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USL Match Preview – #OCvPHX

By USLSoccer.com Staff, 08/17/17, 9:07AM EDT

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OCSC officially opens new venue in key playoff-race clash

IRVINE, Calif. – Orange County SC will officially open its new home on Friday night as Phoenix Rising FC visits Champions Soccer Stadium at Orange County Great Park for the USL Game of the Week on ESPN3, which also serves as a major test for two teams looking to boost their playoff hopes. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. PT.

Matchcenter: http://bit.ly/2wecVXR | Tickets: http://bit.ly/2vt688S | Broadcast: ESPN3

Orange County SC news and notes

  • Current record: 7-6-7, 28pts

  • Orange County earned a 0-0 draw on Tuesday night against Tulsa Roughnecks FC to move within a point of eighth-place OKC Energy FC in the Western Conference.

  • Goalkeeper Charlie Lyon recorded a four-save shutout for the hosts, his fifth of the season in 20 appearances. Lyon is eighth in the USL with 57 saves this season.

  • OCSC has been held scoreless for 260 minutes on home turf, with its last goal in a home contest coming via Victor Pineda in a 1-0 win against Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 on July 29.

  • Orange County has scored only one headed goal this season, through forward Wuilito Fernandes.

Phoenix Rising FC news and notes

  • Current record: 7-7-5, 26pts

  • Rising FC played to a 1-1 draw last Saturday night as the side conceded in stoppage time to Rio Grande Valley FC at H-E-B Park.

  • Phoenix finished the game with nine men as Amadou Dia and Doueugui Mala were sent off in the final five minutes. Both are suspended for Friday’s game.

  • Forward Jason Johnson scored from the penalty spot against RGVFC, and is now tied for the team-lead alongside Didier Drogba with five goals.

  • Phoenix has attempted a league-fewest 6,531 passes this season, and sits 22nd in the USL with 169 chances created, an average of 8.9 per game.

Series Notes

  • Didier Drogba’s late free kick goal earned Phoenix a 1-1 draw when the teams first met this season, keeping his side with a 6-4-2 edge in the all-time series.

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, Amirgy Pineda, Kevin Jeon, Zachary Kobayashi, Frank Olijve, James Baxendale; F: Monday Etim, Duke Lacroix, Wuiilito Tavares Fernandes

  • Phoenix – GK: Carl Woszczynski, Josh Cohen, Nolan Wirth; D: Eder Arreola, Jordan Gibbons, J.J. Greer, A.J. Grey, Peter Ramage, Kody Wakasa, Victor Vasquez, Jordan Stewart; M: Alessandro Riggi, Eric Avila, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Romilio Hernandez, Sam Hamilton, Blair Gavin, Kevon Lambert, Miguel Timm, Matt Watson; F: Jason Johnson, Matthew Hurlow, Chris Cortez, Didier Drogba

Discipline

  • Orange County – Accumulation warning: Richard Chaplow

  • Phoenix – Suspended: Amadou Dia, Doueugui Mala; Accumulation warning: Shaun Wright-Phillips, Omar Bravo, Didier Drogba, J.J. Greer

Officials

  • REF: JOSEPH DICKERSON

  • AR1: Joseph Salinas

  • AR2: Cynthia Vargas

  • 4TH: Jose Lopez

Game hashtag:

  • #OCvPHX

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