field in San Antonio, TX.
Facts and Notes:
Brian and Milan Iloski have become only the fifth pair of brothers since 2000 to score a goal for the same club in the same match. They are the only other sibling duo to complete this feat in the U.S. professional soccer leagues since Gonzalo and Federico Higuain did it for MLS side Inter Miami in 2021.
Forward Milan Iloski scored his 22nd goal of the season to take a three-goal lead for the Golden Boot Race with two matches left for OCSC. He is two goals away from tying the all-time scoring record of 24 goals for OCSC set by former forward Thomas Enevoldsen. He is three goals away from tying the all-time single season-scoring record for the USL Championship with 25 goals, set initially by Cameron Lancaster in 2018 and subsequently Hadji Berry in 2021.
Midfielder Brian Iloksi recorded his third goal of the season, while forward Korede Osundina had his second assist of the season.
Bonetto is a student at CSU Long Beach. He covers Orange County Soccer Club for LA Soccer Press. Follow him at @tristanbonetto on Twitter.
