PDX FC OPENS SEASON WITH 3-1 WIN OVER OSA FC

PDX FC opened their inaugural 2017 season with a 3-1 win over OSA FC at Hillsboro Stadium on Saturday night. After weeks of preseason practices and games, PDX FC was finally able to kick off their first season in the NPSL in front of their home crowd.

Forward Nick Evans opened the scoring for PDX in the 13minute after a mistake at the back by OSA. Evans gathered a loose ball at the top of the 18 yard-box and calmly chipped the keeper to the far post. The goal by Evans was the first in the history of the club and gave PDX FC an important 1-0 lead early in the match.

Winger Bennett Lehner doubled PDX FC’s lead just 13 minutes later from a screamer into the top corner. Matthew Paine won a corner and played the ball short to Lehner, who beat one defender and hit a rocket to the far post to double the lead in the 26 minute. Lehner added his second goal of the game in the 36 minute after his shot deflected off the underside of the keeper into the net. Just over half an hour into PDX FC’s first-ever NPSL match, the expansion side were flying high, up 3-0.

OSA got a goal back at the stroke of halftime after defender Gustavo Torres committed a foul in the box and the referee awarded a penalty kick. OSA forward Hamza Haddadi sent Goalie Oscar Torres the wrong way as he went straight down the middle with his penalty kick. PDX FC took a 3-1 lead to the locker room.

After the frantic pace of the first half, PDX FC maintained their two goal and defended for much of the second half. OSA had the two best scoring opportunities of the second half, one which drew a fantastic save from Torres and another that ricocheted off the crossbar.

“It’s a short season with only ten games, so to come out and get three points in the first home game is huge and it gets us off to a great start,” said PDX FC Head Coach Luke Babson.

Babson has been at the helm of getting PDX FC off the ground for the club’s inaugural season and the first win in the club’s history was more than just three points for the head coach.

“It was really rewarding, we’ve been working on this and putting the pieces together for a long time and to finally have that first match it’s a dream come true to have it go this way,” said Babson.

The 3-1 victory means PDX FC sits atop the standings in the Northwest Conference. PDX FC’s next match will be against Pierce County FC on Saturday, May 20 at Clackamas High School in Portland.