MERIDIAN, Idaho – The Portland Timbers 2 got a goal and assist from Neco Brett to take a 2-1 victory against the Swope Park Rangers in the first USL regular season game in Idaho at Brighton Stadium. T2 (5-6-1, 16pts) took the lead midway through the first half after they were awarded a free kick to the right of the top of the penalty area. Neco Brett stepped up and drove a blistering shot into the top-left corner of the net. The Rangers tried to hit back, only to be thwarted by a good performance by T2 goalkeeper Kendall McIntosh, and Portland then doubled its advantage with 20 minutes to go as Brett set up second-half substitute Victor Arboleda to make it 2-0 in his return from injury. The Rangers (3-5-2, 11pts) pulled a goal back late, but couldn’t find an equalizer as Portland took its second consecutive win.

Scoring:
23’ – POR – Neco Brett
70’ – POR – Victor Arboleda (Neco Brett)
85’ – SPR – Mark-Anthony Gonzalez (Nansel Selbol)

Three Things That Matter:

• 1. It took some time for rookie Neco Brett to find his feet with the Timbers 2, as he was held without either a goal or assist in the team’s first seven games of the season, which saw him go the distance in six of those contests. Since breaking through for his first two goals, however, Brett has shown why he was such a highly regarded prospect coming out of college, and could be key if T2 is to make a run at a playoff position, now with a team-high four goals.

• 2. On paper, it appeared Swope Park would have one of the stronger attacks in the USL this season. Of late, however, it definitely hasn’t played out that way as a combination of some misfortune and some poor finishing has left the side with only six goals in its past seven games. With just one win in the side’s last eight games, the Rangers need to turn things around quickly to get back into the playoff race, particularly in the attacking third.

• 3. As the first USL game in the state of Idaho, everyone will have been encouraged by seeing the support on hand that came out to see two of the brighter young teams in the league square off. Given the aspirations laid out in Michael McColl’s story earlier this week, Saturday night was a very positive first step in gauging the potential for Boise and the surrounding area as a new soccer market.

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match

Neco Brett, Portland Timbers 2 – The Jamaican had a goal and assist to give him a team-leading four goals this season and pace T2 to a solid victory as it took its show on the road to Idaho and reversed a season-opening loss to the Rangers.

Upcoming Games:

June 11: Portland Timbers 2 vs. San Antonio FC, 10 p.m. ET, Merlo Field

June 8: Swope Park Rangers vs. Rio Grande Valley FC, 8:30 p.m. ET, Children’s Mercy Victory Field at Swope Soccer Village