A run of bad form was put to bed Saturday night at UC Irvine’s Anteater Stadium, as Orange County Blues FC defeated Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 by a scor
A run of bad form was put to bed Saturday night at UC Irvine’s Anteater Stadium, as Orange County Blues FC defeated Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 by a score of 3-2, behind two goals from Didier Crettenand and one from Christofer Ramirez.
An electric first half featured all five of the goals in the match. The action started early as Ramirez played a ball into the box to Crettenand in the 6th minute at what looked to be an impossible angle. The captain fired it into the roof to put the home side ahead. Three minutes later, Ramirez found himself in the opposite role, receiving a ball from Christopher Santana in the box, and his shot deflected into the net past Whitecaps FC 2 goalkeeper Spencer Richey.
Down 2-0 early in the half, WFC2 didn’t give in. In the 32nd minute, Caleb Clarke got ahead of the Blues defense and beat Pepe Miranda on a one-on-one to pull one back for the ‘Caps. Three minutes later, Brett Levis sent a shot on frame that was deflected into the net to equalize the match.
The action didn’t end there. Nearing the end of the first half, new signing Ryan Felix was brought down in the box on a corner, earning the first penalty for the Blues this season. Crettenand calmly finished the penalty kick in what ended up being the game winning goal.
The second half featured a relentless attack from WFC2, with a number of chances on frame falling short, but the home side held on for the crucial victory.
OC improves to 6-6-1, with 19 points on the season, moving them up into 6th place in USL’s Western Conference. WFC2 falls to 4-8-4, with 16 points.
There is little time to celebrate the victory, as the Blues next host OKC Energy FC on Wednesday, July 1st at Anteater Stadium.
