IRVINE, Calif. – Orange County SC and Rio Grande Valley FC wrap up a home-and-home series at Orange County Great Park on Saturday night after the two teams played to a 1-1 draw that kept both on the outside of the USL Western Conference playoff positions on Wednesday night in Texas. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. PT.
Matchcenter: http://bit.ly/2vsQ5YB | Tickets: http://bit.ly/2vt688S
Orange County SC news and notes
Current record: 5-4-4, 19pts
Orange County earned a 1-1 draw with the Toros when they met at H-E-B Park as Dusan Stevanovic opened the scoring for the visitors.
Wuilito Fernandes recorded his second assist in as many games on the goal, and now has two goals and two assists on the season.
Orange County is on a five-game undefeated streak (2-0-3), but still sits three points back of the eighth-place Tulsa Roughnecks FC in the Western Conference.
Midfielder Jerry van Ewijk will be available for selection on Saturday after suspension, and leads Orange County with 19 Key Passes this season.
Rio Grande Valley FC news and notes
Current record: 6-7-3, 21pts
The Toros leveled against OCSC from the penalty spot as Eric Bird converted after T.J. Casner had been brought down just inside the penalty area.
Bird looked the most likely to find a winner, and created four scoring chances in addition to his goal on the night after moving into the lone striker role.
Rio Grande Valley has won only once in its last five games (1-3-1), and will look for its third road win of the season when it visits Orange County.
Jorginho James was sent off late in Wednesday night’s contest, and is suspended for Saturday night’s rematch.
Series Notes
Squads
Orange County – GK: Charlie Lyon, Casey Beyers, Michael Suchy; D: Oscar Sorto, Joe Franco, Alberto Navarro, Salomon Wbias, Oluwanisola Abolaji, Juan Pablo Ocegueda, Roy Meeus, Jeannot Esua; M: Victor Pineda, Richard Chaplow, Gustavo Villalobos, Carlos Alvarez, Jerry van Ewijk, Dusan Stevanovic, Kevin Jeon, Zachary Kobayashi; F: Duke Lacroix, Wuiilito Tavares Fernandes, Monday Etim
Rio Grande Valley – GK: Marco Carducci, Borja Angoitia, Calle Brown, Michael Kirk; D: Kai Greene, Victor Garza, Robby Sagel, Ivan Magalhaes, Leo Ayala, Taylor Hunter, Juan Garcia, Omar Ontiveros, Camilo Botero; M: Eric Bird, T.J. Casner, Emilio Garcia, Todd Wharton; F: Ruben Luna, Camilo Monroy, Kyle Murphy, Francisco Pungo
Discipline
Rio Grande Valley – Accumulation warning: Todd Wharton
Orange County – Suspended: Amirgy Pineda
Officials
REF: RAMY TOUCHAN
AR1: Eduardo Jeff
AR2: Joseph Salinas
4TH: Loren Barnett
Game hashtag:
Twitter social handles
Orange County SC – @OrangeCountySC
Rio Grande Valley FC – @RGVFC
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