Seattle Sounders FC 2 have fled the PNW heatwave in favor of an unseasonable temperate Irvine, California where they have a meeting with the once Orange County Blues who now go by Orange County Soccer Club. OCSC sit second to bottom of the Western Conference on just 10 points, though they have played 6 less games than S2 and are averaging just .17 less points per game. More telling is OCSC’s current 3 game losing streak, which portends a team that S2 should be able to best on the day. The player to watch for OCSC is Jerry van Ewijk, who leads the team in goals and chances created. He doesn’t get a ton of touches but when he does he tends to make them count, so it will be important to keep him out of dangerous positions.
The biggest task on the day for S2 will be playing without their talisman, Ray Saari, for the first time this season. Luckily, Lorenzo Ramos has started to perform well in the past month and he should be able to help mitigate the loss. That said, Francisco Narbón will need to have an even more stellar defensive game than usual and may even be asked to shoulder some of the creative responsibilities that usually fall to Saari.
nos audietis in somniis | nos audietis in altum
you will hear us in your sleep | you will hear us from the deep
this is our Sound
Keys to the Game:
- Keep van Ejiwk’s touches away from goal.
- Develop understanding between Narbón and Ramos.
- Keep spacing and shape in Saari’s absence.
Lineups
Here is YOUR S2 Starting XI for #OCvSEA! Kick off is in one hour. #OwnThe2 #TheFuture pic.twitter.com/XpdrjJIdQR
— Seattle Sounders 2 (@SoundersFC2) June 24, 2017
How to Watch
Match date/time: 5:00 PM PT, Saturday June 24, 2017
Venue: Orange County Great Park, Historic home of many Orange Groves, California
Streaming: SoundersFC.com
How I'm watching
Pregame Tune: Dark Blue by Jack’s Mannequin
Outfit: Whatever I feel like, Jeez!
Where: Outside in the hot hot heat on a computer.