TULSA, Okla. – Playing in their 2019 regular-season opener, T2 earned a point on the road with a 1-1 draw against Tulsa Roughnecks FC at ONEOK Field on Saturday night. Defender Modou Jadama tallied a goal, while midfielder Eryk Williamson registered an assist for Portland to begin the USL Championship campaign.
Portland against Tulsa Roughnecks FC
In eight all-time matches against Roughnecks FC, T2 lead the series 4-1-3. Portland is now 2-1-2 in five matches all-time on the road at Tulsa.
Season Openers
Saturday’s match marked the third time in team history T2 (0-0-1, 1pt) opened the season on the road (2016, 2018, 2019). Portland has posted a record of 1-3-1 all-time in season-opening matches.
Timbers on loan
Seven Portland Timbers players appeared for T2 on loan in the regular-season opener, as Marco Farfan, Jadama, Foster Langsdorf, Marvin Loría, Bill Tuiloma, Williamson and Renzo Zambrano all made their 2019 USL season debuts.
Road form
By earning the point on the road, Portland is now 4-1-3 in its last eight road contests dating back to July 28, 2017. In 17 road matches in 2018, T2 finished the regular season with a 8-5-4 record away from home.
T2 debut
Three players made their T2 debuts in Saturday’s match, as Jake Leeker, Ryan Sierakowski and Todd Wharton each earned starts and played 90 minutes in the result on the road.
Key plays
In the sixth minute, a loose ball in the box fell to Loría, whose low shot at the near post was saved by Roughnecks FC goalkeeper Sean Lewis.
Tulsa took a 1-0 lead in the 12th minute when Christian Altamirano cut inside from the right flank onto his left foot and curled a shot from outside the box into the far corner of the net.
In the 21st minute, T2 defender Harold Hanson beat his marker down the end line and fired a shot from a tight angle over the crossbar.
T2 came close to scoring four minutes later after Loría played a long ball down the right flank to Williamson. Chesting the ball down in stride, Williamson crossed the ball inside the box to Langsdorf, but his right-footed shot was fired just inches past the near post in the 25th minute. Five minutes later, Loría’s free-kick effort from just outside the box was struck over the crossbar.
In the 34th minute, Williamson’s driven corner-kick service to the back post picked out Tuiloma, but his header was fired over the frame of goal. Two minutes later, Jadama rose highest to meet Williamson’s corner kick delivery, heading the ball wide past the post. In the 38th minute, Loría’s free kick from the right wing missed the target.
Beginning the second half on the front foot, Portland threatened early when Hanson was fouled inside the penalty area in the 50th minute. Loría’s ensuing penalty kick down the center of goal was saved by Lewis.
T2 leveled the match in the 55th minute after Williamson’s driven corner-kick service into the center of the box found Jadama, whose bouncing header beat Lewis to make it 1-1.
In the 59th minute, Tuiloma charged into the offensive third, firing a shot from distance that forced a saved from Lewis. Eight minutes later, Farfan played in Sierakowski at the top of the box, but his left-footed shot missed over the target in the 67th minute.
T2 nearly scored two minutes later when Williamson received a pass from Zambrano and backed-heeled the ball down the right touchline to Hanson. Looking up, Hanson picked out Williamson rushing into the six-yard box, but his shot was saved at the near post by Lewis in the 69th minute.
Next Game
Next up, T2 travel to face San Antonio FC on Saturday, March 16. Beginning at 5:30 p.m. (Pacific), Saturday’s match will be streamed live on ESPN+.
Postgame Quote Sheet
T2 head coach Cameron Knowles
On his thoughts after the 1-1 draw at Tulsa Roughnecks FC…
“I thought the performance was very, very good. On a different day, we’d like to have come away with the three points. We created a number of good chances and the guys played very well.”
On the team’s defense performance on the road…
“When you take their opening goal, which was an individual piece of brilliance, out of the equation, I felt collectively that the guys managed the game really well defensively. We picked our moments to put pressure on the opposition higher up the field, and then when we had to defend deep and make some big plays in the box; guys were up for it.”
On the team’s offensive performance…
“It was good. There were a lot of guys contributing to that. Finding a goal on the set piece was important, but I think we had a number of chances in the run of play as well. We created a lot of shots – we had a lot of shots inside the box. Overall, it was a really pleasing display on the attacking side.”
On the T2 debuts of Ryan Sierakowski, Todd Wharton and Jake Leeker…
“I thought all three of them did really well. They’re guys that we’ve seen a lot in preseason and we’ve seen their quality, and I think they showed it tonight. Ryan made his professional debut and he came in, worked really hard and was able to influence the game.”
On second-half substitute Max Ornstil making a late challenge to deny a Tulsa chance on goal…
“Max comes into the game and right away makes a huge tackle, but he’s prepared himself for that moment in the way that he’s trained and the way that he’s approached the preseason.”
T2 (0-0-1, 1pt) vs. Tulsa Roughnecks FC (0-0-1, 1pt)
March 9, 2019 – ONEOK Field (Tulsa, Okla.)
Goals by Half 1 2 F
T2 0 1 1
Tulsa Roughnecks FC 1 0 1
Scoring Summary:
TUL: Altamirano (Sheldon), 12
POR: Jadama (Williamson), 55
Misconduct Summary
TUL: Gonzalez (caution), 57
POR: Hanson (caution), 85
Lineups:
POR: GK Leeker, D Hanson, D Jadama, D Tuiloma (Ornstil, 77), D Farfan, M Wharton, M Zambrano ©, M Loría, M Williamson, M Sierakowski, F Langsdorf
Substitutes Not Used: GK Sulte, D Smith, M Anguiano, M Akale, M Kobayashi, F Calixtro
TOTAL SHOTS: 15 (Loría, 6); SHOTS ON GOAL: 6 (Jadama, Loría, 2); FOULS: 12 (Hanson, 4); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 5; SAVES: 1
TUL: GK Lewis, D Makinde, D Roberts, D Hedrick, D Sheldon, M Dean (Ajeakwa, 61), M Addai, M Gonzalaz (Bastidas, 77), M Altamirano, F Silva (Abdallah, 82), F Da Costa
Substitutes Not Used: GK Lobo, D Legendre, M MacRae, M Reyes
TOTAL SHOTS: 7 (Ajeakwa, Altamirano, 2); SHOTS ON GOAL: 2 (Altamirano, 2) FOULS: 21 (Gonzalez, 6); OFFSIDES: 4; CORNER KICKS: 5; SAVES: 5
Referee: Jose Lara
Assistant Referees: Matt Trotter, Seth Barton
4th Official: Matthew Corrigan
Attendance: 3,122
Weather: Clear, 66 degrees
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial
