ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – T2 scored three second-half goals, earning a point on the road in a 3-3 draw against New Mexico United in front of 12,921 fans at Isotopes Park on Friday night. T2 midfielder Eryk Williamson scored his first career brace, as T2 erased a two-goal deficit to extend their unbeaten run to four matches. Forward Ryan Sierakowski scored his second goal of the 2019 campaign.
Brace tally
Williamson’s second-half brace marked the fifth time this season that a player has tallied two goals in a match for T2. Foster Langsdorf recorded one of his own on April 20 against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, while Marvin Loría registered the club’s first brace in a 3-1 win over San Antonio FC on March 16. Dairon Asprilla registered a brace in a 3-1 win over Las Vegas Lights FC on March 23 and Timbers Academy forward Gio Calixtro tallied two goals against LA Galaxy II on March 30.
T2 form
With the draw, T2 are 4-1-3 in their first eight games of the 2019 season. Portland has outscored its opponents 18-13 during the eight-game stretch and currently sits first in the Western Conference standings.
Multiple goals
With the away goals against New Mexico United, T2 has now scored two or more goals for the sixth time this season and has secured at least four multi-goals road games in 2019.
Key plays
T2 nearly opened the scoring in the fourth minute of the match. Williamson played a cross into the box near the left end line. Brayan Hurtado picked it up, firing a left-footed shot from the left side of the box that went wide of the goal.
Four minutes later, T2 goalkeeper Jake Leeker made an important stop in the center of the six-yard box, locking a powerful left-footed shot from Kenny Akamatsu from just outside the box.
New Mexico United claimed a 1-0 lead in the 50th minute as Kevaughn Frater received a headed pass from Christopher Wehan near the penalty spot and slotted a right-footed shot between the keeper’s legs.
New Mexico United was awarded a penalty kick four minutes later, after a handball inside the box. Despite guessing the correct side, Leeker was unable to reach the shot and Frater scored his second goal of the night in the 54th minute.
Sustaining pressure over the home side, T2 got back into the game in the 66th minute. After two powerful long-distance shots from Williamson, New Mexico goalkeeper Cody Mizell made back-to-back stops and parried Williamson’s second shot over the crossbar.
On the ensuing corner kick, midfielder Cristian Ojeda curled a precise cross to the top of the 18-yard box and Williamson looped in a header past the goalkeeper and into the right side of the goal to bring the score to 2-1. The assist marked Ojeda’s first with T2.
Moments later and after entering the game, Sierakowski unleashed a right-footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner of the goal, tying the match 2-2 in the 68th minute.
Portland scored a third goal in the 77th minute, after the referee pointed to the penalty spot for a second time in the match after signaling a handball. On the ensuing penalty kick, Williamson converted his attempt and secured his first career brace, giving T2 a 3-2 lead.
New Mexico United equalized the match in added time after Frater picked up a loose ball inside the 18-yard box and blasted a powerful left-footed shot past Leeker.
Next game
Next up, T2 play host to Rio Grande Valley FC Toros at Merlo Field on Tuesday, April 30. Beginning at 7 p.m. (Pacific), the match will be streamed live on ESPN+.
Postgame Quote Sheet
T2 head coach Cameron Knowles
On the team’s effort coming back from a two-goal deficit…
"I think it’s exceptional. When you look at the season there have been several games where we’ve gone down, conceding the first goal, and we always come back and get something out of it. The guys are devastated that they didn’t get all three points, and that’s how high their expectations are.”
On Eryk Williamson’s brace and performance…
"It was outstanding. To get rewarded with goals was good for him and both were really well taken. The header was very well placed and then to have the composure to score the penalty; he did very well.”
On the team’s resilience…
"We have a lot of character in that locker room. They don’t stop fighting. They don’t give up on each other. They have a lot of trust in each other and a lot of belief. There is a lot of quality, too, in that locker room. We give them a great deal of credit; they keep fighting week in and week out and hopefully that continues.”
T2 (4-1-3, 15pts) vs. New Mexico United (3-1-5, 14pts)
April 26, 2019 – Isotopes Park (Albuquerque, N.M.)
Goals by Half 1 2 F
T2 0 3 3
New Mexico 0 3 3
Scoring Summary:
NM: Frater (Wehan, Padilla), 50
NM: Frater (penalty kick), 54
POR: Williamson (Ojeda), 66
POR: Sierakowski, 68
POR: Williamson (penalty kick), 77
NM: Frater, 90+3
Misconduct Summary
NM: Suggs (caution), 34
NM: Frater (caution), 35
POR: Ornstil (caution), 42
POR: Wharton (caution), 69
POR: Leeker (caution), 85
Lineups:
POR: GK Leeker, D Smith, D Diz Pe (Ornstil, 38), D Jadama, D Farfan, M Wharton, M Zambrano ©, M Ojeda, M Williamson, M Hurtado (Sierakowski, 66), F Langsdorf
Substitutes Not Used: GK Lyon, D Hanson, M Anguiano, F Calixtro, F Sierakowski
TOTAL SHOTS: 14 (Williamson, 6); SHOTS ON GOAL: 5 (Williamson, 4); FOULS: 16 (Two players tied, 3); OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 3; SAVES: 7
NM: GK Mizell, D Padilla, D Hamilton, D Schmidt, D Suggs, M Akamatsu (Sandoval, 74), M Guzman, M Muhammad (Estrada, 89), M Moar, F Frater, F Wehan
Substitutes Not Used: GK Beaury, D Yearwood, M Soler, M Williams, M Estrada, M Madden, F Sandoval
TOTAL SHOTS: 16 (Frater, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 9 (Frater, 3); FOULS: 18 (Frater, 4); OFFSIDES: 3; CORNER KICKS: 6; SAVES: 2
Referee: Alejandro Aguilera Jr
Assistant Referees: Jacob Herold, Manuel Vargas
4th Official: Carter Harrison
Attendance: 12,921
Weather: Partly cloudy, 78 degrees
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial
