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Angulo Leads Energy FC Past S2

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 10/15/17, 8:02PM EDT

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OKC claims No. 6-seed with 3-1 victory for fourth consecutive win


Photo courtesy Steven Christy / OKC Energy FC

OKLAHOMA CITY – OKC Energy FC got a goal and two assists from Jose Angulo as it locked up the No. 6-seed in the Western Conference for the 2017 USL Cup Playoffs thanks to a 3-0 victory against Seattle Sounders FC 2 on Sunday evening at Taft Stadium. Energy FC had a chance to take the lead in the sixth minute as Alex Dixon got out on the break but could find a finish, and a minute later Wojciech Wojcik had a chance saved by S2 goalkeeper Tyler Miller. Dixon again went close with a strong low shot from the right side of the penalty area that Miller got down well to deny. S2’s first good chance came in the 28th minute, but Felix Chenkam’s shot from a tight angle on the right side of the penalty area missed the near post. Energy FC took the lead two minutes before the halftime break as a great counterattack released Angulo through the center, and his slipped past was put home first time by Wojciech into the left corner. OKC doubled its lead as Angulo again played set-up man, putting in Miguel Gonzalez for a low finish to the left corner in the 49th minutes. Angulo then added a goal of his own in the 56th minute as he broke in behind the defensive line, cut back onto his left foot as the defense retreated to cover and fired into the roof of the net from the right side of the penalty area. OKC’s Jonathan Brown almost added a fourth in the 68th minute when his curling free kick went just wide of the left post from 25 yards, while Dixon went close 10 minutes later only to miss the target from the right side of the penalty area. S2 pulled a goal back with six minutes to go as Shandon Hopeau came in from the left side and rifled home a shot from 25 yards into the top-right corner of the net, but that would be as close as the visitors would get as OKC closed out its victory and set up a trip to face Reno 1868 FC in the Western Conference Quarterfinals next weekend.

Scoring:
43’ – OKC – Wojcik Wojciech (Jose Angulo)
49’ – OKC – Miguel Gonzalez (Jose Angulo)
56’ – OKC – Jose Angulo (Jose Barril)
84’ – SEA – Shandon Hopeau (Rodrigue Ele)

Three Things That Matter:

  • 1. Energy FC recorded its fourth consecutive victory to close out the regular season on Sunday, with the best run of form the side has put together in the 2017 season coming at the perfect time of the year. Given the squad assembled, Energy FC’s inconsistency throughout the first three-quarters of the season was puzzling. With five wins in the final six games of the season, scoring 15 goals across those performances, those days are long behind the side. Now OKC will get the chance to earn revenge for its only loss in that span, against Reno 1868 FC last Saturday night. With the firepower on offer, it could be a very memorable night at Greater Nevada Field.

  • 2. Jose Angulo has brought consistency in front of goal in Energy FC’s push to a third consecutive playoff bid, and notched his 11th goal since his arrival on loan from Saint Louis FC in July to cap his performance, but on Sunday evening it was his creative vision that secured OKC the No. 6-seed in the Western Conference. The 2013 USL Most Valuable Player provided two outstanding assists just before and after the halftime break to set up chances that Wojciech Wojcik and Miguel Gonzalez made the most of. With six goals and three assists in three games in October, Angulo is hot heading into the postseason.

  • 3. S2’s third season ended in disappointing fashion as the club played its way out of playoff contention by failing to take victory over the final two months of the regular season and dropped four consecutive games to conclude the year. While there were bright points on the side throughout the year, led by attacking midfielder Zach Mathers, USL 20 Under 20 selection Sam Rogers or Sunday’s example of Shandon Hopeau’s standout finish late on, there was also too little consistency beyond that which left the side sitting 15 points out of the playoff positions two years after reaching the postseason.

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match

Jose Angulo, OKC Energy FC – Angulo’s outstanding run continued with a goal and two assists before he was substituted in the 68th minute to an appropriate ovation from the Taft Stadium crowd.

Upcoming Games:
Western Conference Quarterfinals:
OKC Energy FC at Reno 1868 FC – Saturday, October 21, 8:45 p.m. ET, Greater Nevada Field
Seattle Sounders FC 2 – End of Season

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