SAN ANTONIO – Playing their second consecutive match on the road, T2 picked up their first win of the 2019 USL Championship campaign, defeating San Antonio FC 3-1 at Toyota Field on Saturday night. Midfielder Marvin Loría tallied his first career brace, while midfielder Todd Wharton scored his first goal for T2 in the win. Additionally, midfielder Eryk Williamson recorded his second assist of 2019.
Goal-scorers
With his two-goal performance, Loría is the first player to record a brace for T2 since Foster Langsdorf scored two goals against Seattle Sounders FC 2 on Aug. 19, 2018. Wharton tallied his first goal as a T2 player, and his first goal in USL play since he scored for Rio Grande Valley FC against Seattle on Sept. 22, 2018.
Portland against San Antonio FC
With the result, T2 improved to 2-3-1 in five all-time matches against San Antonio FC (0-1-1, 1pt). The match on Saturday marked the first of two regular-season matches between the two clubs in 2019, as they will face each other again at Providence Park on Friday, Oct. 11.
Road form
Starting the 2019 USL Championship season with two away matches, T2 improved to 1-0-1 on road. Portland is now 5-1-3 in its last nine road contests dating back to July 28, 2017.
T2 firsts
Defender Roy Miller made his USL Championship season debut, starting and playing 90 minutes. Langsdorf registered his first assist of the season, while forward Brayan Hurtado made his T2 debut, logging 27 minutes of action. Defender Nathan Smith made his 2019 debut, playing 17 minutes as a second-half substitute. Defender Arturo Diz Pe made his first appearance of the USL Championship campaign as a second-half substitute.
Key plays
In the seventh minute, midfielder Renzo Zambrano’s shot from outside the box missed wide past the post.
T2 took a 1-0 lead in the 18th minute when midfielder Ryan Sierakowski played a low pass into Langsdorf at the top of the box. Langsdorf then laid the ball off to Wharton, who took a touch around San Antonio goalkeeper Matt Cardone just outside the six-yard box and tapped in from close range.
San Antonio FC leveled the match at 1-1 in the 28th minute after Jack Barmby converted his penalty kick.
Portland regained a 2-1 advantage in the 32nd minute after Loría pounced on a loose ball outside the box, and his low curling shot was deflected off Cardone into the lower left corner of the net.
T2 came close to scoring in the 73rd minute when Loría’s free-kick service into the left side of the six-yard box found Williamson, whose header from point-blank-range was parried away by the diving Cardone.
Portland added to its lead in the 77th minute after Williamson back-heeled the ball on the edge of the box to Loría, whose powerful shot at the near post beat Cardone to take make it 3-1.
Continuing on the attack in the 81st minute, Loría released Williamson into the left edge of the penalty area, before curling his right-footed shot just past the far post.
Next Game
Next up, T2 play host to Las Vegas Lights FC in the home opener at Merlo Field on Saturday, March 23. Beginning at 7 p.m. (Pacific), the match will be streamed live on ESPN+.
Postgame Quote Sheet
T2 head coach Cameron Knowles
On his thoughts after T2’s 3-1 win at San Antonio FC…
“I thought it was a mature performance from the guys. They had to dig deep because there were a lot of chances from the opposition, and we found ways to break them down. Overall, it was a really good, mature performance from the group.”
On T2’s counter-attacking play in the match…
“We knew they liked to commit numbers forward and with them playing at home they’d be looking to bring the game to us. We knew they’d be vulnerable and have space on the counter attack and the guys executed really well.”
On Todd Wharton’s first goal as a member of T2…
“I thought Todd had a really good performance. I think he backed up his performance last week; he was really steady throughout the game. It was a very good finish that involved several players. It was a well-taken goal.”
On Roy Miller and Brayan Hurtado making their USL Championship regular-season debuts…
“I think Roy brings a lot of experience to the group, especially in a game like that where they’re throwing everything at us. His experience can really help, so it was good to have him in there. I thought Brayan gave a good account of himself in his first performance. He had a lot of energy, did a lot of work on the defensive side and then looked dangerous and threatening going forward. There were really good performances from both of those guys.”
On the team’s home opener next week against Las Vegas Lights FC…
“We’ll enjoy the victory and the start that we’ve had so far, but we’re going to have a tough task at home against a good team, a very different Vegas team from last year. We’re going to have to prepare next week and reflect on this because there’s a lot of work to be done with the group.”
T2 (1-0-1, 4pts) vs. San Antonio FC (0-1-1, 1pt)
March 16, 2019 – Toyota Field (San Antonio)
Goals by Half 1 2 F
T2 2 1 3
San Antonio FC 1 0 1
Scoring Summary:
POR: Wharton (Langsdorf), 18
SA: Barmby (Penalty kick), 28
POR: Loría, 32
POR: Loría (Williamson), 78
Misconduct Summary
SA: Pecka (Caution), 14
POR: Williamson (Caution), 66
POR: Miller (Caution), 68
SA: Barmby (Caution), 72
POR: Hurtado (Caution), 79
SA: Greene (Caution), 87
Lineups:
POR: GK Leeker, D Hanson (Smith, 73), D Jadama, D Miller, D Farfan, M Wharton, M Zambrano ©, M Loría, M Williamson (Diz Pe, 88), M Sierakowski (Hurtado, 63), F Langsdorf
Substitutes Not Used: GK Sulte, D Ornstil, M Anguiano
TOTAL SHOTS: 10 (Williamson, 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 4 (Loría, 2); FOULS: 16 (Zambrano, 6); OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 1; SAVES: 4
SA: GK Cardone, D Greene, D Yaro, D Didic, D Ackon, M Pecka, M Parano (Restrepo, 85), M Barmby (Maguraushe, 78), F Forbes, F Guzman, F Laing (Jamieson, 70)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Viscosi, D Eboussi, D Fenwick, M Lahoud
TOTAL SHOTS: 22 (Laing, 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 5 (Guzman, 2) FOULS: 11 (Barmby, 3); OFFSIDES: 4; CORNER KICKS: 15; SAVES: 1
Referee: Michael Radchuk
Assistant Referees: Jennifer Garner, Mark Novosei
4th Official: Baltazar Peral Hana
Attendance: 6,112
Weather: Clear, 60 degrees
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial
