As we near the end of a fantastic season for Orange County Blues FC, one last regular season showdown with local rivals LA Galaxy II awaits on Saturda
As we near the end of a fantastic season for Orange County Blues FC, one last regular season showdown with local rivals LA Galaxy II awaits on Saturday, with playoff spots and bragging rights on the line. It has become possibly the biggest and most important match in the club’s history, with a sellout crowd expected at Anteater Stadium.
Currently sitting tied for third place in the Western Conference standings, OC is only three points behind of second place Galaxy II. With a win, the Blues further solidify their spot in the USL Playoffs. However, the playoffs aren’t the only thing riding on this Saturday’s meeting. Orange County is looking to win their first match against Galaxy II since LA’s induction into the USL in 2014. The two clubs have met seven times, with OC earning its best result in their last showdown, a 1-1 draw on July 16th at StubHub Center.
Since that match in Carson, the Blues have been playing some of their best soccer over the past two months. Peaking in form at the right time, OC has won five of their last six matches, improving their record to a club-best 12 wins on the season thus far. With eight of those being home wins, the Blues will be up against a very talented LA club that has recorded seven away wins, creating a tantalizing matchup.
“We are a team full of confidence, playing some great football and scoring a lot of goals. We respect everybody and fear nobody. This is a very exciting game for our players in front of our loud capacity home crowd. It’s David versus Goliath, but being the underdog is something we relish. Our team cannot wait for Saturday night, so no more talk from us,” said Technical Director Barry Venison.
Chris Cortez will be an important factor in this Saturday’s match. Coming off a 3-1 victory over Portland Timbers 2 in which the Mission Viejo native scored two goals, Cortez was named the USL Player of the Week, earning 43 percent of the national poll. Combined with the great play of new addition David Estrada and the sizzling form of Denzel Slager and Chino Santana, Cortez looks to make history Saturday night by toppling the giants up “the 405”.
“I’m really excited for this game on Saturday. We’ve had some good matchups with the Galaxy this season, and the standings and playoff implications make it that much more important of a game. It’s the business end of the season, and every game is crucial,” said Cortez.
OC Blues FC and LA Galaxy will kickoff at 7 p.m. PT this Saturday, September 5 at Anteater Stadium. Don’t miss your chance to be a part of history. For tickets, call (949) 333-0418 or email [email protected].
