Ballard FC’s 2023 USL2 Regular Season comes to a close at Interbay Stadium this Sunday, July 16th when they take on United PDX at 2:00 PM.
Sunday is Fan Appreciation Day. To celebrate, all merchandise at the match will be 15% off. Also, after the match, we will have an on-field celebration with the players and staff. The Ballard FC Foundation Beer Garden will have extended service for the celebration and will still be proudly serving Reuben’s Brews.
Alongside the discounted merchandise and the extended Beer Garden service, Sunday’s food options include Big Boys Filipino, Mainstay Provisions, Watson’s Counter, Coro Foods, and of course Pagliacci Pizza across the street. The concession stand will also be serving Hot dogs alongside their traditional drinks and snacks. Now let’s look ahead to the match itself.
Ballard FC have clinched the USL2 Northwest Division Title and sit atop the division standings. Although United PDX are fourth in the table, they have made it quite difficult for Ballard FC this season. United PDX were the first club to score against Ballard FC this season and took the lead only 15 minutes into the first meeting with a CJ Tibbling penalty. United PDX led 1-0 at halftime of that match and it took 2 late goals off the bench from Alex Mejia for Ballard FC to win the match. That meeting was the beginning of a hot streak for Mejia that helped him get signed by Honduran club RCD Espana.
The second meeting between the two sides started very similar to the first. United PDX took the lead with a 16th-minute penalty. Lesia Thetsane was given a red card for the foul and Ballard FC were down a man for the rest of the match. Despite being down a man, Ballard FC did find an equalizer with Pete Kingston dispatching a penalty kick in the 40th minute. In the second half, Ballard FC was able to hold on to the draw as goalkeeper Lars Helleren came up huge on multiple occasions. Late in the match, United PDX would receive a red card of their own and the last five minutes were 10 against 10. The draw is only the second match this season where Ballard FC have not taken all three points. With the Interbay crowd behind them, Coach O’Neill’s men will look to finish their regular season on a win as they head into playoffs.
Tickets for this Sunday’s match are sold out. However, playoff tickets are still available, get yours now before they are gone! As always, fans can watch the match live at the Reuben’s Brews Taproom or stream at goballardfc.com.
