Photo by Craig Mitchelldyer / Timbers 2
By ADAM TROXTELL
A pair of old rivalries return to USL in this weekend’s action, and one includes a battle for top spot in the west.
Seattle Sounders 2 and Portland Timbers 2 battle for early supremacy and Cascadia bragging rights in a late Saturday kickoff. A midweek draw against Real Monarchs has T2 just ahead in first place.
Earlier that day, FC Montreal renews hostilities with old foes Rochester Rhinos. There’s also already a couple of rematches from this season, with Richmond Kickers hosting Wilmington Hammerheads in the east and Sacramento Republic FC playing LA Galaxy II in the west.
Saint Louis FC hosts Pittsburgh Riverhounds for its first ever home game as a club.
Here is a closer look at this weekend’s USL action:
SEATTLE SOUNDERS 2 vs. PORTLAND TIMBERS 2 (10:30 p.m., Saturday, YouTube)
A rivalry with roots in the old NASL and previous editions of USL returns to a former home this weekend.
Both undefeated, Sounders 2 and Timbers 2 have started their inaugural seasons by staking a claim on the top prize. Only a point separates the two through three weeks, and victory against a heated rival on Saturday night will provide for valuable early momentum.
The matchup also pits two of the USL’s promising strikers against one another. Kharlton Belmar has three goals in three outings for T2 this season, while Darwin Jones’ hat-trick for Sounders 2 a few weeks ago helped his club top the other Cascadia rival, Vancouver Whitecaps 2.
FC MONTREAL vs. ROCHESTER RHINOS (2:30 p.m., Saturday, YouTube)
Another historic rivalry returns to USL in the form of FC Montreal and Rochester Rhinos on Saturday afternoon.
Before Montreal Impact made the jump to NASL and later MLS, the teams met 62 times over the course of 14 years. It was enough to form a visible dislike for each other, spilling over into a couple of bust-ups over the years.
Montreal enters the weekend still seeking its first win since returning to USL. After holding New York Red Bulls II scoreless on the road, Rochester topped Pittsburgh Riverhounds 2-1 last weekend to sit fourth in the Eastern Conference.
RICHMOND KICKERS vs. WILMINGTON HAMMERHEADS (7 p.m., Friday, YouTube)
In front of a home crowd on Friday night, the Richmond Kickers will want to avoid a start similar to the last time they faced Wilmington Hammerheads.
The Kickers had to come back from two goals down in their season opener on the road to Wilmington. Matthew Delicate followed up his efforts from that game last week when his 51st minute goal provided another equalizer in 1-1 draw against Louisville City.
The Hammerheads are also seeking their first win of the season after drawing the Charlotte Independence last week.
SACRAMENTO REPUBLIC FC vs. LA GALAXY II (10:30 p.m., Saturday)
A stuttering start for two of last season’s front-runners has left them looking up at the rest of the field early this season.
Defending champions Sacramento Republic FC get another chance at LA Galaxy II after a late Rodrigo Lopez goal the last time they met handed the Central Californians their only win of the season so far.
Los Dos followed that late disappointment with another, as Arizona United scored late to leave the MLS affiliate without a win through three games this season.
NEW YORK RED BULLS II vs. WILMINGTON HAMMERHEADS (4 p.m., Sunday, YouTube)
After cruising past Toronto FC II last weekend, New York Red Bulls II is in good condition for its third consecutive home match against Wilmington Hammerheads.
The NYRB II attack is up and running, with four different players pitching in for the victory last weekend. But it was a defender, Shawn McLaws, who received recognition in the USL Team of the Week following his 39th minute strike.
NYRB II sits in second in the east, five points behind Charleston Battery. Wilmington is ninth after back-to-back draws to start the season.
Here are some more matches in this weekend’s USL action:
REAL MONARCHS SLC vs. COLORADO SPRINGS SWITCHBACKS (6:30 p.m., Saturday, YouTube)
SAINT LOUIS FC vs. PITTSBURGH RIVERHOUNDS (8:30 p.m., Saturday, YouTube)
AUSTIN AZTEX vs. ARIZONA UNITED SC (9 p.m., Saturday, YouTube)
ORANGE COUNTY BLUES FC vs. VANCOUVER WHITECAPS 2 (7 p.m., Sunday, YouTube)