Know Thy Enemy – Orange County SC
It has a been a bit of a busy couple weeks for the editors, and writer Mark Murray has picked up a lot of the slack, but it is time to get back to it for this week’s “Know Thy Enemy!”
Friday Phoenix Rising FC faces a challenging club. Orange County SC travels from Irvine, Calif., bringing with it an 8-4-3 record, 27 points, and a 5th place spot in the Western Conference standings. OCSC’s form shows success, with only one loss in the last five games. Though underneath Rising FC in the standings, OCSC has two games in hand over the Firebirds, making this game a pivotal match if Phoenix wishes to hold its second place standing.
In their last meeting, OCSC and Phoenix Rising drew 1-1 in the opening game of the season. OC’s Alex Crognale had a last-minute Didier Drogba free-kick in mind as he put a 90th-minute equalizer in the back of the net.
Who to watch?
Aodhan Quinn – MF – #14
Quinn is OCSC’s most recent contribution to the USL Team of the Week, recording a goal and two assists in a 6-1 drubbing of the hapless Tulsa Roughnecks last Saturday. He is tied with Thomas Envoldsen for the team lead in assists. Quinn hails from San Diego, and has spent time with USL sides Orlando City, Louisville City, and FC Cincinnati.
Thomas Enevoldsen – F – #7
The Dane has started in all 15 of OCSC’s matches and leads the team and is tied for the league lead with nine goals. No other player on Orange County’s roster has more than three. Enevoldsen has substantial experience, playing a substantial portion of his career in the Danish Superliga and serving on the Denmark National team, including an appearance in the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Christian Duke – MF – #20
The former Swope Park Rangers captain transitioned to OCSC for the 2018 season. Duke found great success in the Sporting KC system, leading the Rangers to back-to-back Western Conference Championships (including a playoff victory over Phoenix Rising FC). Duke hasn’t found a groove in the new system, however, but has earned a spot in 14 of 15 matches. Duke is, by far, the most aggressive OCSC player, having more than double the fouls won (34) than of the next player (Quinn – 16), and is also the leader in fouls conceded with 24 over Alex Crognale (17). However, his fouls are not careless, and have garnered only two cards so far this season.
Andre Rawls – GK – #12
OCSC’s stalwart keeper has appeared in all 15 matches, and has left a blank slate for the opposition an impressive seven times. The 26 year-old American was drafted in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft by New York City FC, but hasn’t found the field for the MLS side, who sent him to Irvine on loan at the beginning of this season.
Other Notes
- OCSC has one key players with four yellow-cards. A fifth results in automatic suspension, so Alex Crognale (D-#4).
- The team’s attack has found 28 goals, with only one player with more than three. They are among the best defensive and best offensive teams in the league.
Predictions
Everything seems to start and stop with Orange County’s Enevoldsen. Strong play by Rising FC’s holding midfielders will be key to disrupting passing lanes, and CB Joey Farrell will be kept busy in containment. The team is strong on distributing the ball, so the defense will be spread thin. On the other side of the ball, Orange County has only conceded 11 goals, and leads the Western Conference in that statistic. Match up the high-octane offense that Phoenix offers, and we are likely to see a very technical match.
Phoenix wins 2-1 over Orange County on the power of $1 beer night magic in the desert.
Phoenix Rising FC takes on Orange County SC Friday, June 29 at 7:30 pm at Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex. For tickets, go to phxrisingfc.com.
