PORTLAND, Ore. – Following back-to-back wins at home against Vancouver and Tulsa, T2 hit the road to face Orange County Blues FC on Saturday, Aug. 29, at Anteater Stadium on the campus of UC-Irvine; kickoff is set for 7 p.m. (Pacific).
T2 (10-12-2, 32pts) enter the weekend in eighth place in the USL Western Conference and sit four points shy of the final playoff position with four games remaining on the regular-season schedule. In its last match, Portland earned a 2-0 win over Tulsa Roughnecks FC on Aug. 22 at Merlo Field as forward Kharlton Belmar and midfielder Fatawu Safiu each tallied a goal in the shutout.
Belmar registered his team-leading 12th goal in the match against the Roughnecks and ranks tied for fourth in goals (12) and fifth in points (27) among all USL players, while Fatawu ranks tied for fifth in shots (57) through 20 appearances. Portland goalkeeper Jake Gleeson registered his third shutout of the regular season against Tulsa. Gleeson ranks tied for third in saves (74) through 19 games played.
T2 face Orange County Blues FC (11-9-3, 36pts) for the second time during the regular season on Saturday. Playing their first-ever match at Providence Park, T2 conceded two goals in the first half of a 2-0 loss against Orange County Blues FC on May 3. The loss marked Portland’s first home loss of the inaugural season.
Orange County Blues FC enter Saturday’s match after sustaining a 1-0 loss to the Austin Aztex on Aug. 22 at Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex in Austin, Texas. The loss snapped the Blues’ six-game unbeaten streak (4-0-2). OC Blues FC are sixth in the Western Conference standings and have posted a record of 7-3-1 at home this season. The Blues are led by forward Didier Crettenand, who has registered seven goals and three assists in 20 starts, while forward Christofer Ramirez has also registered seven goals and one assist in 20 appearances. Goalkeeper Pepe Miranda ranks second among all USL players in saves (79) and has registered a .731 save percentage and six shutouts in 20 starts.
Saturday’s road match will be carried on a live, high-definition web stream on www.timbers2.com.
Following Saturday’s match, T2 return home to face Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on Saturday, Sept. 5, at Merlo Field; kickoff is set for 3 p.m. (Pacific).
