PORTLAND, Ore. – Playing their 10th road match of the 2017 USL regular season, T2 travel to face Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC at Weidner Field on Saturday, Aug. 5. Set to begin at 5 p.m. (Pacific), Saturday’s match will be available via a live, high-definition web stream at www.timbers2.com.
Saturday’s contest marks the second and final regular-season meeting between the two clubs in 2017. In the first matchup this season, Portland and Colorado Springs played to a scoreless draw at Providence Park on May 10.
T2 (2-15-3, 9pts) enter Saturday’s match looking to build off a 2-1 win over Rio Grande Valley FC Toros at Providence Park on July 29. Portland opened the scoring in the 26th minute when midfielder Omar Mohamed dispossessed a RGV defender inside the box, and rifled his shot into far corner of the net to record his first career USL goal. After Rio Grande Valley equalized in the 30th minute, T2 scored the game-winning goal in the 81st minute when midfielder Villyan Bijev, who was named to the USL Team of the Week for Week 19, received a pass from Mohamed at the edge of the 18-yard box and struck a half-volleyed shot into the far lower corner of the net. The goal was Bijev’s team-leading seventh of the season.
T2 goalkeeper Kendall McIntosh, who leads the USL with 65 saves, was named the USL Player of the Week for Week 19 after finishing the match with three saves, including a penalty stop on midfielder Jose Escalante in the 53rd minute and another diving penalty save to his left on RGV midfielder Todd Wharton in the 88th minute to preserve the lead.
Switchbacks FC (7-8-6, 27pts) enter Saturday’s match after a 2-1 victory over Seattle Sounders FC 2 at Weidner Field on July 29, which snapped a four-match winless streak. Colorado Springs holds a 5-2-3 record at home, and currently sits in sixth place in the Western Conference standings. As a team, Colorado Springs ranks tied for fifth in the league with 31 goals scored, while ranking second in the league in fouls conceded (299). Individually, forward Kevaughn Frater and defender Jordan Burt are tied for the team lead in goals scored (6). Goalkeeper Moise Pouaty ranks second in the USL with 57 saves in 17 appearances this season, while recording four shutouts.
Following Saturday’s match, T2 return home to host Sacramento Republic FC at Providence Park on Sunday, Aug. 13; kickoff is set for 2 p.m. (Pacific).
