Brent Richards had two assists on Sunday to help Portland Timbers 2 to a 3-1 win over Vancouver Whitecaps 2 at the University of Portland’s Merlo Field.
The win improved T2 to 9-12-12 for 29 points, tied with Whitecaps 2 for eighth place in the Western Conference of the United Soccer League.
Kharlton Belmar scored twice for T2, once in the final minute of the first half, and has a team-leading 11 goals.
Richards, a Camas High School graduate, came on in the 66th minute and set up two goals within five minutes.
In the 68th minute Belmar made it 2-0 by finishing a feed from Richards, who dribbled between a pair of defenders before delivering the pass.
Three minutes later, Richards worked a give-and-go play before finding Blair Gavin open in front of goal.
Richards, who played on the left side of midfield Sunday, saw his first action since July 10 at Vancouver. A hamstring injury had sidelined him for several weeks.
He said he’s been comfortable coming off the bench this season.
“There is no reason to come out slow or anything, especially in that point in the game where everyone is a little bit tired,” he said. “If I can come out with the most energy as possible that’s what the coaches told me to do so that’s what I tried to do.”
T2 plays its third home game in a row at 2 p.m. on Saturday when the Tulsa Roughnecks visit Merlo Field.
