Forward Jack McBean led a furious second-half comeback as LA Galaxy II moved into a tie for second place in the Western Conference in United Soccer League action last weekend.
The Galaxy trailed the Austin Aztex 2-0 at halftime on Saturday in front of 3,564 fans, but McBean scored in the 61st minute and, after Bradley Diallo tied the game in the 88th minute, struck for a stoppage-time winner. The 20-year-old now has five goals and five assists on the year.
Galaxy goalkeeper Andrew Wolverton was credited with eight saves to earn his first professional win as the Aztex, with Columbus Crew SC forward Romain Gall on loan and former MLSers Kris Tyrpak, Lance Rozeboom, Brendan King and Sainey Touray, mounted an 18-8 shot advantage. (LA recap with highlights).
There was more movement in the Western Conference on Sunday, as the Portland Timbers 2 caught the Vancouver Whitecaps 2 in the standings with a 3-1 win in front of 2,913 at the University of Portland's Merlo Field. (Recap | Highlights). The Timbers started seven on-loan players to the Whitecaps' three, but it was two USL players who made the biggest offensive contributions.
Kharlton Belmar scored in the 45th and 68th minutes to run his total to 11 goals on the season, while former Timbers Homegrown Player Brent Richards came off the bench to assist on two goals, including one by former Timber Blair Gavin. Caleb Clarke netted a late goal for the Whitecaps, his team-high seventh of the year.
In other games, on-loan players Jérémy Gagnon-Laparé (Montreal Impact) and Chris Mannella (Toronto FC) both scored in a 2-1 FC Montreal win last Wednesday. (Recap). Toronto rebounded by beating Richmond on Saturday on late goals from Mo Babouli and Massimo Mirabelli. (Recap).
Columbus Crew SC goalkeeper Matt Lampson, on loan to the Charlotte Independence, was credited with an assist after his long distribution helped set up the opening goal in a 1-1 tie with the New York Red Bulls II. (Recap).
Louisville City romped over Harrisburg 5-1 last week behind four goals from former MLS forward Matt Fondy, then got a spectacular free-kick goal from Philadelphia Union draft pick Aodhan Quinn (see below) in a 2-2 tie at Tulsa over the weekend to move up to second place in the Eastern Conference behind the Rochester Rhinos.
Friday night's game saw the league's defending champion, Sacramento Republic, rally from a late two-goal deficit to tie the Colorado Springs Switchbacks 3-3 on the road and knock Colorado Springs out of first place. A goal and an assist from on-loan Houston Dynamo forward Chandler Hoffman helped the Switchbacks take a 3-1 lead.
But the Republic scored twice in the final 10 minutes, including a stoppage-time equalizer from Ivan Mirkovic after former Colorado Rapid Homegrown Player Davy Armstrong had been sent off.
Republic FC are currently two points out of playoff position in the Western Conference, but have games in hand on several teams above them in the standings.
This week's games:
Wednesday, August 19
Seattle Sounders 2 vs. Colorado Springs Switchbacks, 4pm ET
Toronto FC II vs. Harrisburg City Islanders, 8pm ET
Thursday, August 20
Saint Louis FC vs. Charleston Battery, 8pm ET
Saturday, August 22
Portland Timbers 2 vs. Tulsa Roughnecks, 5pm ET
Richmond Kickers vs. Saint Louis FC, 7pm ET
Wilmington Hammerheads vs. FC Montreal, 7pm ET
Rochester Rhinos vs. Harrisburg City Islanders, 7:05pm ET
Charlotte Independence vs. Pittsburgh Riverhounds, 7:10pm ET
Louisville City vs. Charleston Battery, 7:30pm ET
Toronto FC II vs. New York Red Bulls II, 8pm ET
Austin Aztex vs. Orange County Blues, 8:30pm ET
Arizona United vs. Vancouver Whitecaps 2, 10:30pm ET
Sacramento Republic vs. Real Monarchs, 11pm ET
Sunday, August 23
LA Galaxy II vs. Seattle Sounders 2, 6pm ET
