Ballard FC Rally From two Goals Down to Beat Midlakes 3-2 on the Eastside

One week after their first come-from-behind win of 2026, Ballard completed their second in spectacular fashion, scrapping their way to three big road points after trailing Midlakes United 2-0 on the road.

Zach Ramsey scored a brace, and Anton Hjalmarsson scored the winner as Ballard picked up a season sweep of their eastern neighbors for the third straight season.

The hosts were on the front foot to start the match, able to survive the Ballard press and breakout with dangerous possession of their own.

Midlakes striker Riley Cotton registered the first shot on goal in the match, a curler which was picked out of the sky by Ballard FC goalkeeping debutant Noah Newman in the 8th minute.

The first goal came on a Ballard blunder at the back, with Cianole Nguepissi communicating with Noah Newman, leaving a slow rolling ball behind to an on rushing Trey Mitchell who dispatched into an empty net. This was the first lead midlakes had ever held against Ballard.

Ballard responded with a sustained period of attacking possession. Zach Ramsey pulled a first-time shot wide in the 20th after a set up from Dunes Nielsen.

Immediately following the Ramsey miss, Midlakes would strike on the counter, with Mitchell once again finding himself with an easy finish after a shot deflected right to him a couple feet from net, 2-0.

A first save was needed from Midlakes netminder Will Ficek after a long-range effort from Jack-Ryan Jeremiah in the 25th. Newman responded with a comfortable save of his own following a midlakes counter attack.

Ballard got one back through their star man Zach Ramsey in the 31st, striking a lovely Jack-Ryan Jeremiah cutback on his first touch and tucking it just inside the post to cut the lead in half.

An exciting end to half saw end-to-end attacks and shots on both goals, but neither team could find another tally before going to the locker room at a 2-1 scoreline. 

Ballard came into the second half needing a remontada, and after controlling play for the first 10 minutes, found their equalizer in the 57th, once again through Zach Ramsey. This time it was a brilliant solo effort from Ramsey, as he received the ball at the top of the box, side stepped a pair of defenders, and drove a shot into the bottom corner from 18 yards out to tie it.

The visitors continued to look more likely to score the next goal, and were denied on a few occasions by excellent goalkeeping from Ficek, highlighted by a diving save in the top corner on what would have been a half-volley worldie from Anton Hjalmarsson in the 74th.

Hjalmarsson would not be denied a second time though, as he received a perfect cross from Cameron Cruz in the 83rd and headed home the eventual game-winner.

Ballard dominated the final minutes, not letting Midlakes get another clean attack and seeing out one of their more dramatic wins of 2026, 3-2.

Match Facts

• This match is just the second time all season that Ballard has trailed by two, and the second time they entered halftime trailing, with the other game being their lone loss against Snohomish
• Anton Hjalmarsson stays hot with his third goal in the last four games, and fifth of the season
• Ballard has now scored three or more unanswered goals in three of their last four matches
• This was Ballard’s first match of 2026 in which both teams have scored multiple goals
• Ballard’s current win streak of four is their longest of 2026
• Ballard are now 6-0-0 all-time against Midlakes going back to Midlakes inaugural 2023 season
• Zach Ramsey’s third and fourth goals of 2026 made him the second player this season to score a brace for Ballard, joining Juan Alvarez (two goals in 6-1 win over Bigfoot)
• With three games left in the regular season, Ballard still controlled their own fate and would win the NW division by winning out
• Five points from their final three matches would be enough to guarantee a playoff spot, with the NW division coming down to a three horse race between Portland Ballard and Snohomish

Scoring Recap

13’ (MID): Trey Mitchell

21’ (MID): Trey Mitchell

31’ (BFC): Zach Ramsey (3), assisted by Jack-Ryan Jeremiah (2)

57’ (BFC): Zach Ramsey (4), assisted by Anton Hjalmarsson (3)

82’ (BFC): Anton Hjalmarsson (5), assisted by Cameron Cruz (1)

Starting 11

Tanner Dutra, Cameron Cruz, Jack-Ryan Jeremiah, Anton Hjalmarsson, Zach Ramsey, Emmett Layman, Dunes Nielsen, Cianole Nguepissi, Etienne Veillard, Noah Newman, Sean Sent

Subs Used:

Beto Apolinar, Joschi Schelb, Angel Martinez, Omar Grey

Written by Adam Race

Gallery

Post-Match with Head Coach Mutanda Kwesele