Three first-half goals propel T2 to sixth result in last seven matches.
BLAINE, Minn. – Timbers2 scored three times in the first half of today's match to pick up their first road win of the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro season with a 3-2 victory over MNUFC2 on Wednesday afternoon. Tyler Clegg scored his first-career MLS NEXT Pro goal, while Kyle Linhares, and Josh Penn each scored their fourth of the season as T2 earned a sixth result in its last seven matches.
First Road Win
Wednesday’s win marked T2’s first victory on the road so far this season. It also stands as the club’s first-ever road win against MNUFC2. Notably, Timbers2 have now picked up consecutive road results after earning a point against Austin FC II on June 14. T2 has earned at least a point in five of its seven road matches.
Dynamic Duo
Kyle Linhares and Josh Penn each scored their fourth goal of the season in today’s win over MNUFC2. Linhares temporarily took the team lead in goals, scoring for the first time since May 3 with a tap-in to give T2 an early 1-0 lead. Penn evened the season tally when he netted in the 41st minute, which turned out to be the game-winning goal.
Notably, Penn has now scored in four of Timbers2’s last six matches, with Wednesday’s score being his first on the road. Penn remains the team leader in goal contributions with eight (4G, 4A), while Linhares sits right behind with seven (4G, 3A).
Goals on Goals
Timbers2 and MNUFC2 have now combined to score 12 goals across their two matchups this season. Notably, T2’s six goals against the Minnesota side currently stand as its most against any opponent so far this season.
T2’s three first-half goals were its most in a half since putting three past Tacoma Defiance on May 10. Additionally, it marked the second time the club has held a three-goal advantage, also doing so against the Defiance.
Tyler Clegg became the 12th separate goal scorer for Timbers2 so far this season, scoring his first-ever MLS NEXT Pro goal in the 22nd minute, as the club finished the afternoon with 23 goals scored.
Goal-Scoring Plays
POR – Kyle Linhares (Jaden Jones-Riley), 18th minute: Sprung by a direct, cross-field ball over the top from Tyler Clegg, Jaden Jones-Riley received the ball in the attacking third and drove toward the end line. Beating his marker, Jones-Riley approached goal and sent a low cross into the path of Kyle Linhares, crashing into the center of the box for a tap-in.
POR – Tyler Clegg (Keesean Ferdinand), 22nd minute: After winning the ball at midfield, Sawyer Jura made a winding run into the box. A defender tapped the ball out from his feet, but only into the path of Keesean Ferdinand who tapped it on to an unmarked Tyler Clegg on the right side of the box. Without needing a touch, the defender used his left foot to curve the ball into the bottom-left corner of the net.
POR – Josh Penn (Adolfo Enriquez), 41st minute: After receiving the ball in the right half space, Adolfo Enriquez drove toward the end line before delivering a low ball back toward the top of the box. Josh Penn received the ball and dribbled to his right, stopping and starting to evade defenders before using his right foot to shoot back across goal and tuck the ball into the far-post netting.
MIN – Rory O’Driscoll (Loïc Mesanvi), 56th minute: After winning the ball high up the field, Loïc Mesanvi received the ball and dribbled through defenders toward goal. Cut off near goal, Mesanvi slid the ball toward the top of the box which Rory O’Driscoll ran onto and fired with his right foot into the bottom-right corner of goal.
MIN – Patrick Weah, 58th minute: Building from midfield, MNUFC2 got the ball to Molik Khan, who fired an effort from distance that hit the near post and deflected back into the box. Patrick Weah pounced on the rebound at the far post and used his left foot to guide the ball into the goal.
Notes
- Today’s result marked T2’s first road win of the 2024 MLS Next Pro season.
- It was also the club’s first-ever road win against MNUFC2.
- T2 has now picked up a result in six of its last seven matches (3-2-3).
- Kyle Linhares’ 18th-minute goal was his fourth of the season and first since scoring against Vancouver Whitecaps FC2 on May 3.
- With the assist, Jaden Jones-Riley picked up his first contribution since scoring against St. Louis City 2 on April 7.
- The assist was Jones-Riley’s second in MLS NEXT Pro and first since Aug. 5, 2023 (vs. TAC).
- Tyler Clegg’s strike in the 22nd minute was his first-ever MLS NEXT Pro goal.
- With the goal, Clegg became the 12th player to score for T2 so far this season.
- Keesean Ferdinand notched his third assist of the season and first goal contribution since scoring against North Texas SC on May 18.
- Josh Penn’s game-winning goal was his fourth goal so far this season.
- The goal was Penn’s first scored on the road so far this season.
- Penn has now scored in four of T2’s last six matches.
- Penn and Linhares remain tied for the team lead in goals with four each.
- Timbers2’s three first-half goals match their season-high for goals scored in a half (vs. TAC; 5/10).
- Wednesday marked the second time this season T2 has taken a three-goal lead (vs. TAC; 5/10).
- Timbers2 and MNUFC2 have combined to score 12 goals in their two matches so far this season (4-3, 3-2).
- The club’s six goals scored against MNUFC2 is its most against any opponent so far this season.
- Timbers2 are currently amid a three-match road trip, their longest stretch away from Providence Park all season.
- The club doesn’t return home until it faces Vancouver Whitecaps FC2 on July 6.
Next Game
Timbers2 next completes its season-long three-match road trip against Tacoma Defiance. Kickoff is slated for 8 p.m. (Pacific) Sunday, June 30, at Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, Washington. The match will be streamed on MLSNEXTPro.com
Timbers2 (4-4-6, 20pts) at MNUFC2 (4-8-0, 12pts)
June 26, 2024 – National Sports Center Stadium (Blaine, Minn.)
Goals by Half 1 2 F
Timbers2 3 0 3
MNUFC2 0 2 2
Scoring Summary:
POR: Linhares (Jones-Riley), 18
POR: Clegg (Ferdinand), 22
POR: Penn (Enriquez), 41
MIN: O’Driscoll (Mesanvi), 56
MIN: Weah, 58
Misconduct Summary:
POR: Moreno (caution), 26
POR: Ferdinand (caution), 35
MIN: Adebayo-Smith (caution), 73
Lineups:
POR: GK Miller, D Jura, D Clegg, D Ferdinand, D Jones-Riley, M Enríquez (Rad, 76), M Moreno (Mendoza, 62), M Johnston, F Linhares, F Penn (Najib, 90+1), F Neville (Eisenberg, 62)
Substitutes Not Used: GK VanPelt, D Nystrom, D Manzo
TOTAL SHOTS: 11 (Penn, Clegg, Linhares, Neville, Eisenberg, 2); SHOTS ON GOAL: 7 (Neville, Penn, 2); FOULS: 8 (Moreno, Penn, 2); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 3; SAVES: 3
MIN: GK Zeruhn, D McRobb, D Duggan (Mawing, 45), D Fischer, M Mesanvi, M Romanshyn (Martinez, 45), M Nyeman (O’Driscoll, 45), M Khan (Banks, 72), M Randell (Ibsais, 72), F Weah, F Adebayo-Smith
Substitutes Not Used: GK Heiden, M Arias, M Cruz, M Schmidt
TOTAL SHOTS: 14 (O’Driscoll, 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 5 (O’Driscoll, Adebayo-Smith, Duggan, Randell, Weah, 1); FOULS: 16 (Weah, 4); OFFSIDES: 5; CORNER KICKS: 11; SAVES: 3
Referee: Ryan Farrell
Assistant Referees: John Krill, Eric del Rosario
Fourth Official: Tyler Spiczka
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial.
