PORTLAND, Ore. – Playing their final game of a two-match home stand, T2 will play host to LA Galaxy II at Merlo Field on "T2 Craft Brew Night” this Saturday, July 16; kickoff is set for 2:00 p.m. (Pacific).
The match on Saturday marks the first of two regular-season meetings scheduled between T2 and Galaxy II in 2016, as both teams are set to meet again Saturday, Aug. 6, at the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. During the 2015 USL campaign, the teams split the regular-season series, with T2 and LA winning each of their respective road games. LA defeated Portland 1-0 at Merlo Field on July 26, 2015, while T2 earned a 1-0 win on the road at the StubHub Center on Sept. 16.
T2 (5-9-3, 18pts) enter this weekend’s home contest looking to build on their 1-1 draw against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC at Merlo Field on July 7. After Colorado Springs opened the scoring in the 16th minute off a header from inside the box, T2 leveled the match late in the second half. After the Switchbacks goalkeeper attempted to punch away T2 midfielder Neco Brett’s delivery into the box, forward Kharlton Belmar notched his third goal of the season when he was first to the rebound and slotted in a right-footed finish from close range in the 87th minute. T2 goalkeeper Kendall McIntosh finished the match with a game-high five saves, including a tipped save over his right post in the ninth minute on a long-range shot from outside the box.
LA Galaxy II (7-2-8, 29pts) come into Saturday’s match on a seven-game unbeaten run (3-0-4), most recently defeating Orange County Blues FC 2-1 on July 2. Forward Jack McBean, who got on the score sheet against Orange County, currently leads USL in scoring with 13 goals scored on the season. Midfielder Jose Villarreal ranks second on the team with five goals, while his brother, Jaime Villarreal, leads the club with three assists.
Single-game tickets for T2 matches are available at the Providence Park box office, online at www.timbers2.com, and on game day at the venue box office. Additionally, Saturday’s match will be available via a live, high-definition web stream at www.timbers2.com.
Next week, T2 will travel to play Cascadia rivals Seattle Sounders 2 at Starfire Sports Complex on Sunday, July 24; kickoff is set for 5 p.m. (Pacific).
