Swope Park Rangers forward Kharlton Belmar has been named to the USL Team of the Week for Week 28 of the 2017 campaign. Belmar continued his run of scoring in consecutive games this last week, bagging goals against LA Galaxy II and Rio Grande Valley FC to bring his scoring streak to five games.
The newly signed Sporting KC forward scored the game-winner against Galaxy II last Wednesday with a composed finish after being sent through on goal by fellow Sporting KC loanee Colton Storm. Lebo Moloto and Amer Didic added goals in the second half as that match finished 3-0.
On Saturday night, the Rangers found themselves two goals down heading into the final 15 minutes of a road contest against Rio Grande Valley, but were given hope when Kevin Garcia turned the ball into his own net to make the score 2-1. Belmar, right on cue, scored the equalizing goal as the clock ticked into extra time, nodding in his own rebound from close range for his team-leading 14th goal of the season.
SPR is back in action this Sunday when the side heads to Oklahoma to take on OKC Energy FC at Taft Stadium. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. CT and a live stream will be available on YouTube.com/USL.
USL Team of the Week
GK – Andrew Putna, Real Monarchs SLC: Putna recorded a pair of penalty saves as part of five combined saves in two shutouts, as the Monarchs took victory on the road against Sacramento Republic FC and Reno 1868 FC.
D – Mark O’Ojong, San Antonio FC: O’Ojong scored a key goal and was also strong defensively with nine clearances, five tackles and three interceptions in San Antonio’s 2-0 victory against Tulsa Roughnecks FC.
D – Sean Reynolds, Louisville City FC: Reynolds put in a standout performance in Louisville’s 0-0 draw with the Rochester Rhinos on Saturday, recording six interceptions and 12 clearances.
D – Emrah Klimenta, Sacramento Republic FC: Klimenta scored the game-winning goal for Republic FC in its 2-0 win against Phoenix Rising FC and also completed 54 of 64 passes in the contest.
M – Taeseong Kim, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC: Kim scored the opening goal, as Colorado Springs kept its postseason hopes alive with a 2-1 victory against Orange County SC on Saturday night.
M – Liam Fraser, Toronto FC II: Fraser put in a stellar display in TFC II’s 1-0 win against Louisville City FC, as he recorded five tackles, six clearances and completed 57 of 63 passes.
M – Shaun Wright-Phillips, Phoenix Rising FC: Wright-Phillips recorded a goal and assist, as Rising FC booked its first trip to the USL Cup Playoffs with a 2-0 win against the Portland Timbers 2 last Wednesday night.
M – Kevin Schindler, FC Cincinnati: Schindler provided the spark FCC needed off the bench, as he scored the only goal in a 1-0 win at the Charlotte Independence that boosted the club’s playoff hopes.
F – Kharlton Belmar, Swope Park Rangers: Belmar scored the game-winning goal against the LA Galaxy II and a late equalizer against Rio Grande Valley FC, as the Rangers took four points from two games.
F – Ropapa Mensah, Harrisburg City Islanders: Mensah scored in both of the City Islanders’ outings, on Wednesday night against Ottawa Fury FC and on Saturday against Saint Louis FC, to lead the side to two victories.
F – Jose Angulo, OKC Energy FC: Angulo’s hat trick led Energy FC to a 3-0 victory against the LA Galaxy II on Sunday, giving the side a five-point lead on its rivals for the final playoff place in the Western Conference.
Bench: Mitch Hildebrandt (CIN), Agustin Cazarez (SAC), Hadji Barry (ORL), Shaan Hundal (TOR), Chandler Hoffman (SLC), Juan Mare (SLC), Seku Conneh (BST)
