PORTLAND, Ore. – Heading into Week 18 of the 2017 USL regular season, T2 travel to face Reno 1868 FC at Greater Nevada Field on Saturday, July 22. Set to begin at 7:30 p.m. (Pacific), Saturday’s match will be available via a live, high-definition web stream at www.timbers2.com.
The match on Saturday marks the second of three regular-season matches between the two clubs in 2017, as both teams will meet again on Saturday, Sept. 23, at Greater Nevada Field. In the first meeting between the two teams this season, T2 fell 2-0 at home to Reno at Providence Park on June 24.
T2 (1-15-2, 5pts) enter Saturday’s match after falling 1-0 at home to Swope Park Rangers at Providence Park on July 16. Holding an 11-9 shot advantage in the game, Portland created several scoring opportunities in the second half. Midfielder Omar Mohamed played a back-heel pass in the path of forward Russell Cicerone, and his shot from inside the box was blocked by a Swope Park defender in the 71st minute. In space on the left wing, defender Kyle Bjornethun found Harold Hanson at the top of the 18-yard box, and his long-range shot missed the target in the 80th minute. T2 nearly equalized in the 90th minute when midfielder Villyan Bijev's half-volleyed shot from the right edge of the penalty area forced the Swope Park goalkeeper to parry the ball away for a corner kick.
Reno 1868 FC (7-4-5, 26pts), the USL affiliate of MLS club San Jose Earthquakes, enter Saturday’s game following a 1-1 draw on the road against Whitecaps FC 2 at Thunderbird Stadium on July 15, which extended a four-match unbeaten streak. Reno currently sits in fourth place in the Western Conference standings and lead the league with 41 goals scored. Individually, forward Dane Kelly ranks second in the USL with 13 goals recorded, while midfielder Chris Wehan leads the team and ranks second in the league with seven assists.
Following Saturday’s match, T2 return home to face Rio Grande Valley FC Toros at Providence Park on Saturday, July 29; kickoff is set for 8 p.m. (Pacific).
