USL PRO Game Report
Sunday, May 18, 2014
TUKWILA, Wash. – The Seattle Sounders Reserves took a 1-0 victory against the Orange County Blues FC on Sunday afternoon at Starfire Sports Complex. Cam Weaver scored the only goal of the game as the Sounders Reserves had the better of much of the game, and handed the Blues their seventh loss of the season.
The Sounders Reserves had the first big opportunity in the 10th minute as a deep cross from the right by Sean Okoli found Tristan Bowen at the back post, and he fired off the post before the Blues cleared. Six minutes later, a knock-down by Weaver found Chad Barrett, but his shot was saved by Patrick McLain.
McLain was called into action again in the 26th minute as he saved Weaver’s header. The Blues weren’t able to create much offensively in the first half, as their efforts to counter-attack were caught offside, and the Sounders were able to deny any scoring opportunities.
Seattle remained on top in the second half, and Barrett almost broke the deadlock in the 63rd minute as his header was well-saved by McLain. Ten minutes later, the Sounders Reserves would find the breakthrough as Okoli found Weaver near the penalty spot, and Weaver finished well for a 1-0 lead.
The Blues had a big opportunity to find an equalizer in the 81st minute as a good low cross from the left came to Gabrield Gonzalez, but his shot was cleared off the line by Aaron Kovar to keep Seattle ahead. Okoli almost doubled the Sounders Reserves’ lead three minutes later as he rung a shot off the crossbar, but Seattle would see out the remaining minutes to take victory.
Orange County returns home on May 31 to host Arizona United SC, the first of two consecutive games at Anteater Stadium on the campus of UC-Irvine.