Blues Rally for Dramatic Victory

Published on June 30, 2014 under United Soccer League Championship (USL) News Release

PEORIA, Ariz. - The Orange County Blues FC rallied from a two-goal deficit to take a 3-2 victory against Arizona United SC on Saturday night at the Peoria Sports Complex. Andrew Hoxie scored the game-winner in stoppage time as the Blues claimed their fifth win in six games to move into fifth place in the USL PRO standings.

Arizona opened the game well, and took the lead in the 19th minute when a back-post cross by Paolo DelPiccolo from the left found Jon Okafor for a close-range finish. United would double its advantage nine minutes before the halftime break through Kadeem Dacres, but the Blues' comeback would begin five minutes later as Orange County was awarded a penalty kick that was converted by Allan Russell to make it 2-1 at the break.

Orange County would get back on level terms in the 66th minute when floated pass by James Turner found the run of Josh Suggs in behind United's defense, and the midfielder sent a perfect lob over the head of the advancing goalkeeper from the left side of the penalty area to make it 2-2.

Both teams pushed for a winner in the final 20 minutes, and Arizona believed it had retaken the lead late on only for Dacres to be ruled offside after a close range finish. The Blues would grab all three points with almost the last kick of the game, however, as Hoxie got in behind Arizona's defense and flicked a finish into the right corner of the net to earn his side victory.

THURSDAY

SACRAMENTO 1, ARIZONA 0: An early goal by Emrah Klimenta, his first as a professional, earned Sacramento Republic FC victory against Arizona United SC at Bonney Field.

Klimenta's goal came in the 13th minute as he was able to flick home a header from Rodrigo Lopez's corner kick. Republic FC pushed forward for a second, and got a solid debut from Alvas Powell on loan from the Portland Timbers, but Klimenta's goal proved enough to move into fourth place in the league standings.

FRIDAY

HARRISBURG 1, CHARLOTTE 1: A 90th-minute header by Coady Andrews earned the Harrisburg City Islanders a point against the Charlotte Eagles at Skyline Sports Complex.

After a scoreless first half, the Eagles took the lead in the 57th minute when Drew Yates found Wells Thompson in space on the left, and his back-post cross found Fred Sekyere for a fine volleyed finish into the left corner. Harrisburg equalized in the final minute, however, as Andrews headed home Danny DiPrima's corner kick from the right to level the score.

SATURDAY

ORLANDO 3, LA GALAXY II 0: Orlando City extended its undefeated streak to 16 games as a pair of goals by Corey Hertzog lifted his side to victory against the LA Galaxy II at ESPN Wide World of Sports.

The Lions took the lead in the 18th minute as Luke Boden and Adama Mbengue combined on the left to release Boden to send a low cross that Hertzog was on hand to put home. The former USL PRO All-League selection was again the beneficiary of an excellent piece of invention in the 42nd minute as a flicked back-heel pass by Kevin Molino allowed Hertzog to add a second just before the halftime break.

Los Dos came close to getting back into the game early in the second half, only for Bradley Diallo's finish to be well saved by Miguel Gallardo. Molino would add a third for the Lions in the 61st minute, his 11th of the season, to wrap up victory for the Lions as they moved 11 points clear at the top of the league standings.

OKLAHOMA CITY 2, SACRAMENTO 0: Second-half goals by Mark Howard and Mikey Lopez allowed OKC Energy FC to extend its undefeated streak to six games as it defeated Sacramento Republic FC at Pribil Stadium.

After a quiet first half, Energy FC took the lead in the 53rd minute when Howard headed home a corner kick from the right by Adda Djeziri. Lopez doubled the lead midway through the half as he capped a good attacking move with his first professional goal, a well-struck finish from the right side of the penalty area into the left corner.

CHARLOTTE 1, ROCHESTER 0: Gui Brandao's first goal of the season proved the difference as the Charlotte Eagles took victory against the Rochester Rhinos at Sahlen's Stadium.

Brandao gave the Eagles the lead in the 52nd minute as he flicked home a header from Wells Thompson's cross. Rochester had a chance to equalize from the penalty spot three minutes later, but Charlotte goalkeeper Alec Kann, on loan from the Chicago Fire, made an excellent diving save to deny Minh Vu. Kann finished with four saves as the Eagles claimed four points from their weekend road trip.

DAYTON 1, PITTSBURGH 0: Eli Garner had the only goal as the Dayton Dutch Lions took victory against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds in a lightning-delayed contest at Highmark Stadium.

Garner took advantage of some sharp thinking in the 18th minute as a quickly taken free kick by Guilherme Felix put him in behind the Riverhounds' defense. The former University of North Carolina player was able to round the goalkeeper, and finish into the open net for the only goal of the game.

WILMINGTON 1, RICHMOND 1: Hugh Roberts' first professional goal earned the Richmond Kickers a 1-1 draw with the Wilmington Hammerheads at Legion Stadium.

After a slow first half, the Hammerheads took the lead on the hour-mark as a cross came to Tom Parratt in the penalty area, and the midfielder drove home a low finish into the left corner. The Kickers would hit back with 11 minutes to go, however, as Roberts was able to get on the end of a flicked header by Matt Delicate to put away the equalizer.

STANDINGS

Team GP W L T GF GA Pts

Orlando City 16 13 0 3 33 11 42

Richmond Kickers 16 8 1 7 34 16 31

LA Galaxy II 17 8 5 4 32 23 28

Sacramento Republic FC 15 8 5 2 23 19 26

Orange County Blues FC 16 8 8 0 23 28 24

Rochester Rhinos 17 6 5 6 15 13 24

Wilmington Hammerheads FC 12 5 1 6 20 15 21

OKC Energy FC 15 5 7 3 19 23 18

Charlotte Eagles 15 5 8 2 18 20 17

Charleston Battery 14 4 6 4 15 13 16

Dayton Dutch Lions FC 16 4 10 2 16 34 14

Harrisburg City Islanders 14 3 7 4 15 22 13

Arizona United SC (-2) 15 4 8 3 12 26 13

Pittsburgh Riverhounds 15 1 9 5 14 28 8

RESULTS

Thursday, June 26

Sacramento 1, Arizona 0

Friday, June 27

Harrisburg 1, Charlotte 1

Charleston vs. Richmond, Ppd.

Saturday, June 28

Dayton 1, Pittsburgh

Charlotte 1, Rochester 0

Orlando 3, LA Galaxy II 0

Wilmington 1, Richmond 1

Oklahoma City 2, Sacramento 0

Orange County 3, Arizona 2

SCHEDULE

Tuesday, July 1

Dayton vs. Pittsburgh, 7 p.m. ET

Thursday, July 3

Wilmington vs. Orlando, 7:30 p.m. ET

Friday, July 4

Pittsburgh vs. Rochester, 7 p.m. ET

LA Galaxy II vs. Arizona, 7 p.m. ET

Sacramento vs. Orange County, 10:30 p.m. ET

Saturday, July 5

Harrisburg vs. Charleston, 6 p.m. ET

Charlotte vs. Dayton, 8 p.m. ET

Sunday, July 6

Richmond vs. Real Salt Lake Reserves, 5 p.m. ET

United Soccer League Championship Stories from June 30, 2014

• USMNT Viewing Party at Matthew's East End Grill - Rochester Rhinos
• Dutch Lions Host the Riverhounds - Dayton Dutch Lions
• Blues Rally for Dramatic Victory - USL

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