Arizona United Arizona United Soccer Club drops road match to Orange County Blues FC

IRVINE, Calif. (Saturday, May 31, 2014) - Arizona United Soccer Club wrapped up a busy month with a 2-0 loss to Orange County Blues FC on Saturday night at Anteater Stadium on the campus of University of California, Irvine.

OC Blues FC captain Allen Russell drew first blood for the home side 15 minutes into the match on a quick counter attack. Defender Josh Suggs played a diagonal ball down the right wing for midfielder Mehrshad Momeni, who took a touch near the right corner flag, and curled in a low cross. The ball took a bounce inside the box before Russell headed home the opening goal.

The home side doubled its lead in the seventh minute of stoppage time when second-half substitute Mohammed Roknipour stripped Arizona United SC goalkeeper Evan Newton on top of the box.

The fourth official originally indicated that there would be five minutes of stoppage time, but due to two straight red cards that were shown to Arizona United SC’s Matt Kassel and Joseph Toby in stoppage time, the match extended for a few extra minutes. Before the ejections, a total of nine yellow cards were issued between the two sides. OC Blues FC was issued seven, and Arizona United SC was issued two.

Before the unfortunate error by Newton, he was having quality match in goal for Arizona United SC. A turnover in the final third by Arizona United SC prompted Newton to run off his line and stop a shot on top of the box in the 63rd. In the 82nd minute Newton smothered a blast from the right wing.

Arizona United SC had its chances in the match to draw a goal back, but were on the unfortunate end of chances that just missed. Bradlee Baladez had a header from a corner that hit the side-netting in the 20th minute. London Woodberry’s header in the 55th minute from a Joey Dillon cross was saved. Jon Okafor and Benji Lopez had shots from inside the box were both blocked by OC Blues FC defenders in the 86th minute.

Lopez, who is on loan from Major League Soccer’s Real Salt Lake, made his professional debut when he was brought in the 62nd minute.

Arizona United SC will look to rebound from the loss when they travel to the Sacramento Republic FC on June 7th.

-Arizona United Soccer Club Match Report-

Match: Arizona United Soccer Club vs. Orange County Blues FC

Date: Saturday, May 31, 2014

Competition: USL PRO

Venue: Anteater Stadium

Kickoff: 7:00 PM PDT

Weather: Clear, and 72 degrees

Scoring Summary 1 2 F Arizona United Soccer Club 0 0 0 Orange County Blues FC 1 1 2

Scoring Summary:

OCB – Allan Russell – (assist: Mehrshad Momeni) 15th minute

OCB – Mohammed Roknipour – 90 + 7th minute

Misconduct Summary:

OCB – Joe Sofia (Yellow) – 9th minute

AZU – Daniel Antúnez (Yellow) – 37th minute

OCB – Mershad Momeni (Yellow) – 39th minute

OCB – Christopher Cortez (Yellow) – 46th minute

OCB – Joshua Suggs (Yellow) – 58th minute

OCB – Enrique Cardenas (Yellow) – 81st minute

OCB – Stephen Okai (Yellow) – 84th minute

OCB – Allen Russell (Yellow) – 89th minute

AZU – Bradlee Baladez (Yellow) – 90th minute

AZU – Joseph Toby (Red) – 90+3 minute

AZU – Matt Kassel (Red) – 90+5 minute

Saves Corners Fouls Offsides Shots AZU 5 2 9 2 8 OCB 7 6 25 4 13

Lineups:

Arizona United SC: Evan Newton, Matt Kassel, Jalen Robinson, Daniel Antúnez (Devon Grousis – 72), Scott Morrison (Joseph Toby – 46), Paolo DelPiccolo, Joey Dillon, Bradlee Baladez, Kadeem Dacres (London Woodberry – 46), Jonathan Top (Benji Lopez – 61), Schillo Tshuma (Jon Okafor – 82)

Orange County Blues FC: Patrick McLain, Joe Sofia, Joshua Suggs, James Turner, Kwame Watson-Siriboe, Gabriel Gonzalez (Seung Ju Kim – 57), Mershad Momeni (Enrique Cardenas – 74), Stephen Okai, Allan Russell (Andrew Hoxie – 90), Edgar Santana (Paco Prad0 – 90), Christopher Cortez (Mohammad, Roknipour – 66)