Around The Northwest - USL League Two Week Five

AROUND THE NORTHWEST

Welcome to Around The Northwest, a weekly breakdown of the Northwest Division. Game recaps and team information on the Highlanders and their division rivals leading into the next week of the USL League Two campaign.

USL League Two Northwest Division Week 5 Matchups

Seattle Sounders FC U23 (1-2-1) at Lane United FC (1-1-2) – Friday, May 31^st

Sounders U23 traveled to Eugene, Oregon to take on Lane United FC in a Friday matchup. The first half saw both teams trade chances on either end of the field in the early stages. The offensive tempo from both clubs made for an exciting back and forth that eventually saw the home side strike first. Christopher Kalla converted on his opportunity in the 18^th minute to give Lane United a 1-0 lead. While there were a few more chances as the half progressed, the game tightened up defensively after the Kalla goal. Lane United FC held a 1-0 lead at halftime.

The Sounders, coming off a 4-0 win over Portland Timbers U23, continued their offensive attack in the second half as they looked for the game tying goal. Their hard work paid off in the 65^th minute when Shakeem Adams put one past the home goalkeeper to tie the game at one. The pace of the match slowed down in the later stages of the half, and both teams settled for a point as the game ended in a 1-1 draw.

Calgary Foothills FC (3-0-1) at Portland Timbers U23 (0-4-0) – Friday, May 31^st

The unbeaten Foothills visited McCulloch Stadium to face off against Portland Timbers U23. The Timbers, looking for their first win of the season, opened the scoring early on a goal from John Dennis. In the 4^th minute Dennis was given a free kick, an opportunity that he would not waste as his shot sailed into the back of the net for a 1-0 lead. Portland played a technically sound game throughout the first half, keeping the 2018 USL League Two champions at bay for periods of the opening 45 minutes. It wasn’t until a mistake in the 42^nd minute that Calgary was able to convert on their chances. Oluwatofarati Fakunle scored off a fumble in the box to tie the game at one. The match remained tied 1-1 as the half ended.

Timbers U23 continued their attacking style in the second half. Several close calls for the home team put the Foothills on their heels, but the visiting squad made a push of their own in the latter part of the half, looking to keep their unbeaten streak alive. With the game seemingly destined to end in a 1-1 draw, the Timbers made the most of one of their late opportunities. Through a crowd of bodies in the box, Bertand Fourrier was able to fight for the loose ball before he fired a low shot past the goalkeeper and give the home team a 2-1 lead. No one else would find the scoresheet as Calgary was given their first loss of the season and Portland picked up their first win of the season after a hard fought 2-1 win.

Lane United FC (1-1-3) at Victoria Highlanders FC (2-0-1) – Sunday, June 2^nd

After a 1-1 draw against the Sounders on Friday, Lane United FC traveled to Victoria to take on Highlanders FC at Centennial Stadium. Both teams played a conservative style to begin the game, with much of the play coming in the midfield as the squads looked to control possession. Two miscues in the Highlanders’ half of the field led to a pair of goals from Lane United FC in quick succession. Sergio Diaz converted on his chance in the 27^th minute to give the visiting side a 1-0 lead. Just a minute later saw Charlie Spurr take advantage of a mistake to make it 2-0 in the 28^th minute. The Highlanders had a great chance to get one back in the 34^th minute but Joshua Walter’s hard shot from just inside the box was turned aside by a diving Albert Escuin. The score remained 2-0 in favour of Lane United FC after 45 minutes of play.

The home team maintained and controlled possession for stretches of the second half, resulting in several opportunities in the offensive end of the field. Kensho Ando redirected a Shun Takano cross on goal, but Escuin got just enough of the shot to send it wide. That chance was followed up by a Joshua Banton header that sailed just over the bar. In the end, the Highlanders were unable to get one past Escuin as he picked up the clean sheet against the Victoria side. After an own goal in the 90^th minute from the home side, Lane United walked away with the 3-0 win.

Calgary Foothills FC (3-1-1) at Portland Timbers U23 (1-4-0) – Sunday, June 2^nd

Calgary wrapped up their weekend with the second game of their Week 5 doubleheader against Portland Timbers U23. The Foothills started the game with energy as they looked to split the weekend series after dropping the first game on Friday. Their efforts were rewarded in the 21^st minute as Oluwatofarati Fakunle scored his second goal of the weekend to give Calgary a 1-0 lead. Both teams traded chances in the middle stages of the half, but the Foothills held the 1-0 lead at halftime.

Timbers U23 started the second half with several near misses, including a shot that just sailed over the crossbar in the 61^st minute. A familiar name played hero for the home side as Bertand Fourrier leveled the score at one in the 71^st minute. Fourrier, much like his goal in Friday’s match, was able to corral the loose ball before firing it into the back of the Foothills’ net. The defending champions came close to tying the match in the final moments. Timbers’ goalkeeper Remi Prieur came up with a huge stop in the 84^th minute to keep the score tied, and one of Calgary’s last chances of the match resulted in a shot ringing off the woodwork. The Timbers walked away with an undefeated weekend against Foothills FC as the game ended in a 1-1 draw.

USL League Two Week Five Team of the Week