2025 Match Recap: Orange County SC 2, Sacramento Republic FC 1

Sacramento were looking to get back into the win column on their latest road trip. Their opponent would be a familiar foe in Orange County SC. Orange County were on the front foot to start the match and got a goal for their efforts from Ethan Zubak. An own goal doubled their advantage. Sacramento built their way back into the match with Sebastian Herrera getting a goal, but they couldn't find an equalizer.

Orange County have had a similar start to the season as Sacramento. They found themselves 1 point behind the Republic heading into this match. The Orange County side got a great start with a 4-2 win over Oakland in their season opener. But since then they've been unable to get a win. A 2-2 draw against Lexington in their next match. And then they've been on a losing skid with losses against Monterey and a 0-1 loss to Las Vegas in their last match. Orange County were also looking to get back to their scoring ways as they've also been shut out in their last two contests. The club will need to step it up if they want to make the postseason like they did last season. One note on their roster, Bryce Jamieson recently transferred to the Colorado Rapids of the MLS. But, he will remain with Orange County for the remainder of the season as part of a loan agreement with the club.

Sacramento were also coming into this contest desperate to get 3 points and make an early climb up the table. The team were coming off of another draw. This time a late goal from Louisville robbed an opportunity of a win last time out. The Republic have been putting out great performances for a majority of their matches and its against some of the league's toughest opponents. They just need to find a way to seal off the game as it moves into its final phases. I'd be curious to see who Neill Collins selects not only for this match but for the next couple of matches going forward. We've got 3 matches in a week coming up with an Open Cup contest in the middle. How will Coach Collins rotate his squad? The last time these two met it was a 2-0 win for the Republic, with Trevor Amann and Aldair Sanchez scoring on the night. This was an early season revenge match after the Republic gave up a goalie goal and a win in the first match of the 2024 season.

Coach Danny Stone made this selection for Orange County:

⚽️ Our starting XI!

✅ ¡Nuestro XI inicial!#ForCounty | #OCvSAC pic.twitter.com/n1F1E7IzLj

— Orange County SC (@orangecountysc) April 13, 2025

Coach Neill Collins had this lineup for Sacramento:

Tonight's starting XI vs Orange County SC #OCvSAC

[image or embed]

— Sacramento Republic FC (@sacrepublicfc.bsky.social) April 12, 2025 at 6:30 PM

Coach Collins opted for a near full strength lineup for this one. The one change in the starting lineup from the match against Louisville is Ryan Spaulding getting the start in place of Jack Gurr. He came off with an injury in the last match and it's looking to have taken Gurr out here. On the bench we saw Tyler Clegg return to the teamsheet. Some notable omissions were Trevor Amann and Justin Portillo.

Orange County got the first decent chance on the night. They're pressure in the midfield was causing issues for the Republic. And they nearly capitalized on their opportunities in the 3rd minute. The press forced Blake Willey into making an untimely turnover. The ball got to Bryce Jamieson heading into the Republic box. He held up play and laid it off to Ousmane Sylla. He was able to get a shot off but it was fired wide of the target.

Orange County again were continuing their hot start and were building pressure again in the 10th minute. Ryan Doghman got the ball and played in a great cross from the left flank. And it was Ethan Zubak that came flying into the box with a late run to get on the end of it. Danny Vitiello came up big on the line to block the opportunity.

This time off of a counterattack, Orange County were hounding in on the Republic goal in the 15th minute. Bryce Jamieson got the ball running down the right flank. He put in such a great low cross to find Ethan Zubak again threatening Danny Vitiello. The keeper came out and rushed the striker to put him off. Zubak wasn't able to recover and put his shot out of bounds.

And Orange County were able to finally find their breakthrough in the 18th minute. A backbreaking ball from Kyle Scott got through the midfield and into the Republic backline. Lyam MacKinnon was first to respond and played in Ryan Doghman deep into Republic territory. A low cross was played into the Republic box and was aimed towards Ethan Zubak. Danny Vitiello was able to get a touch on the shot but couldn't stop it from creeping into the back of the net.

Zubak opens the score 💪#ForCounty | #OCvSAC pic.twitter.com/mu7dipjAWg

— Orange County SC (@orangecountysc) April 13, 2025

The pace of play slowed down after the Orange County goal as Sacramento settled into the match. But in the 40th minute, Orange County again broke through the Sacramento backline. Sylla was the one to dribble past his man and get in on goal. Zubak was running with him and the ball was played into his path. The striker got into the Republic box and put his shot off the crossbar and cleared out.

At halftime, Orange County held the advantage. Sacramento just looked sluggish to start the first half. And Orange County capitalized on that. Sacramento's midfield weren't effective against their counterparts who were able to pick out any pass they wanted. Those passes stretched the Republic defense. And so Orange County's strikers were able to just take up space and capitalize on their opportunities. Sacramento needed to tighten up on defense if they wanted any chance back into this game.

At halftime, Coach Collins made a substitution. Sebastian Herrera came into the match in place of Lewis Jamieson.

The threat of Bryce Jamieson was again worrisome to start the second half. In the 48th minute, Jamieson again was threatening down the wing as he put in a low cross to try and find one of his strikers. Blake Willey was the first to act on the cross but his touch ended up putting it in the back of his own net.

We'll take it 😌#ForCounty | #OCvSAC pic.twitter.com/wl88jqtq9H

— Orange County SC (@orangecountysc) April 13, 2025

Sacramento got a goal back in the 56th minute for the Republic. Jared Timmer dribbled up field and got his head up to put in a cross into the Orange County box. Sebastian Herrera rose above the Orange County defenders to head it home.

Sebastian Herrera cuts OC's lead in half with a header! #OCvSAC

[image or embed]

— Sacramento Republic FC (@sacrepublicfc.bsky.social) April 12, 2025 at 8:30 PM

A pair of substitutions was made by Coach Collins in the 65th minute. Chibi Ukaegbu came in to replace Jared Timmer. And Rayan Djedje made his debut for the club, taking the place of Ryan Spaulding.

Sacramento were continuing to build momentum going deep into the match. Coach Collins made another substitution in the 70th minute. Blake Willey was taken out and replaced by Rodrigo Lopez.

Sacramento were the ones putting pressure on the backline of Orange County in the 75th minute. Russell Cicerone found some space and got into the Orange County box. He fired a shot that had to be turned away by Shutler. Roro got the rebound but his shot was blocked away by the Orange County defenders.

And then in the 76th minute, Sacramento had a great set piece opportunity. Rodrigo Lopez put in a cross from deep in Orange County territory. His cross was headed down by Luis Felipe. The chance was blocked by Shutler who was down on his line. The ball then bounced around for a bit inside the Orange County box before popping out to Cristian Parano. His shot was blocked by an Orange County defender.

Sacramento pushed to try and find an equalizer but they came up short. Orange County were the better team on the night. Sacramento turned the pressure up in the second half but it was too little too late. The midfield was just dominated to start the match and it was tough to recover from that position. Bryce Jamieson was hard to contain and was creating chances at will for Orange County. Sacramento haven't found the win column since the opening match. They will have an open cup match against El Farolito to hopefully get right. And then they will have another tough test with Phoenix on the road.

Key Takeaways:

• Instead of a bad ending, Sacramento got out to a slow start.
• Bryce Jamieson was the player of the match for me. He was really threatening and posed so many problems that Sacramento could not deal with.
• We sorely miss the players that have been out.

Sacramento Republic FC: 1 goal, 17 shots, 5 shots on target, 59.4% possession, 3 corners, 2 offsides, 2 yellow cards, 0 red cards.

Orange County SC: 2 goals, 11 shots, 3 shots on target, 40.6% possession, 0 corners, 3 offsides, 5 yellow cards, 0 red cards.

Republic FC Lineup: Danny Vitiello, Michel Benitez, Jared Timmer (OUT 65'), Freddy Kleeman, Dominik Wanner, Ryan Spaulding (OUT, 65'), Cristian Parano, Luis Felipe, Lewis Jamieson (OUT, HT), Blake Willey (OUT, 70'), Russell Cicerone

Republic FC Bench: Jared Mazzola, Chibi Ukaegbu (IN, 65'), Tyler Clegg, Ryan Spualding, AJ Edwards, Rodrigo Lopez (IN, 70'), Rayan Djedje (IN, 65'), Sebastian Herrera (IN, HT)

What were your thoughts on the match? Sound off in the comments below!

Follow me on Bluesky (@allisquail.bsky.social) for live match coverage and more!

Check out the stats from this match here!