PORTLAND, Ore. – Returning to the Rose City for their last two home matches of the regular season, T2 will face Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on Saturday, Sept. 5, at Merlo Field on the campus of the University of Portland; kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. (Pacific).
T2 (10-13-2, 32 pts) enter the weekend six points behind Sacramento Republic FC (11-8-5, 38 pts) for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference with three matches remaining on the regular-season schedule. T2 contest two of their final three matches at home as the side plays host to Sacramento on Sept. 12 at Providence Park before traveling to face LA Galaxy II on Sept. 16 at the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. T2 have registered a 7-5-0 home record during their inaugural season, including consecutive wins in their last two home matches against Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 (Aug. 16) and Tulsa Roughnecks FC (Aug. 22).
In its last match, Portland could not overcome a three-goal deficit in a 3-1 road loss against Orange County Blues FC on Aug. 29 at Anteater Stadium on the campus of UC-Irvine. Despite the loss, T2 remain in the hunt for a postseason berth.
Individually, midfielder Fatawu Safiu has recorded a goal in back-to-back matches for T2, while forward Kharlton Belmar has tallied three goals over the last three matches. Entering the week, Belmar ranks tied for fifth in the league in goals (12) and sixth overall with 27 points (12g, 3a). Fatawu, who ranks fifth in the league with 60 shots, is second on T2 with seven goals this season.
T2 face Switchbacks FC (12-9-3, 39pts) for the second time during the regular-season schedule on Saturday and the first time at Merlo Field. In their first match of the season, T2 conceded twice in the first half of a 3-1 loss against on June 10 at Sand Creek Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Colorado Springs enters Saturday’s match after sustaining a 2-1 loss against Real Monarchs SLC on Aug. 26 at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah. Switchbacks FC rank tied for third in USL in shutouts (8) and fourth overall in goals (46), while registering a 4-7-1 road record during their inaugural season. The side is led by longtime USL-veteran midfielder Luke Vercollone, who ranks tied for first in the league in assists (9), fourth in points (33) and is tied for fifth in goals (12) in 23 appearances.
Tickets for Saturday’s home T2 match against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC are available online by clicking here. Additionally, Saturday’s home match will be carried on a live, high-definition web stream on www.timbers2.com.
Following Saturday’s match, T2 square off against Sacramento Republic FC in Portland’s regular-season home finale on Saturday, Sept. 12, at Providence Park; kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. (Pacific).
