USL Feature

April 9, 2015

Portland Timbers 2 forward Kharlton Belmar is quick to point out one element that makes a successful professional player: consistency.

Through three games, Belmar already has proven to be T2’s steadiest performer with three goals as Portland is now 2-0-1 and atop the Western Conference with seven points.

“It’s been really exciting,” Belmar said. “We’ve gotten off to a great start and have really come together. We have a pacey group of forwards, and when you can combine that speed to press other teams, that can cause a lot of damage. For me, I didn’t know what to expect heading into my first professional game, and it was great starting off on the right foot.”

Belmar showed he was at a high level from the start during T2’s 3-1 victory against Real Monarchs SLC on March 29, as he scored the first two goals in the USL expansion team’s history. That said, Timbers head coach Jay Vidovich pinpointed that the team needed to be on a similar page when pressing its opposition. It worked positively for Belmar’s second goal as he capitalized on a goalkeeping error, but in other moments it also left a gap in between the front line and midfield.

After remedying that aspect, T2 earned a 2-1 victory against defending champion Sacramento Republic FC and displayed a stronger defensive performance.

“It was something where I was going and pressing on my own when the rest of the team probably wasn’t ready,” Belmar said of the opener. “We reevaluated that game and the timing of when we need to press and when we need to help defensively. Sometimes I was on my own and leaving some space behind. I think we made another step that next game against Sacramento and really tightened up our game, especially in the back.”

Belmar was a second-round selection in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft, and the Portland Timbers already knew the type of player they were getting. Belmar had a solid 2014 campaign in the PDL with the Timbers U-23s, earning team MVP honors.

In mid-February, the organization signed Belmar to its USL team Portland Timbers 2. Belmar said the experience with the MLS team in preseason was a beneficial period heading into the USL campaign.

“It was great for me to see where I was at as a player,” Belmar said. “It really opened my eyes to the level that I need to reach for. To be able to see the guys do that day in and day out, you have to stay consistent. The ability they have is something that I need to work toward.”

Before his professional start, Belmar made it a point to consistently find the most competitive outlet to progress his game year-round. Belmar starred at Virginia Commonwealth University, but he also was limited to a tightened college schedule. With the assistance of his head coach, Belmar broke into the PDL and the Timbers U-23s to continue to hone his craft.

“My head coach at VCU, Dave Giffard, was a former assistant for Caleb Porter at Akron,” Belmar said. “They called my head coach and wanted me to come out there for the summer. It was great. I was coming off a pretty good college season, but to get out there for the summer and be in a professional environment was important in reaching my goals. I have always been told that you can’t take any breaks or be out of the game for a long period of time, so I always made it a point to play in that type of environment.”

The game has always been close to Belmar from an early age, and he has competed in a variety of top competition.

“My dad was a big soccer fan and he’d wake up in the mornings to catch Premier League games, and he’d walk me through things,” Belmar said. “That piqued my interest at a young age. I played for the Virginia Rush, worked up to different teams in the club and finally got to their Academy team. It was great playing for them and in their showcases. That helped me get to the college level, which was my goal at that point.”

Now Belmar’s goals are focused on a strong professional showing with T2, who are in the midst of their first road trip. This stretch marks a good early test for Portland, especially with a big matchup against fellow Pacific Northwest side Seattle Sounders FC 2 on Saturday at Starfire Sports Stadium (10:30 p.m. ET kickoff).

“We know going on the road that you have to play a solid game,” Belmar said. “The Cascadia match has certainly been in the back of our minds. It’s going to be a big game. Everyone knows it’s a big rivalry.”