TUKWILA, WASH. – Seattle Sounders FC 2 (4-2-1, 13 points) scored two second-half goals to defeat Orange County Blues FC (3-2-0, 9 points) 2-1, after entering the second half down 1-0. The three points puts S2 at the top of the USL Western Conference table, one point ahead of defending USL champion Sacramento Republic FC (4-4-0, 12 points), who they will face May 9 in Sacramento (SoundersFC.com / 8:00 p.m. PT)
POST-MATCH AUDIO:http://sndrs.com/x4ks
OC Blues FC started the scoring in the 23rd minute as Denzel Slager’s cross from the right found Christopher Ramierez, who headed his shot past diving S2 goalkeeper Charlie Lyon. The Blues’ would carry the 1-0 lead into the half.
S2 forward Sam Garza, who came on at half for Darwin Jones, equalized in the 66th minute when an Aaron Kovar corner kick was deflected out of the box, finding the feet of Garza 20 yards from goal. Garza took one touch to his right and shot. His shot hit the crossbar and bounced down across the line. It was Garza’s second goal of the season.
Referee Ekaterina Koroleva called a penalty for S2 when substitute Oalex Anderson took a touch past OC Blues FC defender Brenton Griffiths who brought the forward down in the box. S2 midfielder Pablo Rossi stepped up to take the penalty and put it away to the right of Blues goalkeeper Pepe Miranda for his third goal of the season.
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 2 |2 - 1| Orange County Blues FC
Friday, May 1, 2015
Venue: Starfire Stadium, Tukwila, Wash.
Referee: Ekaterina Koroleva
Assistants: Charles Spaniola, Kelsey Harms
Fourth official: Farhad Dadkho
Attendance: 2,043
Weather: Partly cloudy, 60 degrees
SCORING SUMMARY
OC – Christopher Ramirez (Slager) 23’
SEA – Sam Garza 66’
SEA – Pablo Rossi (PEN) 83’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
OC – Romeo Filipovic 68’
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC 2 - Charlie Lyon, Oniel Fisher, Damion Lowe, Jimmy Ockford, Andres Correa (Aaron Long 59’), Andy Craven (Qudus Lawal 71’), Amadou Sanyang, Giuliano Frano, Aaron Kovar (Oalex Anderson 82’), Pablo Rossi (Duncan McCormick 87’), Darwin Jones (Sam Garza 45’)
Substitutes not used: RJ Noll, Nick Miele
Total shots: 8
Shots on goal: 5
Offside: 2
Corner-kicks: 6
Saves: 0
Orange County Blues FC – Pepe Miranda, Jimmy Turner (Christopher Santana 90’), Joshua Suggs, Brenton Griffiths, Romeo Filipovic, Jacob Barron, Didier Crittenand, Junior Burgos (Christopher Cortez 59’), Christopher Ramirez, Nikola Ilich (Amani Walker 87’), Denzel Slager
Substitutes not used: Billy Thompson, Alberto Navarro, Seung Ju Kim, Tyler Feely
Total shots: 6
Shots on goal: 1
Offside: 1
Corner-kicks: 6
Saves: 3
