After getting a lone point in the last two games where they scored zero goals, the Oly Town FC Men’s Team bounced back from their out-of-form skid to get all six points after six goals in two matches against their two Oregon-based rivals last weekend to resurrect their hopes for the final spot as the Northwest Division’s representatives for the national playoff in the USL2 2023 season.
Heading to this weekend sitting at third place after a 0-3 defeat against Capital FC at home, the Artesians had all their grit as they beat PDX FC first last Friday at Portland after coming back from a goal down in halftime to blitzing them to finish 4-1, before taking revenge against playoff contenders Capital FC to beat them at Salem with a 2-0 win on Sunday to get all possible points crucial for this homestretch playoff qualification.
After these two important results, Oly Town FC now sits in second place in the Northwest with 20 points from a 6-2-3 win-draw-loss record with a game in hand against the Salem-based Capital FC with 16. Should champions Ballard FC beat Capital FC come Thursday, Oly Town will clinch the coveted playoff spot.
Nonetheless, this situation puts Oly Town in a much more comfortable position for the last playoff spot for the Northwest on the final matchday, setting up the finale in front of the Olympia faithful at the South Sound Stadium to host the already out-of-contention United PDX FC this July 14, Saturday at 7:00 PM kickoff. Fans are encouraged to come out and break the attendance record which is 405 set last year on July 7.
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After one hell of a scare, Oly Town FC avoided an upset defeat against bottom-of-the-table PDX FC, after coming back from 0-1 at halftime to score four unanswered in the second, resulting in a 4-1 win at the Sam Barlow High School field at Portland, OR last Friday, July 7.
Oly Town dominated most of the run-in play in the first half but their defense was stunned after an inward cross from inverted left-back Isaac Homer finds an unmarked Lorenzo Lopez on the other side for the easy tap in to give the hosts the lead in an unexpected fashion at 25 minutes in, holding their lead until halftime.
The visitors, determined to get into the playoffs like their women counterparts in the W League, turned to fourth gear on their offense in the second half while PDX tried to hold this rare opportunity of a lead. They equalized at the 58th minute after a corner delivery from Connor Tollan was received by a towering header from center-back Camron Miller to bring the game level, with this link-up between these two substitutes finally ending an almost 240-minute goal drought by Oly Town, which started after that 3-2 win against Ballard last June 30th.
Unsatisfied with this, Oly Town FC tried to increase the pressure in the final third to search for the winning goal, which came in deep in the 85th minute as a patient build-up from the back gave another free header for Cooper Brunell to take the lead.
Approaching the dying minutes of the match, Oly Town put the game to bed as two late goals from an easy tap-in of an unmarked Richy Lapointe-Guevara in the 90th minute and a screamer just outside the penalty box from Connor Tollan at injury time sealed the much deserved and much needed three points for Oly Town at Portland.
 receives this free header from a cross to give the lead to Oly Town FC. (Photo screenshot from Eleven Sports Livestream channel).jpg)
In the grudge match for the top teams vying for the last playoff spot up for grabs in the Northwest Division, Oly Town FC avenges their latest defeat at home as they blank Capital FC 2-0 away from home at the McCulloch Stadium in Salem, OR last Sunday, July 9, to reclaim the pole position for the playoffs just before the final matchday.
In one of the most important fixtures for a place in USL2 playoff glory, Oly Town put on a masterful second-half performance after a goalless first half, with goals coming from Chris Peretti and Camron Miller while maintaining their man-to-man marking and the organized backline as keys to this important win.
Like in the fixture at South Sound last week, the jitters were felt by both teams at the start, with end-to-end action seen from both early on as they tried to punish each other on the counter-attack, but their goal attempts on the final third just go wide up until halftime.
The ice was broken in the 54th minute as a left-footed strike from Chris Peretti just on the edge of the penalty box beats the Capital FC goalkeeper in his near post in an unlikely goal to give Oly Town the lead.
Twelve minutes later and the lead was doubled, thanks to Camron Miller slamming another header from a set piece from Connor Tollan, as that link-up worked like a charm when needed again like in the PDX FC fixture two days ago.
Knowing that the Capital FC talisman Fumiya Shiraishi was vital in the reverse fixture after scoring twice, the Artesians, led by coach Liviu Bird, did all it could to tame Shiraishi as the right side combination of winger Chris Peretti and wing back Habib Famuditimi took turns to mark the left midfielder and to force passes rather than initiate an attack. Fortunately, it worked for Oly Town as they have successfully not conceded up until the final whistle.
The Artesians come back at home with the rejuvenated confidence from the two wins in Portland as they continue their hunt for USL2 playoff glory.
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