PORTLAND, Ore. – Behind a second-half, game-winning goal from midfielder Renzo Zambrano, T2 earned a second consecutive win, defeating San Antonio FC 2-1 at Providence Park on Wednesday night. Forward Foster Langsdorf tallied his team-leading 11th goal of the USL campaign, while defenders Lamar Batista and Arturo Diz Pe each registered their first career assists for T2.
T2 vs. San Antonio FC
The win marked T2’s first over San Antonio FC in five all-time contests between the two clubs. Portland improved to 1-1-1 in three matches at home against San Antonio. Additionally, T2 are now 3-1-1 in their last five matches dating back to July 28.
Key plays
Holding a 17-11 shot advantage, T2 created a number of threatening chances throughout the match. In the 23rd minute, midfielder Marvin LorÃa, cutting in from the right wing, played Langsdorf into space on the left edge of the penalty area. Taking a touch in stride, Langsdorf’s low shot was saved by San Antonio goalkeeper Matt Cardone.
San Antonio FC took a 1-0 lead against the run of play after midfielder Omar Gordon’s free kick from the left edge of the 18-yard box was curled over the wall and into the back of the net in the 28th minute.
In the 33rd minute, midfielder Jack Barmby delivered a cross into the box that picked out Langsdorf, but his strong header missed inches past the far post.
T2 tied the match in the 42nd minute after Batista delivered a low cross across the 18-yard box to Langsdorf, who hit a one-timed, left-footed shot past Cardone into the lower corner of the net. Eight of Langsdorf’s 11 goals this season have come at home.
In the 44th minute, finding space from 20 yards away from goal, Barmby fired a low, knuckling shot that forced Cardone into a difficult save. Just before halftime, defender Nathan Smith delivered a pinpoint cross into the box that picked out midfielder Eryk Williamson in stride, but his strong header was tipped over the crossbar by Cardone in the second minute of added time.
Opening the second half on the front foot, Barmby slipped a pass in between two San Antonio defenders into the path of Langsdorf, but his shot from the left edge of the 18-yard box was curled inches past the far post in the 49th minute. Four minutes later, Barmby’s long-range effort was struck over the crossbar.
Portland took a 2-1 lead in the 54th minute after Diz Pe played a long pass to Zambrano 35 yards away from goal. Taking a touch past his marker, his long-range shot was deflected by a San Antonio defender over Cardone and into the back of the net.
Cutting in from the right wing and racing past two defenders, LorÃa’s powerful, left-footed shot was parried aside by Cardone in the 64th minute. One minute later, Timbers Academy midfielder Carlos Anguiano played a pass back to LorÃa on the left edge of the penalty area, but his shot from a tight angle hit the side netting. After earning a free kick on the edge of the penalty area, LorÃa’s shot was curled over the crossbar in the 70th minute.
T2 came close to adding another goal following Barmby’s free-kick attempt from the top of the penalty, but his dipping shot was parried away by Cardone into the path of Langsdorf, whose rebound effort was placed wide of the near post in the 81st minute. After Anguiano played a ball to LorÃa on the right wing, the Costa Rican midfielder glided past his marker and fired a low shot from a tight angle inside the penalty area that forced Cardone into a strong save in the 97th minute.
Next Game
Next up, T2 continue a five-match homestand, playing host to Cascadia-rival Seattle Sounders FC 2 at Merlo Field on Sunday, Aug. 19. Beginning at 7 p.m. (Pacific) the match will be streamed live on ESPN+. Originally scheduled for 2 p.m. (Pacific), the 7 p.m. start time will allow for lower on-field and in-stadium temperatures in the evening.
Postgame Quote Sheet
T2 Head Coach Cameron Knowles
General thoughts on the match…
"It's a really good performance and for us to back up a performance on the road with a performance at home is really important. We've talked about how disappointing our results have been at home so to get all three points is really important."
On individual performances in the match...
"I think we had a lot of good performances. I mean Foster [Langsdorf] getting the goal and then Renzo [Zambrano] getting the winner, we've been encouraging him to shoot because he has that quality from distance. Credit to him, he saw the opportunity, took it and got a great goal. Eryk [Williamson] put in a good performance. He's been out a couple of weeks with injuries. It was good to see him back playing and getting back to full health. Carlos [Anguiano] came in and did a really good job right off the bat. He created some good chances, moved the ball and defended well. He wasn't afraid to get stuck in on some tackles so that's a really positive performance for him."
On the outside backs joining the attack...
"I thought both [Nathan Smith and Lamar Batista] did a good job on both sides of the ball, getting forward and having the work rate to get back in. We talked to Lamar about getting forward more because the one time he got forward in the first half he got the assist. He's dangerous and can be a handful. Nathan also offers a lot of quality out wide. Both those guys were important in the attack and also in defending for us."
On expectations on the next four home matches…
"We just have to take it one at a time. For us, this will be our third game in a week. We're going to have some heavy legs and some tired bodies but we'll reassess how the guys are feeling. We just got to see what we've got available and get the guys turned around to keep this win streak going."
T2 (12-10-3, 39pts) vs. San Antonio FC (9-7-7, 37pts)
Aug. 15, 2018 – Providence Park (Portland, Ore.)
Goals by Half 1 2 F
T2 1 1 2
San Antonio FC 1 0 1
Scoring Summary:
SA: Gordon, 28
POR: Langsdorf (Batista), 42
POR: Zambrano (Diz Pe), 54
Misconduct Summary
POR: Diz Pe (Caution), 27
POR: Smith (Smith), 37
SA: Lopez (Caution), 42
POR: Zambrano (Caution), 45+4
SA: Cuomo (Caution), 48
SA: Pecka (Caution), 69
POR: Anguiano (Caution), 85
Lineups:
POR: GK Mangels, D Smith, D Diz Pe, D Ornstil, D Batista, M Zambrano ©, M Lewis, M LorÃa, M Williamson (Anguiano, 46), M Barmby, F Langsdorf (Williams, 90+3)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Pack, D Elliot, D Hanson, D Mulligan, F Jambga
TOTAL SHOTS: 17 (Langsdorf, LorÃa, 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 8 (Three players tied, 2); FOULS: 13 (Smith, 4); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 2; SAVES: 2
SA: GK Cardone, D King, D Hedrick, D Cuomo (Guzman, 84), D Cochrane, M Rodriguez, M Roushandel © (Guadarrama, 63), M Gordon, M Lopez, M Murphy, F Bruce (Pecka, 59)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Restrepo, D Seth, M Escalante, M Presley
TOTAL SHOTS: 11 (Gordon, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 3 (Gordon, 2); FOULS: 9 (Murphy, Rodriguez, 2); OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 3; SAVES: 6
Referee: Chipalo Street
Assistant Referees: Billy Baldwin, Eric Krueger
4th Official: Ian Miller
Attendance: 1,496
Weather: Clear, 88 degrees
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial
