With three games remaining in the 2018 USL regular season, T2 travel to face Sacramento Republic FC at Papa Murphy’s Park on Saturday, Sept. 29. Beginning at 7:30 p.m. (Pacific) the match will be streamed live on ESPN+. To watch Saturday’s match, click here.
Keep it rolling
In T2’s 2-2 draw at Fresno FC at Chukchansi Park on Sept. 22, T2 extended a four-match unbeaten run (3-0-1) dating back to Sept. 1. Midfielders Jack Barmby and Marvin Loría each tallied their sixth goal of the season, while goalkeeper Alex Mangels finished the match with a season-high five saves.
2018 USL Cup Playoffs
With the draw against Fresno FC, T2 clinched a spot in the 2018 USL Cup Playoffs, marking the first time in its four USL seasons that Portland has qualified for the postseason. Portland is now the fourth team to clinch a spot in the Western Conference, with Orange County SC, Phoenix Rising FC and Real Monarchs SLC each qualifying for the playoffs.
Run of form
With the draw, T2 are 6-1-1 in their last eight games dating, dating back to Aug. 11. Portland has outscored its opponents 19-8 during the eight-game stretch, and now sits in fifth place in the Western Conference standings, 11 points behind first-place Orange County SC with three matches remaining in the regular season. Additionally, T2 improved to 7-4-3 on the road this season. Portland is 4-1-1 in its last five road contests dating back to June 9. Seven of T2’s 11 shutouts this season have come on the road. Additionally, three of goalkeeper Alex Mangel’s five shutouts in 2018 have come on the road.
T2 Team Leaders
Goals: Foster Langsdorf (14)
Assists: Marvin Loría (7)
Chances Created: Marvin Loría (51)
Shutouts: Alex Mangels, Kendall McIntosh (5)
Saves: Kendall McIntosh (58)
Scouting Sacramento Republic FC
Sacramento Republic FC (15-7-8, 53pts) enter Saturday’s match following a 0-0 draw on the road to OKC Energy FC on Sept. 23, which extended a four-match unbeaten run dating back to Aug. 25. Sacramento currently sits in fourth place in the Western Conference standings, and ranks third in the USL in fewest goals allowed (30). Forward Cameron Iwasa leads the team and ranks tied for sixth in the league in goals scored (14), while Villyan Bjiev, who played for T2 from 2015-16, is tied for the team lead with five assists. Goalkeeper Josh Cohen ranks second in the league with 101 saves.
Sacramento Republic FC Team Leaders
Goals: Cameron Iwasa (14)
Assists: Villyan Bijev, Cameron Iwasa (5)
Chances Created: Villyan Bijev (51)
Shutouts: Josh Cohen (10)
Saves: Josh Cohen (101)
Streaming Changes: matches now stream on ESPN+
As part of the USL's new broadcast deal with ESPN, all league matches will now be streamed live on ESPN+, which is ESPN's new subscription-based, direct-to-consumer streaming platform. All T2 matches will now stream live on ESPN+ for those residing in the United States; international viewers can still stream matches live via YouTube.
ESPN+ is viewable online, the ESPN app or across a variety of mobile and connected living room devices, including Amazon's Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku and more.
For more information and a FAQ on ESPN+, click here.
