SEATTLE, WASH. – Seattle Sounders FC 2 (12-12-3, 39 points) fell to Orange County Blues FC (14-9-3, 45 points) by a final score of 1-0 at Starfire Stadium on Friday night. The Rave Green remain two points from clinching a USL postseason berth, needing a win in its regular-season finale on Thursday, September 17 against Austin Aztex (7:30 p.m. PT / live-streamed on SoundersFC.com).
The first half saw two close chances for Orange County, but S2 goalkeeper Charlie Lyon made two point-blank saves to keep the Rave Green level going into the half. Sounders FC 2 was held to zero shots on goal for the first time in 2015, tallying just four shots through 90 minutes.
The Blues scored the lone goal of the match in the 57th minute when forward Chris Cortez got on the end of a long ball from the back and putting a toe to ball on the bounce. The shot went over the rushing Lyon and into the net, marking the eventual game-winner.
S2 returns to action at Starfire for its regular season finale with playoff hopes on the line. The Aztex are 9-14-3 in league play and are third from last in the Western Conference table, though they defeated S2 2-1 in Austin on September 5. Kickoff for Thursday’s finale is slated for 7:30 p.m. PT from Starfire Stadium.
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 2 |0-1| Orange County Blues FC
Friday, September 11, 2015
Venue: Starfire Stadium
Referee: Michael Lavergne
Assistants: Charles Spaniola, Cameron Siler
Fourth Official: Manuel Soledad
SCORING SUMMARY
OC – Christopher Cortez 57’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
OC – Josh Suggs (caution) 34’
OC – Pavle Poparo (caution) 45’+
SEA – Giuliano Frano (caution) 70’
OC – Milton Blanco (caution) 83’
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC 2 – Charlie Lyon, Giuliano Frano, Jimmy Ockford (Duncan McCormick 90’), Ashani Fairclough, Aaron Long, Micheal Azira, Sérgio Mota, Carlos Patino (Vic Mansaray 63’), Aaron Kovar (Lorenzo Ramos 70’), Pablo Rossi (Handwalla Bwana 79’), Darwin Jones (Oalex Anderson 58’)
Substitutes not used: Daniel Faundez, Nick Miele
Total shots: 5
Shots on goal: 0
Fouls: 12
Offside: 3
Corner-kicks: 5
Saves: 4
Orange County Blues FC – Pepe Miranda, Milton Blanco, Alberto Navarro, Denzel Slager (Christopher Santana 59’), Joshua Suggs, Nikola Ilich (Ryan Felix 90’+), Jack McCracken, Brenton Griffiths, David Estrada, Pavle Popara (Didier Crettenand 77’), Chris Cortez (Christopher Ramirez 59’)
Substitutes not used: Josh Cohen, Jefrey Payeras, Tyler Feeley,
Total shots: 13
Shots on goal: 5
Fouls: 12
Offside: 1
Corner-kicks: 2
Saves: 0
