LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Behind two second-half goals, T2 claimed a 2-1 come-from-behind victory over Las Vegas Lights FC at Cashman Field on Sunday night. Midfielder Renzo Zambrano scored the game-winning goal, his third of the season, while midfielder Victor Arboleda tallied his seventh goal of 2018 as Portland earned its third consecutive win.
T2 form
With the win, T2 have won three consecutive games and are 6-1-0 in their last seven games dating, dating back to Aug. 11. Portland has outscored its opponents 17-6 during the seven-game stretch, and now sits in fourth place in the Western Conference standings, just six points behind first-place Orange County SC with four matches remaining in the regular season.
Away games
With the away victory, T2 improved to 7-4-3 in road matches this season. Portland is undefeated (3-0-1) in its last four road matches, dating back to July 28.
Key plays
Las Vegas Lights FC took an early 1-0 lead after midfielder Raul Mendiola’s finish from the left edge of the six-yard box was fired past T2 goalkeeper Alex Mangels at the far post in the fourth minute.
Looking to answer back, Zambrano’s incisive long pass through the Las Vegas defense released Marvin Loría inside the penalty area, but his shot just missed to the right of the post in the 22nd minute. Three minutes later, midfielder Jack Barmby’s cross was punched away by Las Vegas goalkeeper Ricardo Ferriño to the feet of Loría, but his off-balance shot from close range struck the left post.
With a 10-4 shot advantage in the second half, T2 created a number of opportunities. On consecutive set-piece plays in the 59th minute, Barmby picked out defender Arturo Diz Pe outside the six-yard box before his header was tipped over the bar by Ferriño. Seconds later, defender Modou Jadama connected on the end of Barmby’s corner-kick service, but his header flashed over the crossbar.
In the 65th minute, Barmby was played in transition by forward Foster Langsdorf’s flicked header down the left wing before striking his long-range shot inches over the crossbar.
T2 equalized in the 72nd minute after Diz Pe’s flicked pass from inside the penalty area released Arboleda behind the Las Vegas backline, and his half-volleyed effort was fired past Ferriño.
After Loría's free-kick attempt struck the Las Vegas wall in the 77th minute, his follow-up shot from the edge of the 18-yard box was dragged wide past the right post.
Portland scored the game-winning goal in the 84th minute after Loría slipped in Langsdorf behind the Las Vegas defense down the right edge of the penalty area. Langsdorf slid his pass across the goal to Zambrano, who calmly rolled his finish into the lower corner of the net. The assist was Langsdorf’s fourth of the USL season.
Next Game
Next up, T2 play the second game of a three-game road trip, traveling to Fresno FC at Chukchansi Park on Saturday, Sept. 22. Beginning at 7 p.m. (Pacific), the match will be streamed live on ESPN+.
Postgame Quote Sheet
T2 head coach Cameron Knowles
General thoughts on the match…
“It was a little bit of a slow start from us and to go behind a goal was disappointing. We still created enough chances at halftime even or up by a goal, but it was a great performance from the guys in the second half to find the equalizer and then to push on and score the winning goal.”
On the keys to the second-half comeback…
“We made the change and then getting Marvin [Loría] central helped us. We brought a little bit more pace into the game to have more of a threat on the counter attack. For us, it was really cleaning up a few things. We created a number of chances and we knew that we were going to get a lot of chances in the second half. It was just going to be important to put those chances away.”
On the team’s away form …
“I think it’s big. We need to keep picking up points. We had a good run at home and picked up a significant amount of points there recently. We’ve shown all year that we can come and get results on the road and we’ve got to continue to do that through the rest of the league games that we have.”
T2 (16-11-3, 51pts) vs. Las Vegas Lights FC (7-15-6, 27pts)
Sept. 16, 2018 – Cashman Field (Las Vegas, Nev.)
Goals by Half 1 2 F
T2 0 2 2
Las Vegas Lights FC 1 0 1
Scoring Summary:
LV: Mendiola (Thomas), 4
POR: Arboleda (Diz Pe), 72
POR: Zambrano (Lansdorf), 84
Misconduct Summary
LV: R. Garcia (Caution), 45
LV: Ochoa (Caution), 71
LV: Avila (Caution), 73
LV: J. Garcia (Caution), 79
Lineups:
POR: GK Mangels, D Smith, D Diz Pe, D Jadama, D Farfan, M Zambrano ©, M Lewis, M Loría, M Anguiano (Arboleda, 46), M Barmby, F Langsdorf
Substitutes Not Used: GK Pack, D Batista, D Mulligan, D Ornstil, F Calixtro, F Williams
TOTAL SHOTS: 13 (Loría, 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 4 (Four players tied, 1); FOULS: 13 (Barmby, 3); OFFSIDES: 3; CORNER KICKS: 10; SAVES: 2
LV: GK Ferrino, D Alvarez, D Garduno, D Huiqui (Inigo, 76), D Avila, M J. Garcia, M Thomas (Herrera-Perla, 60), M R. Garcia, M Miranda (Kobayashi, 58), M Mendiola, F Ochoa
Substitutes Not Used: GK Alvarez, D Perez, M Adu, M Mendoza
TOTAL SHOTS: 13 (Ochoa, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 3; (Three players tied, 1) FOULS: 19 (Ochoa, 6); OFFSIDES: 8; CORNER KICKS: 6; SAVES: 1
Referee: Matt Franz
Assistant Referees: Francisco Bermudez, Eric Ehrhardt
4th Official: Nicholas Marin
Attendance: 4,875
Weather: Clear, 96 degrees
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial
