LANCASTER, Calif. — June 6, 2026
Orange County SC saw an early advantage slip away Saturday night as AV Alta FC rallied for a 2–1 victory at Lancaster Municipal Stadium in Prinx Tires USL Cup action.
Despite controlling much of the possession and creating opportunities throughout the match, Orange County was unable to overcome a determined AV Alta side that capitalized on its limited scoring chances.
Orange County opened the scoring in the 27th minute when captain Tom Brewitt connected on a header inside the penalty area. Chris Hegardt delivered the cross following a set-piece opportunity, allowing Brewitt to direct the ball past goalkeeper Djibril Doumbia for a 1–0 advantage.
The visitors appeared to have control of the opening half, but AV Alta responded just before the break.
In the 42nd minute, Collin Anderson broke behind Orange County’s defensive line after receiving a lofted pass from Elliott Jahng. Anderson calmly finished past goalkeeper Tetsuya Kadono to level the match at 1–1 heading into halftime.
Orange County continued pressing forward in the second half, looking to regain the lead. However, AV Alta remained organized defensively and waited for opportunities to counterattack.
The decisive moment arrived in the 76th minute when substitute Ilias Aoumaich worked his way into the penalty area from the left side. After navigating past two defenders, Aoumaich fired a low shot inside the near post to give the home side a 2–1 advantage.
Orange County pushed for an equalizer during the closing minutes but struggled to convert its possession into clear scoring opportunities.
The visitors finished with 55 percent possession and 14 shots, compared with just four attempts from AV Alta. However, both teams registered only two shots on target.
The result marked another disappointing cup encounter for Orange County against AV Alta, which secured its second consecutive cup victory over the USL Championship club.
For AV Alta, the comeback highlighted its ability to capitalize on critical moments. For Orange County SC, the defeat served as a reminder that possession and attacking pressure do not always translate into results.
