USL PRO Game Report
Saturday, April 12, 2014
IRVINE, Calif. -- The Orange County Blues FC registered their first victory of the season with a 2-1 win against Sacramento Republic FC at Anteater Stadium on Saturday night. The Blues had to rally from an early deficit, but Stephen Okai's second goal of the season proved the difference as Republic FC finished the game with 10 men.
Republic FC took just eight minutes to open as it took advantage of an early free kick from the left. Former Blues’ star Rodrigo Lopez whipped in a vicious free kick, which allowed center back Mickey Daly to outwit the Blues' outside trap and side-foot a volley past Blues’ keeper Patrick McLain.
Orange County responded positively. Gibson Bardsley bulldozed his way into the right side of the penalty and was chopped down by a Sacramento defender. Blues captain Allan Russell stepped up to the spot and sent Sacramento keeper Jake Gleeson the wrong way to level the score in the 19th minute.
The sides were evenly matched until the 69th minute when the game was turned on its head. Bardsley was again the catalyst as he split the Republic FC center backs and was dragged down just outside the box by Harrison Delbridge. Referee Tyler Ploeger showed the Australian a straight red card.
Okai stepped up and curled a world-class free kick over the wall and just under Gleeson’s crossbar into the top-left corner of the net.
The Blues were able to hold on as a resolute defense repelled everything sent into their box, hanging on for their first three points of 2014.
“We played with more heart,” said Russell after the game. “For a lot of players it’s their first time being professional and are getting used to what it takes to play at a professional level. The very first thing is applying pressure and work rate which was far more superior than previous games.”
The Blues have a week to recover before heading back up the 405 for a rematch against the LA Galaxy II at 7:30 p.m. P.T., next Saturday, April 19th, at the StubHub Center Track Field. Republic FC will also be on the road next Saturday as it visits Arizona United SC next Saturday, April 19 at 7 p.m. PT.