Bazini leads Orange County SC to 4-2 win at Miami FC

Orange County SC kept its climb near the top of the Western Conference alive with a 4-2 road win over Miami FC at Pitbull Stadium, and the decisive figures were Yaniv Bazini and Nico Benalcázar. Miami struck first, but Orange County answered before halftime, then used a pair of Bazini finishes and Benalcázar’s two assists to turn a shaky start into another statement result.

Miami took the lead in the 14th minute when Alessandro Milesi finished after Riyon Tori’s attempt to center from the left side deflected into his path. Orange County did not panic. Bazini pulled the visitors level one minute before halftime with a sharp volley off Jamir Johnson’s angled cross, a finish that shifted the match and showed why Orange County added the Israeli striker in the offseason.

The second half belonged to Orange County’s movement and composure in advanced areas, with Benalcázar helping drive the tempo from deeper positions and repeatedly putting teammates into dangerous spots. Bazini finished with two goals, Benalcázar recorded two assists, and Orange County turned a one-goal deficit into a two-goal road win by the final whistle.

The numbers matched the eye test that Orange County was the more ruthless side when chances came. ESPN’s box score had Orange County with 5 shots on goal to Miami’s 4, while possession leaned 54 percent to Miami’s 46. Miami also completed more passes, 442 to Orange County’s 388, but the visitors made their chances count in the final third and left with four goals.

That balance matters for a team sitting near the top of the West. Orange County did not need to dominate the ball to control the result, and the win offered another example of production coming from multiple areas of the field rather than from a single hot streak. Bazini supplied the finishing, Benalcázar supplied the service, and Jamir Johnson’s cross set up the equalizer that opened the door to the comeback.

The result kept Orange County in control of the conference race and reinforced the sense that its rise is built on depth as much as talent. Against an Eastern Conference opponent on the road, Orange County showed it can absorb pressure, respond to adversity and still produce four goals when the game tilts against it early.