USL Championship 2019/20: Orange County SC vs Phoenix Rising – tactical analysis

Orange County SC welcomed Phoenix Rising to the Championship Soccer Stadium in Irvine, California as play in the USL’s Group B continued. Both teams struggled to get going due to rough turf conditions. While both teams produced close to two expected goals in the match, Orange County and Phoenix had to share the points with two second-half goals leading to a 1-1 draw.

This tactical analysis will examine the tactics used by both Rick Schantz and Braeden Cloutier in their 1-1 draw. The analysis will focus primarily on what both teams looked to do in attack, as well as how Orange County’s press frustrated Rising.

Lineups

Braeden Cloutier’s team came out in a 4-4-2 formation with 18-year-old Aaron Cervantes starting in goal. Their centre-backs were Michael Orozco and Rob Kiernan, with Nathan Smith as the left-back and Daniel Finlayson as their right-back. Aodhan Quinn and Daniel Crisostomo were the central midfielders with Seth Casiple on the left flank and Harry Forrester on the right. Sean Okoli and Brian Iloski started as the two forwards.

Rick Schantz sent Rising out in a Barcelona-esque 4-3-3 with Zac Lubin in goal. Darnell King started as the right-back, with Corey Whelen and A. J. Cochran as centre-backs, and Owusu-Ansah Kontor as the left-back. Kevon Lambert was the holding midfielder with Jon Bakero and Sam Stanton as the other two central midfielders. The front three consisted of Junior Flemmings on the left-wing, Solomon Asanté on the right-wing, and new signing Rufat Dadashov, who spent time in the lower leagues of the Bundesliga, as the centre-forward.