RENO, Nev. – In Week 26 of the USL Championship season, T2 earned a 3-1 road victory over Reno 1868 FC at Greater Nevada Field on Saturday night. Carlos Anguiano tallied his first professional goal and an assist, while Cristian Ojeda and Ryan Sierakowski both found the back of the net in the win for Portland.
Timbers Academy on display
Six Timbers Academy products appeared in the win against Reno 1868 FC. Anguiano made his 14th start for T2, while Gio Calixtro logged his 19th appearance of the season. Timbers Academy midfielder Dyson Clapier (17 yrs., 3 months, 16 days) made his T2 debut, becoming the third-youngest player in team history to start a match for the club. Timbers Academy defender Aldair Sanchez (17 yrs., 1 month, 25 days) became the fourth-youngest player to make an appearance for T2, logging 10 minutes off the bench on his debut. Caleb Kiner logged his fourth consecutive start dating back to Aug. 11. Notably, Timbers Academy midfielder Gerardo Durán (15 yrs, 10 months,) became the youngest player to appear in a match for T2, logging 28 minutes as a second-half substitute on his debut.
T2 on the road
In 14 road matches played during the 2019 USL Championship campaign, T2 improved to 5-5-4. Portland’s four wins on the road ranks tied for third in the Western Conference in 2019. Notably, T2 have scored 28 goals on the road, which ranks tied for second in the league behind only Phoenix Rising FC (29).
Key plays
In the 10th minute, Calixtro passed the ball to Zach Kobayashi on the edge of the box, but his low shot was saved by Reno goalkeeper James Marcinkowski. Continuing to apply pressure, Kobayashi picked up the ball and charged towards the Reno backline before firing a dipping shot that forced Marcinkowski into a save.
T2 took a 1-0 lead in the 26th minute after Kobayashi played a back-heeled pass to Anguiano on the edge of the box. Anguiano’s ensuing shot was parried away by Marcinkowski, but Sierakowski was first to the loose ball and finished from close range at the near post. The goal marked Sierakowski’s sixth of 2019.
Portland doubled its lead to 2-0 in the 43rd minute when Calixtro laid the ball off to Anguiano near the edge of the penalty area before curling his left-footed shot into the top left corner of the net. The finish from Anguiano was the first professional goal scored in his career.
T2 scored to make it 3-0 in the 52nd minute after Anguiano passed the ball to Ojeda outside the 18-yard box. Taking a touch, Ojeda curled his left-footed strike into the top left corner of the goal to record his third goal of 2019.
In the 74th minute, Anguiano carried the ball from midfield and passed it to Calixtro, whose shot from the top of the box was tipped over the bar by Marcinkowski.
Reno cut into Portland’s lead when Corey Hertzog finished from close range to make it 3-1 in the 82nd minute.
Second-half substitute Brayan Hurtado forced Marcinkowski into a save after his low shot from the left side of the penalty area was parried away in the 86th minute.
Next game
Next up, T2 play host to Orange County SC at Providence Park on Sunday, Sept. 8. Beginning at 2 p.m. (Pacific), the match against Orange County will be streamed live on ESPN+.
Postgame Quote Sheet
T2 assistant coach Andrew Gregor
Overall thoughts…
“The players applied themselves to the plan and it was a positive performance; any time you play on the road you’re going to have to grind it out towards the end. The guys dug deep and were able to grind it out and defend when needed, so they did very well.”
On Carlos Anguiano’s first professional goal and the contributions from the Timbers Academy players…
“I think Carlos had a very solid game tonight. I think he’s been trending in the right direction and his confidence is continuing to build, so I’m not surprised he played well tonight. As far as the Academy players, they came in and did exactly what we wanted from them, which is a credit to the Academy, but also a credit to the boys for being focused, for being mature and coming in and performing at the level what was required out of them to help us get the result.”
On next week’s home match against Orange County SC…
“We can’t get ahead of ourselves. There’s still a long way to go in the season. Orange County is starting to turn things around and having results go their way; they’re looking to make a push for the playoffs. It will be a very difficult game, so we’re going to need another good performance to get a result.”
T2 (9-9-8, 35pts) vs. Reno 1868 FC (13-8-5, 44pts)
Aug. 31, 2019 – Greater Nevada Field (Reno, Nev.)
Goals by Half 1 2 F
T2 2 1 3
Reno 1868 FC 0 1 1
Scoring Summary:
POR: Sierakowski, 26
POR: Anguiano (Calixtro), 42
POR: Ojeda (Anguiano), 51
RNO: Hertzog (Lacroix), 82
Misconduct Summary:
POR: Ornstil (caution), 7
POR: Kiner (caution), 90
RNO: Galindo (caution), 90+3
RNO: Hertzog (caution), 90+4
Lineups:
POR: GK Ivacic, D Kiner, D Diz Pe, D Ornstil, M Ojeda, M Anguiano, M Wharton ©, M Kobayashi (Durán, 62), M Sierakowski, M Clapier (Sanchez, 80), F Calixtro (Hurtado, 84)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Leeker, D Hanson
TOTAL SHOTS: 14 (Anguiano, Calixtro, 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 8 (Kobayashi, Anguiano, 2); FOULS: 9 (Three players tied, 2); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 8; SAVES: 3
RNO: GK Marcinkowski, D Richards ©, D Klimenta, D Lacroix, D Galindo Cruz, M Mfeka, M Mendiola (Haji, 72), M Calvillo, M Partida (Gleadle, 71), F Musovski (Apodaca, 62), F Hertzog
Substitutes Not Used: GK Lewis, D Carroll, M Casiple, M Seymore
TOTAL SHOTS: 15 (Calvillo, 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 4 (Four players tied, 4); FOULS: 14 (Five players tied, 5); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 5; SAVES: 5
Referee: Ismir Pekmic
Assistant Referees: Joshua Haimes, Stephen McGonagle
4th Official: Yader Reyes
Attendance: 4,763
Weather: Clear, 84 degrees
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial
