PORTLAND, Ore. — OKC Energy FC secured its first away win of the season with a 2-1 win against the Portland Timbers 2 at Providence Park on Wednesday night. OKC started the match strongly and seven minutes in had the opening goal as a bad touch allowed the team to counter. A perfect through-ball from Kalif Alhassan found a speedy Jaime Siaj one-on-one with debutant Austin Pack in the T2 goal and the OKC forward calmly placed his finish out of the reach of Pack for the opener. The hosts used their speed to catch Energy FC on the counterattack, which produced plenty of space and opportunity, but a scrambling defense kept Energy FC ahead as the visitors packed the box in the 28th minute to block Foster Langsdorf’s shot. OKC thought it had a penalty kick in the 34th minute after a collision in the box, but the move from Alhassan was just too early, the offside flag coming to Portland’s rescue. T2 got a perfect start to the second half when Langsdorf was brought down in the penalty area, and the rookie forward buried his shot from the spot to the left to equalize. But OKC responded and in the 62nd minute regained its lead when Philip Rasmussen’s corner found Christian Ibeagha unmarked, allowing him to head the ball home easily from close range. Langsdorf went close to getting another equalizer for the hosts in the 68th minute as he drifted off his defender to get a half-volley away but sent it over the bar. That would be as close as it got for the hosts who threw everything at it in the final 20 minutes but against a packed Energy FC defense couldn’t break through as OKC held on for a memorable win.

Scoring

6’ – OKC – Jaime Siaj (Kalif Alhassan)

49’ – POR – Foster Langsdorf (Penalty Kick)

62’ – OKC – Christian Ibeagha (Philip Rasmussen)

Three Things That Matter:

1. After struggling to score all season Energy FC finally broke through, scoring multiple goals in a match for the first time in 2018. With two goals the team has managed to bring its season total to nine goals, the lowest in the league but as the side returns home this weekend it has to hope a turnaround is at hand.

2. OKC has had a habit of scoring early with three of its nine goals coming in the first ten minutes of a match. That 33 percent rate is the highest share in USL and the side is yet to lose when scoring in the first 10 minutes.

3. Statistically, T2 was dominant, holding the bulk of possession (64.1 percent) and dominating the battle for duels (62.3 percent). But it couldn’t turn all of that into goals, something that is starting to become a trend lately with four goals in four matches, half of those coming from the penalty spot.

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match:

Philip Rasmussen, OKC Energy FC — When the visitors went on the attack you could bank that Rasmussen was part of it, creating three chances and providing an assist on the winner. Rasmussen also contributed defensively managing three interceptions.