Heading into Week 12 of the 2019 USL Championship season, T2 play host to El Paso Locomotive FC at Providence Park on Saturday, May 25; kickoff is at 7 p.m. (Pacific).
Providence Park soft-opening matches
With just over one week remaining before the much-anticipated relaunch of Providence Park when the Portland Timbers play host to Los Angeles FC on Saturday, June 1, the team announced that it will host two soft-opening games featuring T2, its USL Championship club. T2 will first take on El Paso Locomotive FC at Providence Park on Saturday, May 25, beginning at 7 p.m. (Pacific), before playing host to Real Monarchs SLC on Wednesday, May 29, beginning at 7 p.m. (Pacific).
During the two preview games, only the westside and north end of Providence Park will be open for use as finishing details are completed to the rest of the stadium, which has undergone a privately funded, $85 million transformation for the 2019 season. For the May 25 and May 29 games, fans will be able to enter the stadium through Gate F (formerly Gate 4) on the northwest plaza. Prior to kickoff, gates will be open to fans beginning at 6:30 p.m. (Pacific).
Last match recap
T2 scored three second-half goals to earn a 4-1 road win against Tacoma Defiance at Cheney Stadium on May 12. Dairon Asprilla tallied a brace – his second two-goal performance of the 2019 USL Championship season – while Foster Langsdorf and Brayan Hurtado each found the back of the net.
Asprilla named to USL Championship Team of the Week
Midfielder Dairon Asprilla was named to the USL Championship Team of the Week for Week 10 of the 2019 season after tallying a second-half brace in T2’s 4-1 win on the road against Tacoma Defiance at Cheney Stadium on May 12. It marks the second time this season that Asprilla has been named to the USL Championship Team of the Week after earning the honor in Week 3 for tallying two goals in a 3-1 win against Las Vegas Lights FC on March 23. Additionally, the award marks the sixth time in 2019 that a T2 player has been named to the USL Championship Team of the Week.
Strong start to 2019
In 10 matches to begin the 2019 season, T2 (5-2-3, 18pts) sit in third place of the Western Conference standings. In four games at home to start the 2019 season, Portland has posted a 2-1-1 record, outscoring its opponents 7-5. T2 ranks second in the league in total goals scored (23), while ranking fourth in the league in assists (16). Dairon Asprilla and Foster Langsdorf lead the team in goals scored with four apiece, while Modou Jadama ranks second (3). Eryk Williamson, Marvin Loría, Brayan Hurtado, Giovani Calixtro and Ryan Sierakowski have scored two goals each in 2019. Additionally, Williamson ranks first in the USL Championship with seven assists in nine appearances.
Home form
In four home matches played at Merlo Field in 2019, T2 has only lost once, posting a 2-1-1 record. T2 have scored seven of their 23 goals this season in home matches. Portland five goals allowed in four matches at home ranks tied for the 10th fewest in the USL Championship this season. Additionally, three of Foster Langsdorf’s four goals this season have come in home matches.
T2 2019 Team Leaders
Goals: Dairon Asprilla, Foster Langsdorf (4)
Assists: Eryk Williamson (7)
Chances Created: Eryk Williamson (22)
Shutouts: Jake Leeker (1)
Saves: Jake Leeker (29)
Scouting El Paso Locomotive FC
El Paso Locomotive FC (4-2-4, 16pts) enter Saturday’s match following a 3-1 home win against Sacramento United FC at Southwest University Park, in their 10th match of the 2019 season on May 18. El Paso is undefeated in its last five matches, posting a 3-0-2 record and outscoring their opponents 8-3. Forward Jerome Kiesewetter leads the team with six goals scored in six appearances and currently ranks tied for eighth league wide in that category., while goalkeeper Logan Ketterer ranks tied for third in clean sheets in the league with five.
El Paso Locomotive FC Head Coach: Mark Lowry
El Paso Locomotive FC 2019 Team Leaders
Goals: Jerome Kiesewetter (6)
Assists: Sebastián Contreras (3)
Chances Created: Sebastián Contreras (19)
Shutouts: Logan Ketterer (5)
Saves: Logan Ketterer (17)
