PEORIA, Ariz. – In the second of three consecutive games on the road, T2 scored two second-half goals to overcome a one-goal deficit at halftime to defeat Arizona United SC 2-1 at Peoria Sports Complex on Tuesday night. Midfielder Neco Brett tallied an assist and the game-winning goal in stoppage time, while forward Augustine Williams recorded a goal and midfielder Villyan Bijev notched his eighth assist of the season.
With the win, T2 (10-14-4, 34pts) extended a three-game winning streak, which is the longest in team history.
Down 1-0 at halftime, Portland began the comeback in the 59th minute after Brett dribbled past his defender on the right edge of the penalty area and whipped in a cross to Williams, whose right-footed volley made its way into the back of the net for his second goal of the season.
T2 scored the game-winning goal in stoppage time off a counter-attacking play when Bijev slipped Brett in behind the Arizona United defense, with the midfielder placing his left-footed shot from just inside the 18-yard box past goalkeeper Carl Woszczynski for his team-leading sixth goal of the season.
Holding a 21-14 edge in shots, T2 created a number of scoring opportunities throughout the evening. Early on, midfielder Dylan Damraoui sent in a delivery from a corner kick that fell to Williams, whose header was saved by Woszczynski in the fourth minute. Five minutes later, defender Andy Thoma whipped in a cross from the left wing that found Brett, who forced the opposing goalkeeper into a save in the ninth minute. Just before halftime, Bijev found himself alone in space just outside the 18-yard box and his right-footed strike was caught by Woszczynski, who finished recorded a game-high seven saves.
Continuing to apply pressure on the Arizona United defense in the second half, midfielder Victor Arboleda sped past his defender on the right wing and cut the ball back to Bijev, whose first-time effort was parried away in the 47th minute, while combination play between Williams and Bijev at the top of the 18-yard box resulted in Bijev’s shot being parried away by Woszczynski for a T2 corner kick in the 66th minute.
Arizona United (8-13-7, 31pts) opened the scoring in the 23rd minute when midfielder Tony Cascio’s long-range shot from outside the box beat T2 goalkeeper Kendall McIntosh, who recorded his seventh win of the year.
Next up, T2 will travel to face Cascadia-rival Vancouver Whitecaps FC at Thunderbird Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 18; kickoff is set for 2 p.m. (Pacific). The Sept. 18 match will also be available via a live, high-definition web stream at www.timbers2.com.
Postgame Quote Sheet
T2 head coach Andrew Gregor
On his overall thoughts after the win…
“I thought we started the game pretty well. We created some opportunities. We could have had a couple of goals pretty early and then I felt like we got really impatient. We went away from possessing the ball and started forcing it a little bit, which put us under some pressure because we gave them the opportunity to counter and play direct on us. They caused us some problems, especially the last 15 minutes of the half. So to be down 1-0 at halftime was OK. In the second half, we came out and we were a lot more patient on the ball. We put numbers in their end of the field and created multiple opportunities and it just took something a little special from some players. I thought Neco [Brett] did a good job in the second half. It was a great ball to Augustine [Williams] and it was a fantastic finish. [Villyan] Bijev had a little bit of patience late to make the right decision and find Neco and he was calm in the finish. I’m very pleased with the result and very pleased with how we played in the second half.”
On the team’s ability to fight back in the second half…
“It starts from the back going forward. I thought in the beginning of the second half they did a good job. They were winning their matchups, they were winning second balls and were moving the line up when need be. It helped out the tone of the entire team. We pressed the ball at times, but I think we were just really patient in the second half playing in their end of the field and that’s where we’re good at. We’ve got some very talented players in the attacking half of the field and I thought they did a really good job to stick with it all the way to the end. Credit to the team for being able to adapt and make better decisions in the second half.”
On trying to go for four-straight wins into Sunday’s match against Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2…
“You just go one game at a time. Whitecaps FC 2 are a very good team. They’re obviously one of our rivals, so it’s going to be a great game to go up to Vancouver there and really challenge the team in a difficult environment. It’s a game that you want to play in. It’s a game that you want to be a part of. We’re looking to get a victory to keep us in the playoff hunt. It’s how you see things playing out as far challenges for young players and see what they’re made of. It’s going to challenge the entire group and it’s going to be a really good environment to play in.”
T2 (10-14-4, 34pts)vs. Arizona United SC (8-13-7, 31pts)
Sept. 13, 2016 – Peoria Sports Complex (Peoria, Ariz.)
Goals by Half 1 2 F
T2 0 2 2
Arizona United SC 1 0 1
Scoring Summary
AZ: Cascio (Tan), 23
POR: Williams (Brett), 59
POR: Brett (Bijev), 90
Misconduct Summary
AZ: Granger (Caution), 29
AZ: Gavin (Caution), 59
POR: Lewis (Caution), 61
AZ: Rooney (Caution), 67
POR: McIntosh (Caution), 90
Lineups & Stats
POR: GK McIntosh, D Richards (Belmar, 88), D Clarke, D Morley, D Thoma (Gallagher, 65), M Lewis, M Damraoui (Besler, 74), M Arboleda (M Bodily, 81), M Bijev, M Brett, F Williams (Casiple, 90)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Hamilton, F Polk
TOTAL SHOTS: 21; SHOTS ON GOAL: 9; CORNER KICKS: 9; SAVES: 2
ARI: GK Woszczynski, D Kelly, D Ramage, D Ringhof, D Granger, D Poltronieri (M. Silva, 81), M Gavin (C. Silva, 88), M Rooney, M Cascio (Timm, 88), F Blackwood (Cortez, 74), F Tan
Substitutes Not Used: GK Stagmiller, D Costa, M Garza,
TOTAL SHOTS: 14; SHOTS ON GOAL: 3; CORNER KICKS: 7; SAVES: 7
Referee: Robi Hullner
Assistant Referees: Keaton Jarvis, Jason Ulrich
4th Official: Jorge Curiel
Attendance: 964
Weather: Partly cloudy, 90 degrees
