Two games, four goals, two USL Team of the Week selections.
Forward Kharlton Belmar continued his scintillating start to the 2018 campaign on Saturday, bagging his second consecutive brace as the Rangers posted a 4-2 win over Seattle Sounders FC 2 at Shawnee Mission South District Stadium.
On loan from Sporting Kansas City, the 25-year-old Belmar earned his second straight USL Team of the Week nod today. The recognition comes after he received Player of the Week honors for his two-goal, two-assist explosion in a Week 1 road victory over Reno 1868 FC on March 17.
Belmar leads the USL with four goals and has also contributed two assists for a high-flying SPR side that sits atop the Western Conference after Week 2. Head coach Paulo Nagamura’s men have amassed eight goals during their hot start, more than any other team in the league.
Belmar’s double on Saturday made him the Rangers’ all-time scoring leader with 19 career goals. The forward scored 15 times last season as SPR claimed a second straight Western Conference championship.
SPR returns to the field this Saturday when they visit USL expansion club Las Vegas Lights FC in a 10 p.m. CT kickoff at Cashman Field. The match will stream live on SportingKC.com.
USL Team of the Week
GK – J.T. Marcinkowski, Reno 1868 FC: Marcinkowski recorded four saves, including an excellent stoppage-time stop that preserved a point in a 1-1 draw with Las Vegas Lights FC.
D – Alex Cooper, Fresno FC: Cooper scored the game-tying goal in the Foxes’ 1-1 draw with the LA Galaxy II, and completed 58 of 67 passes while notching three tackles and interceptions apiece.
D – Mitchell Taintor, Sacramento Republic FC: Taintor notched four clearances and three interceptions as Sacramento recorded a road shutout in its victory against Orange County SC.
D – Jarad van Schaik, Charleston Battery: Van Schaik notched four tackles and four interceptions as the Battery held Penn FC to only three shots in a 1-0 victory at MUSC Health Stadium.
M – Maikel Chang, Real Monarchs SLC: Chang recorded two assists on his debut for the Monarchs, including on Chandler Hoffman’s late goal that sparked a 3-2 comeback victory in Tulsa.
M – John Gallagher, ATL UTD 2: Gallagher scored twice and notched an assist to lead his side to victory in its inaugural USL outing, a 3-1 victory against the New York Red Bulls II.
M – Mikey Lopez, San Antonio FC: Lopez had a goal and assist to lead San Antonio to a comeback 2-1 victory against Saint Louis FC.
M – Leo Fernandes, Tampa Bay Rowdies: Fernandes scored once, had two key passes and finished with five shots on goal in Tampa Bay’s 2-0 victory against Bethlehem Steel FC.
F – Caleb Calvert, Charlotte Independence: Calvert notched a goal and assist to lead the Independence to their second consecutive win to start the season, a 2-0 win against Toronto.
F – Kharlton Belmar, Swope Park Rangers: Belmar continued his hot start to the second with another two-goal performance as the Rangers took a 4-2 win against Seattle Sounders FC 2.
F – Chris Cortez, Phoenix Rising FC – Cortez scored the first hat trick in Rising FC’s history and added an assist as Phoenix took a 4-1 victory against OKC Energy FC.
Bench: Jeff Attinella (POR), Sam Vines (CLT), Yosef Samuel (ATL), Jack McInerney (IND), David Estrada (SEA), Kris Tyrpak (SA), Joaquin Rivas (TUL)
