PEORIA, Ariz. – Chris Cortez and Sam Garza scored a goal apiece as Arizona United SC defeated Orange County Blues FC 2-0 on Saturday at the Peoria Sports Complex. Arizona ended a five-game winless stretch (0-2-3) and posted its first home victory of the season, improving to 3-5-3 overall (12 points). Orange County, which played shorthanded for approximately 30 minutes, fell to 4-5-3 (15 points).

Scoring:
41’ – AZ – Chris Cortez (Long Tan)
90’+ – AZ – Sam Garza (Tony Cascio)

Three Things That Mattered:

• 1. Arizona was the aggressor throughout the match, and United was initially rewarded with Chris Cortez’s header in the 41st minute. Long Tan crossed in from the right side of the box and Cortez’s slick header into the near upper right corner was placed well out of the reach of Blues goalkeeper Josh Cohen. Orange County’s goalkeeper had a busy night, turning away a whopping nine saves. Meanwhile, United goalkeeper Jordan Stagmiller, making his first start, did not have to make a save for the clean sheet.

• 2. The match took a big turn during the second half Orange County’s Akwfei Ajeakwa, who entered the match in the 61st minute, was sent off just three minutes later. He was red carded for an intentional kick from behind to Tommy Williams. The occurrence happened on a seemingly dead play. The Blues had to play the remainder of the match with 10 men.

• 3. Arizona hadn’t taken full advantage of the opportunity, but the match was finally put out of reach in second-half stoppage time when Sam Garza tucked in the game’s final goal. Tony Cascio set him up perfectly from the right side and Garza tucked the right-footed shot inside the near left post.

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match:
TBD

Upcoming Games:
Arizona United SC vs. Saint Louis FC – June 18, 10:30 p.m. ET, Peoria Sports Complex
Orange County Blues FC vs. Real Monarchs SLC – June 18, 10 p.m. ET, Anteater Stadium